Job Description

Back-End AI Software Developer
Location: South Africa
Salary Range: 1000 - 5500 USD
Role Description:
The Back-End AI Software Developer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining scalable server-side infrastructure that supports AI-powered applications and services. This role works closely with machine learning engineers, data scientists, and front-end developers to implement APIs, data pipelines, and integrations with AI models and frameworks. The ideal candidate has strong back-end development experience and a solid understanding of deploying, managing, and optimizing AI and ML systems in production environments.
Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop robust, secure, and scalable back-end systems and APIs to support AI-driven features.
• Integrate machine learning models (via frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hugging Face) into production-ready applications.
• Develop and maintain RESTful or GraphQL APIs for use by front-end teams and external services.
• Collaborate with AI/ML engineers to deploy, serve, and monitor models efficiently using tools like FastAPI, Flask, Django, or Node.js.
• Optimize inference performance and manage versioning and scaling of AI models.
• Implement data pipelines for training, inference, and feedback loops using cloud and big data tools.
• Set up and manage infrastructure on cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) including CI/CD pipelines, containers (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Ensure system security, compliance, and data protection throughout all back-end operations.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and improve backend scalability and reliability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally in agile development cycles with product managers, front-end developers, and data teams.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of experience in back-end development, with a strong command of Python, Node.js, or Java.
• Experience working with AI/ML model deployment in real-time or batch environments.
• Familiarity with AI frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, or Hugging Face Transformers.
• Strong experience with RESTful API development, microservices architecture, and asynchronous processing.
• Proficient in database technologies (SQL, NoSQL) and data modeling.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Git, and CI/CD workflows.
• Knowledge of cloud environments and services (e.g., AWS Lambda, EC2, S3, SageMaker; or equivalents in GCP/Azure).
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently or in a collaborative team setting.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with MLOps tools and model lifecycle management.
• Familiarity with message brokers (Kafka, RabbitMQ) and task queues (Celery, Redis).
• Understanding of data privacy regulations and security best practices in AI applications.
• Exposure to large language models (LLMs) and prompt engineering concepts.
• Background in SaaS, fintech, healthcare tech, or other AI-heavy domains is a plus.

Details:

• Independent contractor agreement paid 2x monthly.
• Client has a desire for long term commitment.

Skills Required