Lead Backend Engineer (AI)

TL;DR

Lead Backend Engineer (AI): Designing and scaling core backend services and integrations for a fast-growing selection platform with an accent on API design, architecture, and reliability. Focus on applying AI in practice using existing LLMs and strengthening performance and test quality.

Location: Must be based in the Netherlands and available 4 days/week on-site in Amsterdam.

Salary: €80,000–€90,000 annual salary.

Company

Our client is an Amsterdam-based HR-tech scale-up reinventing hiring, offering an AI-driven selection platform.

What you will do

• Design and scale backend services and APIs in Python.
• Build integrations with ATS and assessment partners.
• Strengthen reliability, performance, and test quality.
• Mentor engineers and raise engineering standards.
• Apply AI in practice, using existing LLMs and adding value in custom layers.

Requirements

• 5+ years of backend engineering experience.
• Strong Python expertise.
• Proven track record building & scaling APIs/systems in start-up/scale-up settings.
• Communicates clearly; enjoys coaching others and working side-by-side in the office.
• Must be based in the Netherlands.
• Available 4 days/week on-site in Amsterdam.

Culture & Benefits

• SAR options (~€5k) after 1 year (tax-friendly equity-like plan).
• Office-first culture in central Amsterdam.
• Small, ambitious team with real ownership and direct impact.
• Entrepreneurial environment with high ownership and short lines of communication.
• Milestones celebrated together with external funding raised for product scaling.