> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1488899-staff-backend-engineer-ai-robotics-infrastructure](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1488899-staff-backend-engineer-ai-robotics-infrastructure). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Staff Backend Engineer [AI & Robotics Infrastructure] - **Company:** Z.H. CONSULTING, LLC - **Location:** New York, NY, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Salary:** $180,000.0 - $230,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Algorithmic Trading, Big Data, C++ (Programming Language), Databases, Information Engineering, Data Infrastructure, Extract Transform Load (ETL), Data Warehousing, DevOps, Web Development, Distributed Systems, Python (Programming Language), Node.Js, Operational Databases, Performance Tuning, Systems Development Life Cycle, Tensorflow, Robotic Automation Software, Software Engineering, Data Streaming, Systems Integration, Management of Software Versions, Pytorch, ReactJS, Backend, Information Technology, Low Latency, Real Time Data, Machine Learning Operations, Hardware Infrastructure, Industrial Software, Data Pipelines - **Published:** July 29, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=3034c154cbcc971d ## About the Role * Primary Languages: Python, Rust, or C++ * Data Infrastructure: Distributed systems, streaming data pipelines, time-series databases * ML Tools: PyTorch, TensorFlow, GPU infrastructure * Environment: On-premise and cloud hybrid * We don't expect you to know everything-but you should be deeply proficient in at least one of Python/Rust/C++ and have experience building data-intensive backend systems. Must-Haves * 4-10 years of backend engineering experience building production data pipelines * Strong proficiency in Python, Rust, or C++ for backend/systems development * Experience building large-scale sensor or video data pipelines * Experience with distributed systems handling low-latency, high-throughput data flows * Background in latency-sensitive environments (e.g., trading systems, real-time industrial systems, robotics, autonomous vehicles) * US Citizenship (required for regulatory compliance) * Ability to work on-site in New York City (5 days/week) Nice-to-Haves * Experience with robotics systems, autonomous vehicles, or industrial automation * Familiarity with ML infrastructure (feature stores, model serving, data versioning) * Background in manufacturing, defense tech, or hardware-software integration * Experience with GPU infrastructure and performance optimization for ML workloads * MS/PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field Traits We're NOT Looking For * Pure web development background (React, Node, full-stack) * Experience limited to internal tooling or traditional data engineering (ETL, data warehousing) * Systems integration or DevOps-focused backgrounds * Short-tenured job history (< 2 years per role), * Master's (Preferred) ## Description We're looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to build the foundational infrastructure for our machine learning pipelines. This is a production-focused role-you'll own the data collection and storage pipeline for robotics sensor data, making key technical decisions and functioning as a research engineer for the ML team to accelerate their iteration cycles. This is NOT: * An internal tooling role * A traditional data engineering position (ETL, warehousing, BI) * A web development or full-stack role * A DevOps or platform engineering position This IS: * A deep backend engineering role building production systems for large-scale data * Ownership of the entire sensor/video data pipeline * Direct collaboration with ML researchers to understand and solve their infrastructure needs * Real architectural decision-making with long-term impact What You'll Do * Own the data pipeline: Design, build, and maintain the infrastructure that ingests, stores, and processes high-volume sensor and video data from robotic systems * Enable ML iteration: Build tooling and infrastructure that allows the ML team to train, evaluate, and deploy models faster * Make architectural decisions: Evaluate build-vs-buy tradeoffs, design storage and processing systems, and ensure scalability and reliability * Work with physical systems: Build software that directly interfaces with real hardware-not just simulation * Optimize for performance: Build low-latency, high-throughput distributed systems that can handle real-time data flows ## Related Videos - [Watch Tests Go Brrrr! : Getting Started with Cypress in ReactJS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/282-watch-tests-go-brrrr-getting-started-with-cypress-in-reactjs) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [From DevOps to Scaled DevOps: How We’re Rebuilding Continuous Delivery as a Platform](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100018-from-devops-to-scaled-devops-how-we-re-rebuilding-continuous-delivery-as-a-platform) - [Robots are coming into the wild! Full-Stack Robotics Engineers, be ready!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/479-robots-are-coming-into-the-wild-full-stack-robotics-engineers-be-ready) - [Meet Your New BFF: Backend to Frontend without the Duct Tape](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/682-meet-your-new-bff-backend-to-frontend-without-the-duct-tape) - [Nest.js - TypeScript in the backend can also be clean](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1033-nest-js-typescript-in-the-backend-can-also-be-clean) ## Related Articles - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [What’s the Difference Between Frontend and Backend Development?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/240-what-s-the-difference-between-frontend-and-backend-development) - [Why Upskilling And Reskilling is Important For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/428-why-upskilling-and-reskilling-is-important-for-developers)