AI Software Engineer

About the Role

Skill Stand In is looking for an experienced AI Software Engineer to support a candidate through the final stage of an interview process for a Founding Engineer / AI Software Engineer position.

This is a 1099 independent contractor engagement, not a full-time employee role.

The original position is with an early-stage AI startup building a platform at the intersection of AI, real-time data, analytics, and prediction-market intelligence.

The interview process has already progressed to its final stage, which is an onsite technical interview.

We are looking for someone with strong practical engineering experience who can confidently handle deep technical discussions around system architecture, AI applications, backend development, data pipelines, and production engineering.

Skill Stand In connects experienced technical professionals with opportunities where specialized engineering knowledge and interview expertise are required.

If your background includes Python, FastAPI, Next.js, AI agents, LLM applications, data pipelines, and system architecture, we'd like to hear from you.

What You’ll Do

• Designing an AI-native application from the ground up
• Building reliable LLM and agent workflows
• Designing FastAPI backend services
• Building Next.js user-facing applications
• Integrating news, market, and third-party data APIs
• Real-time data ingestion and processing
• AI orchestration and analytical pipelines
• Database and API architecture
• Scalability, reliability, observability, and deployment
• Technical trade-offs in an early-stage startup
• Making independent engineering and product decisions

What We’re Looking For

• 4+ years of professional software engineering experience
• Strong Python/backend engineering experience
• Hands-on experience with FastAPI
• Strong understanding of modern web application architecture
• Experience with Next.js, React, or comparable frontend technologies
• Practical experience building LLM applications, AI agents, or AI-powered workflows
• Strong API integration and data-pipeline experience
• Ability to explain technical decisions clearly and confidently
• Strong system-design and problem-solving skills
• Comfortable participating in an onsite technical interview
• Available as a 1099 independent contractor; this is not a full-time position

Technical Background

You should have strong hands-on experience with:

Experience with financial technology, trading systems, prediction markets, market data, or analytics platforms is a strong plus.

• Python and FastAPI
• Next.js, React, and TypeScript
• LLM-powered applications and AI agents
• AI workflow and agent orchestration
• REST APIs and third-party API integrations
• Real-time or near-real-time data ingestion
• Data processing and analytical pipelines
• Backend architecture and scalable services
• Databases, caching, and production infrastructure
• Taking products from initial concept through production

Nice to Have

Experience in one or more of the following areas is especially valuable:

• Prediction markets
• Finance or fintech
• Trading or market-data systems
• Real-time event processing
• News/data aggregation
• AI research and analytical products
• Early-stage or founding-engineer environments

Interview Stage

This opportunity is already at the final stage of the hiring process.

The remaining step is an onsite interview, so we are specifically looking for a senior engineer who can quickly understand the role, technical context, and expected architecture and perform confidently in an in-depth technical discussion.

Compensation

This is a 1099 contractor role, not a full-time position. Compensation is $5k–$8k/month based on qualifications.

Helpful Backgrounds

Experience in any of these areas is especially valuable:

• Python
• FastAPI
• Next.js
• TypeScript
• LLMs
• AI Agents
• Data Pipelines
• Fintech