Senior Backend Engineer for Generative AI Platform
Join a high-growth startup as a Senior Backend Engineer to lead the development of a generative AI platform. Collaborate with the founder to scale the platform, build reliable systems, and refine AI workflows. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a live product with real traction and a clear path to scale.
Key Highlights
Technical Skills Required
Benefits & Perks
Job Description
Founding Senior Backend Engineer (Generative AI, NYC, In-Person)
This is a rare early-stage opportunity to take ownership of the backend for a generative AI platform that’s already live in private beta. The product has real traction, active users, and is gearing up to scale fast.
A founder with a PhD in AI and a previous exit is building a high-performance platform for digital creators. The system brings together LLMs, voice technology, memory, and personalized routines to help users stay consistent and progress toward their goals.
The foundation is in place. The prototype works. Now it needs to scale and stabilize.
Why This Role Exists
The current system is already in use with:
- 20,000+ AI-led user interactions
- 6,000+ personalized sessions logged
- 8 million followers across signed creators ready to launch
The technical founder has built the core workflows and backend, but scaling it to a reliable production platform requires experienced engineering leadership.
What You’ll Do
- Lead backend development from prototype to production
- Build and refine AI workflows: agent logic, memory, tool integration, behavior tuning
- Make the system reliable: observability, uptime, incident response, cost and latency control
- Architect scalable systems that support rapid iteration without becoming fragile
- Work directly with the founder in NYC, collaborating in person on a daily basis
Tech Environment
- Python-first backend
- Hosted on Google Cloud (Firebase)
- Orchestrating multiple LLMs (Gemini, OpenAI)
- Voice systems transitioning from OpenAI to ElevenLabs and Gemini
- Kotlin mobile app managed by a dedicated mobile engineer
This Role is a Fit If You:
- Have shipped production systems using LLM APIs and can manage retries, fallbacks, latency, and hallucination control
- Know how to take a messy prototype and make it reliable without overcomplicating things
- Want real technical and strategic ownership, not just implementation tickets
- Thrive on fast feedback and in-person problem-solving
- Prefer building to maintaining and care more about progress than process
What Makes This Different
- Ownership: 4 to 5 percent equity for the right hire, with a real founding engineer seat
- Founder Credibility: Built and exited a prior AI company
- Traction: Real usage, creator distribution secured, clear path to scale
- Speed: Small team, no red tape, direct access to decision-making
- Environment: NYC-based, in-person collaboration in a central location
Compensation
- Base salary: $150,000 to $220,000, depending on experience
- Equity: 2 to 5 percent, vesting over four years
- Early-stage flexibility and benefits
- Limited visa sponsorship available depending on the situation
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