AlignerrCoding & software eval
Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling
up to $75/hr
About this role, in Alignerr's words
What if your Python expertise could directly shape the infrastructure powering the next generation of AI? We're looking for a Senior Python Full-Stack Engineer to build and optimize the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation systems that leading AI labs depend on to train and benchmark their most advanced models.
What you'll do
- Design, build, and optimize high-performance Python systems supporting large-scale AI data pipelines and evaluation workflows
- Develop full-stack tooling and backend services for data annotation, validation, and quality control at scale
- Architect robust REST and GraphQL APIs, design database schemas, and implement authentication and authorization flows
Show all 7 itemsHide the other 4 in What you'll do
- Improve reliability, performance, and safety across existing production Python codebases
- Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior, then implement scalable, maintainable fixes
- Collaborate closely with data, research, and engineering teams to support model training and evaluation workflows
- Lead synchronous code reviews and system design sessions, driving technical decisions with clarity and conviction
Candidate background
Who You Are
- Native or fluent English speaker with clear written and verbal communication skills
- Full-stack developer with a strong systems programming background and 5+ years of professional experience writing production Python backend services
- Mastery of modern web frameworks and strict type enforcement patterns in Python
- Proven experience architecting APIs, designing database schemas, and implementing auth flows at production scale
- A sharp problem-solver who can spot systemic issues and drive meaningful improvements across complex codebases
- Able to commit 20–40 hours per week with consistency and reliability
Nice to Have
Show all 3 itemsHide these 3 items in Nice to Have
- Prior experience with data annotation platforms, data quality systems, or evaluation infrastructure
- Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training pipelines, or benchmarking systems
- Experience with distributed systems, developer tooling, or infrastructure engineering
Quoted from selected sections of Alignerr's posting. The full posting may state other conditions. Read the full posting
A closer look
More context, when you need it.
Full job descriptionThe original posting, in Alignerr's words
Posted by Alignerr, reproduced here so you can judge the role before clicking. Original posting ↗
Lead Backend Engineer — AI Tooling
About the Role
What if your Python expertise could directly shape the infrastructure powering the next generation of AI? We're looking for a Senior Python Full-Stack Engineer to build and optimize the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation systems that leading AI labs depend on to train and benchmark their most advanced models.
This is a fully remote contract role working on real production systems alongside world-class research and engineering teams. If you thrive at the intersection of backend engineering and cutting-edge AI, this is the opportunity to make a tangible impact at scale.
- Organization: Alignerr - Type: Hourly Contract - Location: Remote - Commitment: 20–40 hours/week
What You'll Do
* Design, build, and optimize high-performance Python systems supporting large-scale AI data pipelines and evaluation workflows * Develop full-stack tooling and backend services for data annotation, validation, and quality control at scale * Architect robust REST and GraphQL APIs, design database schemas, and implement authentication and authorization flows * Improve reliability, performance, and safety across existing production Python codebases * Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior, then implement scalable, maintainable fixes * Collaborate closely with data, research, and engineering teams to support model training and evaluation workflows * Lead synchronous code reviews and system design sessions, driving technical decisions with clarity and conviction
Who You Are
* Native or fluent English speaker with clear written and verbal communication skills * Full-stack developer with a strong systems programming background and 5+ years of professional experience writing production Python backend services * Mastery of modern web frameworks and strict type enforcement patterns in Python * Proven experience architecting APIs, designing database schemas, and implementing auth flows at production scale * A sharp problem-solver who can spot systemic issues and drive meaningful improvements across complex codebases * Able to commit 20–40 hours per week with consistency and reliability
Nice to Have
* Prior experience with data annotation platforms, data quality systems, or evaluation infrastructure * Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training pipelines, or benchmarking systems * Experience with distributed systems, developer tooling, or infrastructure engineering
Why Join Us
* Work on high-impact, production-grade systems used by leading AI research labs * Fully remote and async-friendly — work from wherever you do your best work * Engage with meaningful engineering challenges at the frontier of AI development * Collaborate with top-tier researchers and engineers on problems that matter * Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as projects evolve and scale
Working with AlignerrPay, getting started and work, from Alignerr's own pages
What the platform publishes in general. These are not extra terms confirmed for this particular role.
- Getting paid
- Billed weekly, Monday to Sunday, with approved work paid by the following Friday, according to Labelbox's help center. Payment goes through Stripe Connect or PayPal depending on your location, with one provider per country. intercom.help/labelbox/en/articles/13600616-alignerr-paym..., alignerr.com/process
- Before your first paid task
- Sign up, apply, verify your identity, set up billing and onboard. Some jobs add a Zara AI interview or domain assessments. alignerr.com/process
- How much work
- Time to your first project depends on demand and your skills, and there is no minimum number of hours. alignerr.com/faqs
- Contract
- Independent contractor, under terms with ALIGNERR LLC. alignerr.com/faqs, alignerr.com/privacy
Read on the pages linked above on 24 Sep 2026. Platforms change these terms, so check the linked page before you rely on one.
How does the pay compare?Across Coding & software eval roles, not this role alone
From our own daily reads of every open listing on the platforms we follow, not from Alignerr's posting. How we count.
Pay across the field: Coding & software eval
Across 391 roles in this field with a stated hourly rate in US dollars, on 14 platforms, the middle half pays $65 to $120 an hour at the top of the range, and the median is $95. This role's top rate, $75, is in the middle half. Of the 140 distinct rates we count, 44 are lower and 92 are higher.
| Platform | Roles | Top of range, per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alignerr (this platform) | 136 | $50 to $400 · median $100 |
| micro1 | 44 | $60 to $350 · median $120 |
| Handshake AI | 43 | $47 to $125 · median $80 |
| Meridial (Invisible) | 34 | $22 to $150 · median $60 |
| Mercor | 33 | $60 to $200 · median $105 |
Sources and listing historyWhere this information comes from
This listing's history
- First seen here on 27 Aug 2026, and still on Alignerr's list when we last read it on 13 Oct 2026.
- The listed pay has not changed since then.
- Posted by Alignerr
- First seen by AIPayList
- Last seen live
- Listing ID
- 2028dbeb-a553-4da2-8d14-c1af0cf49cea
Pay as the source states it: “$50-75/hr”.
Platforms sometimes change a rate after posting. Every listing here is re-read at least once a day and corrected when its source moves, so a difference you see on the platform is usually a change made since the last read. How freshness works.
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