Backend Engineer

About the role

You will build and maintain the production systems that support SpaceXAI's API infrastructure. The company focuses on developing AI that can interpret the universe and help advance human knowledge. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of critical backend services, ensuring they meet stringent standards for performance and resilience. Team placement will be determined during the offer stage based on your expertise and the specific needs of the business. This role requires a proactive mindset to anticipate system failures before they impact users. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to translate high-level AI objectives into robust technical specifications. Your work will directly influence the reliability and speed of AI-driven insights delivered to customers. By owning these systems, you contribute to the foundational layer that enables advanced research and discovery.

Key facts

Location: UK

Engagement: Full-time

Salary: £107,000 - £262,000 GBP base

Total compensation includes equity in addition to base salary

Benefits package covers healthcare, dental, cash plan, income protection, and life insurance

Additional discounts and perks provided

Flat organizational structure with hands-on expectations for all team members

Leadership opportunities given based on initiative and consistent delivery

Strong written and verbal communication skills expected

What you'll do

• Develop and operate backend systems that serve the API layer with a focus on stability and throughput.
• Build infrastructure that scales horizontally and maintains high reliability under varying load conditions.
• Implement observability and reliability practices across services to ensure rapid detection and resolution of issues.
• Work directly with users to identify and resolve issues in production systems, gathering insights to drive improvements.
• Design and implement data storage solutions utilizing PostgreSQL, Clickhouse, and MongoDB for optimal performance and cost efficiency.
• Architect services using gRPC to enable efficient communication, including unary calls, response streaming, and bi-directional streaming.
• Map complex business requirements to RESTful interfaces to ensure seamless integration with frontend and external systems.
• Leverage Python to write scripts and tools that automate operational tasks and accelerate development workflows.
• Deploy and manage services within Docker and Kubernetes environments to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Contribute to the evolution of the tech stack by evaluating new tools and techniques that enhance developer productivity.
• Partner with machine learning teams to understand workload characteristics and optimize backend systems for AI inference.
• Maintain high standards for code quality and documentation, ensuring that knowledge is shared and systems are maintainable.
• Troubleshoot complex issues in distributed environments using deep analytical skills and systematic debugging approaches.
• Mentor junior engineers by providing guidance on best practices, code reviews, and architectural decision-making.

Requirements

• Expert-level proficiency in Rust or C++ is mandatory, as these languages form the core of high-performance backend services.
• Experience designing, building, and running distributed systems that scale horizontally across multiple regions and data centers.
• Strong understanding of service observability and reliability principles, including metrics, tracing, and logging.
• Hands-on experience operating PostgreSQL, Clickhouse, and MongoDB in production environments with complex schemas and queries.
• Demonstrated ability to write safe and efficient memory management code in systems programming languages.
• Familiarity with Linux operating systems, networking protocols, and command-line tools for debugging and maintenance.
• Proven track record of solving difficult technical problems under tight deadlines while maintaining code quality.
• Commitment to following security best practices and ensuring that systems are resilient against potential threats.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate technical concepts to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to take ownership of ambiguous problems and drive them to resolution with minimal guidance.

Nice to have

• Python knowledge for writing automation scripts, data processing pipelines, and integration tests.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and containerized deployments for managing microservices at scale.
• Deep expertise in gRPC including unary calls, response streaming, bi-directional streaming, and REST mapping for hybrid architectures.
• Practical experience with LLM APIs, embeddings, or RAG patterns to understand the specific needs of AI applications.
• History of shipping user-facing software at scale in fast-paced environments with demanding performance criteria.

Practical notes

• Total compensation includes equity in addition to base salary, aligning your interests with company success.
• Benefits package covers healthcare, dental, cash plan, income protection, and life insurance to support your wellbeing.
• Additional discounts and perks provided to enhance your quality of life and professional growth.
• The organizational structure is flat, with hands-on expectations for all team members regardless of seniority.
• Leadership opportunities are granted based on demonstrated initiative and consistent delivery of high-quality work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for effective collaboration across global teams.
• This role is based in London, United Kingdom, and requires eligibility to work without sponsorship.
• The position is full-time, and candidates must be available to start as per the agreed timeline.
• Compensation band reflects the level of expertise and responsibility associated with the role.