We are building a Lead Backend Developer role to deliver dependable AI-driven API services and agentic workflows within our AI Pods team. You will enable language models to interact with internal systems, vector databases, and external tools via orchestration frameworks. You will own API contracts and uptime while applying rigorous practices for evaluation, observability, fallbacks, and cost awareness—apply now

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver backend API services alongside LLM orchestration layers
• Build and sustain advanced RAG pipelines across ingestion, chunking, embedding, and retrieval optimization
• Develop and connect agent tools using LangChain, LangGraph, and possibly MCP (Model Context Protocol)
• Ensure security, privacy, enterprise-grade observability, and thorough test coverage across backend workflows
• Lead architecture choices and uphold engineering standards within the pod
• Coordinate with frontend engineers, data engineers, and infrastructure teams
• Own API contracts and service reliability, ensuring graceful failure for AI edge cases
• Provide reusable orchestration frameworks and logic intended for downstream developer consumption

Requirements

• Proven backend engineering experience (5+ years) building microservices and distributed systems
• Hands-on background (2+ years) using Python for high-performance backend services and cloud-native APIs
• Deep expertise with AWS, Docker, and ECS/EKS in production environments
• Solid knowledge of RESTful API development and API lifecycle best practices
• Strong understanding of secure coding practices with well-developed auth/authz fundamentals
• Upper-Intermediate English proficiency (B2)

Nice to have

• 1–2+ years of production experience with AI SDKs such as OpenAI, Anthropic/Claude, or AWS Bedrock
• Familiarity with vector stores (Amazon Kendra, OpenSearch) plus embedding strategies and retrieval systems
• Direct experience with agentic frameworks such as LlamaIndex
• Exposure to AI evaluation tooling or real-time APM platforms (LangSmith, Langfuse, Arize)
• 1–2+ years with React and TypeScript, along with large-scale EKS deployments
• Understanding of agent interoperability patterns (MCP), identity/security topics (IAM, CIAM), and additional languages such as Java, Node.js, or Go

We offer

• International projects with top brands
• Work with global teams of highly skilled, diverse peers
• Healthcare benefits
• Employee financial programs
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Upskilling, reskilling and certification courses
• Unlimited access to the LinkedIn Learning library and 22,000+ courses
• Global career opportunities
• Volunteer and community involvement opportunities
• EPAM Employee Groups
• Award-winning culture recognized by Glassdoor, Newsweek and LinkedIn