About this role
Role Overview
Build and maintain backend services that directly shape how next generation AI models learn and behave. This contract role focuses on developing scalable REST and GraphQL APIs, ensuring backend reliability and security, and actively testing AI-powered coding tools in Cursor to provide concrete, actionable feedback to the research team.
Key Responsibilities- Design, develop, and optimize REST and GraphQL endpoints for scalable APIs.
- Implement and enforce backend data validation, robust error handling, and API security best practices.
- Plan and perform database migrations, optimizations, and schema changes as required.
- Actively test new AI-powered models inside Cursor, documenting issues with incident reports, bug traces, and screenshots.
- Participate in 4-day intensive testing bursts to evaluate how AI models affect real coding workflows.
- Engage with the research team in a dedicated Slack channel to discuss findings and propose improvements.
- Complete detailed post-burst surveys that summarize model performance and developer experience insights.
- Minimum 3 years professional experience as a backend developer, with strong Python expertise.
- Proven experience building and maintaining RESTful and GraphQL APIs.
- Advanced knowledge of backend data validation, error handling, and API security.
- Hands-on experience with database migrations, performance tuning, and schema design.
- Extensive use of AI coding tools, with familiarity with Cursor highly desirable.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear incident and bug reports.
- Ability to perform well in fast paced, confidential, and collaborative remote environments.
- No prior AI experience required, domain knowledge is valued.
- Visible contributions to open source projects, for example GitHub contributions or recognized stars.
- Experience designing or evaluating experimental tooling and developer workflows.
- Demonstrated enthusiasm for advancing AI in software development.
- Employment type, Contract.
- Fully remote role.
- Expect to participate in focused 4-day testing bursts and ongoing collaboration via Slack.
- Work involves confidential project details and close coordination with a research team.
Hourly rate: $50.00 to $100.00 per hour.
Eligibility- Open to candidates who can work remotely and independently as a contractor.
- No specific visa sponsorship or citizenship requirements are stated in this posting; applicants should ensure they are eligible to contract for remote work in their location.