About the Role

As a Backend Engineer, you will contribute to the foundational elements of our AI platform. Your responsibilities will span across scalable backend systems, APIs, third-party integrations, complex workflows, asynchronous processing, infrastructure management, and ensuring platform stability and reliability. You will collaborate closely with our AI systems team to build the backend architecture supporting our AI agents, real-time workflows, integration layers, data ingestion pipelines, orchestration systems, analytics, and automation infrastructure. This is a high-ownership role where you will directly influence architectural decisions and core platform development.

What You'll Work On

Backend Infrastructure

• Design and implement scalable backend services and APIs.
• Develop distributed systems and asynchronous processing pipelines.
• Architect queue-based systems and workflow execution engines.
• Enhance backend performance, reliability, and observability.

Integrations & Platform Systems

• Build integrations with key business systems such as CRMs, e-commerce platforms, messaging applications, and productivity tools.
• Develop robust webhook infrastructure and event-driven architectures.
• Design and implement internal platform tooling and configuration systems.
• Create secure and scalable authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Data & Processing Pipelines

• Develop ingestion and processing pipelines for various data sources including websites, documents, and structured data.
• Design and optimize indexing and data storage workflows.
• Improve throughput, error handling, concurrency, and fault tolerance in data pipelines.

Realtime & Streaming Systems

• Contribute to streaming APIs and real-time event delivery systems.
• Optimize low-latency backend communication channels.
• Build scalable systems for real-time event dissemination via WebSockets.

Engineering Ownership

• Take end-to-end ownership of critical backend systems.
• Actively participate in architecture and infrastructure planning discussions.
• Debug and resolve complex production issues.
• Enhance monitoring, logging, and overall observability of backend services.
• Contribute to establishing and upholding engineering best practices.

Technology Stack

Core Backend

• Python
• FastAPI
• PostgreSQL
• Redis
• Docker

Infrastructure & Workflows

• Temporal
• Queue systems
• Async processing
• AWS / GCP
• CI/CD pipelines

Optional / Nice to Have

• Node.js
• LangGraph / LangChain
• Vector databases
• Real-time streaming systems
• AI infrastructure experience

What We're Looking For

Strong Backend Fundamentals

A solid understanding of scalable APIs, distributed systems, asynchronous architectures, databases, caching strategies, queueing mechanisms, and production infrastructure is essential.

Production Engineering Experience

Proven experience in building, deploying, and maintaining production systems with high reliability requirements and real user impact.

High Ownership Mentality

The ability to independently design, implement, debug, and maintain backend systems with a strong sense of responsibility.

Excellent Problem-Solving Skills

A systematic approach to debugging and a deep understanding of performance, reliability, and scalability challenges.

Fast Execution Capability

A proven track record of moving quickly and effectively in a fast-paced startup environment.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Significant backend engineering experience, with a strong emphasis on Python.
2. Demonstrated experience in building scalable production systems and APIs.
3. A deep understanding of databases, asynchronous processing, distributed systems, and backend architecture principles.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience with workflow orchestration tools like Temporal.
2. Experience designing and implementing event-driven or queue-based architectures.
3. Proficiency with cloud platforms such as AWS or GCP.
4. Experience with observability and monitoring systems.
5. Prior experience in a startup or high-growth engineering environment.

General Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of software engineering experience.
• Strong proficiency in backend development using Python.
• Ability to work on-site in Hyderabad, India.
• Excellent communication skills and a proactive, ownership-driven mindset.

Why Join Steps AI?

• Opportunity to build groundbreaking AI products that impact real-world businesses.
• Experience high levels of ownership and autonomy from day one.
• Be part of a fast-paced, innovative engineering culture.
• Play a key role in shaping the core architecture of our evolving platform.