Mid-level Backend Python Engineer

About the Role

We are looking for a mid-level Backend Python Engineer who is excited to transition into the world of Artificial Intelligence.

This role is built around a simple idea: great backend engineers can become great AI engineers with the right training and real-world exposure. Instead of requiring prior AI experience, we invest in it.

You will join as a backend Python engineer and go through a structured, hands-on training program focused on applied AI. This includes working with modern LLMs, automation frameworks, and real-world AI workflows. The goal is to quickly bridge the gap between traditional backend development and production-ready AI systems.

After this initial ramp-up, you will work on designing and implementing AI-powered solutions for our client, a mid-sized accounting firm in the US.

If you enjoy automating manual processes, improving efficiency, and introducing practical AI into everyday accounting operations, this job is for you!

Responsibilities

* Build and maintain Python backend services and APIs using frameworks like FastAPI or Flask, supporting AI-powered features
* Design and implement automation workflows leveraging LLMs (e.g., OpenAI API), orchestration tools like LangChain, and third-party integrations
* Process and structure data from sources such as PDFs, spreadsheets, and financial systems using tools like Pandas and document parsing libraries
* Collaborate with product and client-facing teams to translate accounting workflows into scalable solutions, including prompt design and retrieval-based systems (RAG)
* Monitor, debug, and optimize production systems, including async tasks (Celery/Redis), API performance, and the reliability of AI-generated outputs

Requirements

* 3+ years of experience with Python, building and maintaining backend systems in production environments
* Strong understanding of API design and integration (REST, third-party services, webhooks)
* Experience working with data processing and transformation (e.g., JSON, CSVs, ETL workflows)
* Familiarity with databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, or similar)
* Solid software engineering fundamentals: clean code, testing, Git, and code reviews
* Experience debugging and maintaining production systems
* AI-Adjacent Experience (Strongly Preferred)
* Exposure to AI/ML concepts, LLMs, or tools like OpenAI APIs or LangChain
* Experience building automation workflows or integrating external APIs
* Familiarity with asynchronous processing, background jobs, or queues
* Experience working with unstructured data (documents, PDFs, text processing)
* Basic understanding of prompting, embeddings, or retrieval systems

Additional Information

* $2,500-$3,500/month (depending on experience)
* Fully Remote
* Work Hours: 9am to 5pm PST (40 hrs per week)
* Contract Type: Independent contractor

Why Join Us

* Long-term position with growth opportunities
* Transition into AI without needing prior deep AI experience
* Work on real-world AI implementations from early on
* Develop expertise in automation, LLMs, and applied AI systems
* Have a direct impact on the adaptation of AI and automation at a growing company