Backend engineer

About the team

Adaptive ML is helping companies build singular generative AI experiences by democratizing the use of reinforcement learning. We are building the foundational technologies, tools, and products that allow models to learn directly from user interactions and self-improve based on simple guidelines. Our founders come from diverse backgrounds and previously worked together in creating state-of-the-art open-access large language models. We closed a $20M seed with Index & ICONIQ in early 2024 and are live with our first enterprise customers.

Our Product Team is responsible for transforming the technology we build into exceptional products that directly address pain points companies encounter in their generative AI deployments. We are committed to delivering a high-quality, intuitive, and robust experience for our customers.

About the role

As a Backend Engineer on our Product Team, you will help transform our technology into exceptional products. Our products allow companies to build more singular generative AI experiences with deeper personalization through reinforcement learning. We prioritize product quality, with a bias for clarity, responsiveness, and robustness, achieved through attention to detail across frontend and backend systems.

You will work on the backend powering our product, collaborating closely with frontend and Technical Staff to implement new features. Challenges may include interfacing with complex GPU workloads (e.g., distributed inference/training) in a robust way and building scalable abstractions. We are looking for self-driven, ambitious individuals interested in contributing to a highly technical product that prioritizes robustness, accessibility, and responsiveness. As this is an early role, you will have the opportunity to shape our product team as we grow.

This is a preferably in-person role based at our Paris or New York office.

Your responsibilities

• Design, iterate, and implement the backend of our products;

• Develop high-quality Rust software, with elevated standards of performance and robustness;

• Construct systematic processes for product development, helping remove unknowns in our strategy;

• Contribute to our product roadmap aligning the needs of our Commercial Team with the latest advancements from our Technical Team;

• Report clearly on your work to a distributed collaborative team, with a bias for asynchronous written communication.

Your (ideal) background

The background below is only suggestive of a few pointers we believe could be relevant. We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds; do not hesitate to get in touch if you think you could be a great fit, even if the below doesn't fully describe you.

• Significant experience (at least 6-10 years) in software development;

• Strong software engineering skills, with a focus on robustness and performance;

• Strong knowledge and experience of PostgreSQL.

• Minimal knowledge of Python

• A track record of shipping ambitious technical products under tight deadlines;

• A deep concern for user experience;

• Passionate about the future of generative AI, and eager to build foundational technology to help machines deliver more singular experiences.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical (health, dental, and vision) insurance;

• 401(k) plan with 4% matching (or equivalent);

• Unlimited PTO — we strongly encourage at least 5 weeks each year;

• Mental health, wellness, and personal development stipends;

• Visa sponsorship if you wish to relocate to New York or Paris.