Harnham
Lead Backend Engineer
Legal Tech / AI SaaS
Hybrid - New York, NY
$170,000 - $210,000 Base + Bonus + Equity
We're partnering with an innovative AI SaaS company that's transforming how enterprises automate and orchestrate complex workflows. Backed by a global professional services leader, this fast-moving team operates with the autonomy of a startup - building scalable, AI-first platforms trusted by Fortune 500 organizations.
As the company expands into the finance and public sectors, they're hiring a Lead Backend Engineer to help architect the core systems that power intelligent agents and large-scale enterprise integrations.
This hybrid role is based in New York City, with in-office collaboration 2-3 days per week alongside a world-class team of engineers, AI researchers, and product leaders.
The Role
As a Lead Backend Engineer, you'll help design and build the foundational systems for agent-based AI products and enterprise-scale automation tools. You'll work cross-functionally with AI/ML experts and product stakeholders to deliver backend services that handle real-time AI interactions, document ingestion pipelines, and integrations with financial and compliance systems.
You'll take ownership of key architectural decisions, lead a small engineering team, and play a critical role in shaping the platform's backend capabilities as the company moves into its next stage of growth.
Responsibilities Design and develop backend APIs and microservices using Python and FastAPI Build orchestration systems that interact with large language models (LLMs) Develop scalable data models using PostgreSQL and vector databases (e.g., pgvector) Lead backend architecture for new AI-first products and core platform features Integrate third-party APIs and support enterprise-grade document ingestion pipelines Contribute to CI/CD, containerization, and cloud infrastructure on AWS Collaborate closely with AI researchers, designers, and frontend engineers Requirements
6-8+ years of backend software engineering experience Expertise in Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, and AWS Proven experience designing and scaling production-grade APIs and distributed systems Hands-on experience integrating AI models or services (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) Experience leading engineering projects or mentoring small teams Strong communication skills and ability to translate product goals into technical solutions Passion for building high-impact, AI-driven systems from the ground up Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience Bonus Points For:
Experience with vector databases, embeddings, or semantic search Familiarity with enterprise billing, compliance, or security systems Background in zero-to-one product development or startup environments Compensation & Benefits
Base salary: $170,000 - $210,000 Bonus potential: Up to 15% Equity / RSUs Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and wellness benefits
How to Apply
Please submit your resume via the Apply link. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly for next steps.
Key Skills:
Backend Engineering, Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, APIs, LLMs, AI Orchestration, Microservices, Distributed Systems, CI/CD, pgvector, AI Automation, SaaS, Cloud Infrastructure, Vector Search, Semantic Search
Legal Tech / AI SaaS
Hybrid - New York, NY
$170,000 - $210,000 Base + Bonus + Equity
We're partnering with an innovative AI SaaS company that's transforming how enterprises automate and orchestrate complex workflows. Backed by a global professional services leader, this fast-moving team operates with the autonomy of a startup - building scalable, AI-first platforms trusted by Fortune 500 organizations.
As the company expands into the finance and public sectors, they're hiring a Lead Backend Engineer to help architect the core systems that power intelligent agents and large-scale enterprise integrations.
This hybrid role is based in New York City, with in-office collaboration 2-3 days per week alongside a world-class team of engineers, AI researchers, and product leaders.
The Role
As a Lead Backend Engineer, you'll help design and build the foundational systems for agent-based AI products and enterprise-scale automation tools. You'll work cross-functionally with AI/ML experts and product stakeholders to deliver backend services that handle real-time AI interactions, document ingestion pipelines, and integrations with financial and compliance systems.
You'll take ownership of key architectural decisions, lead a small engineering team, and play a critical role in shaping the platform's backend capabilities as the company moves into its next stage of growth.
Responsibilities Design and develop backend APIs and microservices using Python and FastAPI Build orchestration systems that interact with large language models (LLMs) Develop scalable data models using PostgreSQL and vector databases (e.g., pgvector) Lead backend architecture for new AI-first products and core platform features Integrate third-party APIs and support enterprise-grade document ingestion pipelines Contribute to CI/CD, containerization, and cloud infrastructure on AWS Collaborate closely with AI researchers, designers, and frontend engineers Requirements
6-8+ years of backend software engineering experience Expertise in Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, and AWS Proven experience designing and scaling production-grade APIs and distributed systems Hands-on experience integrating AI models or services (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) Experience leading engineering projects or mentoring small teams Strong communication skills and ability to translate product goals into technical solutions Passion for building high-impact, AI-driven systems from the ground up Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience Bonus Points For:
Experience with vector databases, embeddings, or semantic search Familiarity with enterprise billing, compliance, or security systems Background in zero-to-one product development or startup environments Compensation & Benefits
Base salary: $170,000 - $210,000 Bonus potential: Up to 15% Equity / RSUs Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and wellness benefits
How to Apply
Please submit your resume via the Apply link. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly for next steps.
Key Skills:
Backend Engineering, Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, APIs, LLMs, AI Orchestration, Microservices, Distributed Systems, CI/CD, pgvector, AI Automation, SaaS, Cloud Infrastructure, Vector Search, Semantic Search