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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Senior Backend Software Engineer - GenAI - **Company:** Recruiting from Scratch - **Location:** Arlington, VA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $200,000.0 - $230,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems, Computer Programming, Continuous Integration, Distributed Systems, Elasticsearch, Python (Programming Language), Software Architecture, Cloud Services, Software Engineering, TypeScript, Large Language Models, Generative AI, Backend, Data Pipelines, Automation Anywhere, Golang - **Published:** September 16, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerjet.com/job/us11bc2c2e511a10b64af3f1be897dffcc/eaa ## About the Role * 6-8 years of professional software engineering experience with deep backend engineering expertise * Significant hands-on experience building and shipping production GenAI/LLM systems * Proven experience taking GenAI products from 0*1 , including RAG, agents, retrieval pipelines, tool use, or similar systems * Strong backend and distributed systems fundamentals * Experience designing production services, APIs, asynchronous workflows, queues, storage systems, and data pipelines * Strong programming skills in Python, Go, Java, TypeScript, or similar backend languages * Demonstrated end-to-end architecture ownership in ambiguous product environments * Strong coding fundamentals and technical problem-solving ability * Ability to independently translate loosely defined problems into production systems Preferred * Experience with agentic workflows, tool orchestration, search, or retrieval systems * Experience with Elasticsearch, OpenSearch, or vector databases * Background in defense technology, logistics software, applied AI, or other mission-critical systems * Experience working at an early-stage or high-growth technology company * Familiarity with cloud services, CI/CD, observability, and modern distributed infrastructure * Ability to meet applicable requirements for work on sensitive government programs ## Description The company develops modern command-and-control and AI-enabled software that helps large organizations replace fragmented, legacy operational processes with real-time, intelligent systems. Following rapid customer adoption and a recent major Series A financing, the team is expanding its Generative AI platform to meet significant demand. This is a high-ownership opportunity to lead the technical development of production GenAI capabilities from the ground up while working alongside a small, highly collaborative engineering organization. What You Will Do * Lead the architecture and development of production GenAI systems from the ground up * Design and ship RAG architectures, LLM integrations, retrieval pipelines, and agentic workflows * Own backend architecture across services, APIs, asynchronous workflows, queues, storage, data pipelines, observability, and reliability * Build scalable infrastructure that integrates GenAI capabilities into mission-critical software products * Design systems that support tool use, retrieval, orchestration, and complex AI workflows * Make architectural decisions in ambiguous environments with minimal direction * Evaluate technical tradeoffs across performance, reliability, scalability, and product requirements * Collaborate closely with product, engineering, and deployed teams to rapidly iterate based on real-world user needs * Help establish engineering standards and architecture for a growing GenAI platform ## Related Videos - [The State of GenAI & Machine Learning in 2025](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1383-the-state-of-genai-machine-learning-in-2025) - [Go with the Flow: Stop the Leaks Before Your Memory's a Waterfall!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100073-go-with-the-flow-stop-the-leaks-before-your-memory-s-a-waterfall) - [Do TypeScript without TypeScript](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/327-do-typescript-without-typescript) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [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) - [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) ## Related Articles - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Graph and AI Trends 2026: Why Is AI Running but Not Yet Delivering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/680-graph-and-ai-trends-2026-why-is-ai-running-but-not-yet-delivering) - [Got AI ideas but no money? Here are 10 free ways to level up your AI skills with Google Cloud](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/600-got-ai-ideas-but-no-money-here-are-10-free-ways-to-level-up-your-ai-skills-with-google-cloud) - [MLOps And AI Driven Development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/82-mlops-and-ai-driven-development) - [What is Agentic Programming and Why Should Developers Care?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/625-what-is-agentic-programming-and-why-should-developers-care) - [What Are Large Language Models?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/304-what-are-large-language-models)