Founding Engineer - AI & Data Engineering

Role: Founding EngineerTotal Experience: 35 YearsLocation: Remote (UK Time Zone)Job Summary:We are looking for a strong Software Engineer with hands-on experience across Data Engineering and AI/ML/LLM systems to join as a Founding Engineer. This is a highly hands-on generalist engineering role. The ideal candidate should have strong Software Engineering fundamentals and be comfortable working across backend development, data pipelines, AI agents, and ML/LLM applications.What Youll Do:- Build and scale core platform capabilities across software engineering, AI, and data engineering.- Develop robust backend services, APIs, integrations, and platform features.- Build and maintain data pipelines, data processing workflows, and data infrastructure.- Design and develop AI agents, LLM-powered applications, RAG systems, and AI workflows.- Work with customers to understand technical requirements and build solutions using the platform.- Use modern AI coding and development tools to accelerate engineering and prototyping.- Work across the full development lifecycle - design, development, testing, deployment, and monitoring.- Research and experiment with new AI/ML technologies and integrate relevant capabilities into the platform.- Troubleshoot complex technical problems and optimise system performance.- Work closely with the founding team on architecture, technical decisions, and product development.- Take end-to-end ownership of projects and deliver production-ready solutions.Required Skills & Experience:- 35 years of experience in Software Engineering, with hands-on exposure to Data Engineering and AI/ML/LLM systems.- Strong proficiency in Python and backend software development.- Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals, system design, APIs, databases, Git, testing, and deployment.- Hands-on experience building data pipelines, ETL/ELT workflows, and data processing systems.- Strong understanding of SQL and databases.- Hands-on experience with LLMs, AI agents, RAG, or AI-powered applications.- Experience working with LLM APIs such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or equivalent.- Familiarity with frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, LlamaIndex, or equivalent.- Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.- Comfortable using AI-assisted coding and development tools.- Ability to work across multiple technical domains and solve ambiguous problems independently.- Willingness to work remotely with working hours aligned to the UK time zone.- Educational background from reputed engineering institutions such as IITs, VIT, NITs, BITS Pilani, IIITs, or other top-tier engineering colleges is preferred.Soft Skills:- Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking.- Highly adaptable and comfortable working as a technical generalist.- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.- Strong ownership and ability to work independently.- Curious and eager to learn emerging AI technologies.- Comfortable working directly with customers and internal stakeholders.- Ability to move quickly from problem - solution - production.- Strong startup mindset with the ability to operate in an ambiguous environment.Preferred Qualifications:- Experience working in a startup or early-stage technology company.- Experience building production-grade AI/LLM applications or AI agents.- Strong experience with cloud infrastructure and distributed systems.- Experience with vector databases, RAG architectures, and LLM evaluation.- Experience with Docker, CI/CD, Kubernetes, or similar technologies.- Experience working with modern data platforms and data engineering tools.- Open-source contributions or strong personal AI/engineering projects are a plus.Why Join Us:- Founding-level ownership across product, AI, and engineering.- Build a platform at the intersection of AI, software engineering, and data engineering.- Work directly on real-world AI agents and data engineering problems.- Exposure to cutting-edge AI tools and technologies.- Opportunity to influence architecture, product direction, and engineering culture.- Fully remote role with global exposure and UK-aligned working hours. (ref:hirist.tech)