Backend Engineer

ABOUT US

MindsDB is a fast-growing AI startup headquartered in San Francisco, California. MindsDB is an AI Analytics solution that connects to diverse data sources and applications then unifies structured and unstructured data, at petabyte scale. Powered by an industry-first cognitive engine that can operate anywhere (on-prem, VPC, serverless), it empowers both humans and AI with highly informed decision-making capabilities.

MindsDB was founded in 2017 by Adam Carrigan and Jorge Torres, inspired by Ian M. Banks's Culture series, in which super AI systems called Minds collaborate with other forms of life to accomplish incredible goals. Starting as an open source project, MindsDB now has both open source and enterprise AGI data solutions. The MindsDB community stretches across our GitHub with over 27,000 stars, nearly 800 contributors, and our Slack community of over 6,500 members from every corner of the globe and continues to grow every day.

We are backed with over $55M in funding from Benchmark, Mayfield, YCombinator, and NVIDIA. MindsDB is also recognized by Forbes as one of America's most promising AI companies (2021) and by Gartner as a Cool Vendor for Data and AI (2022).

THE ROLE

We’re seeking a Backend Engineer with strong Python expertise to help power MindsDB’s AI Analytics platform. In this role, you will architect and build systems that connect to diverse data sources, unify structured and unstructured information, and support our cognitive engine at scale.

You’ll work on core backend infrastructure and APIs. You’ll be part of a team that values open source, scalability, and developer-first design, enabling thousands of users across our community and enterprise customers to make better decisions with AI.

We are looking for a candidate currently based in one of the following timezones: Central Time (GMT-5), Mountain Time (GMT-6), Mountain Standard Time (GMT-7), Pacific Time (GMT-7), Alaska Time (GMT-8), Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (GMT-10).

We are open to Hybrid working (in the Bay Area, SF) or Fully Remote.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and implement scalable backend services in Python that support AI-driven analytics and data unification across multiple environments (on-prem, VPC, serverless).


• Build APIs and integrations that connect diverse structured and unstructured data sources into MindsDB’s cognitive engine.


• Collaborate with engineers and product managers to design solutions that meet the needs of both open-source community users and enterprise clients.


• Ensure reliability, security, and performance of systems operating at petabyte scale.


• Write clear, maintainable code and contribute to documentation that helps the global MindsDB developer community.


• Participate actively in code reviews, knowledge-sharing, and open source engagement.

REQUIREMENTS

• 4+ years of professional software engineering experience.


• Deep expertise in Python and backend frameworks (FastAPI, Flask).


• Experience building scalable APIs and distributed systems that handle high-volume data.


• Strong knowledge of relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and data modeling.


• Familiarity with handling unstructured data and connecting to diverse data sources.


• Working knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and deployment best practices.


• Strong problem-solving skills, curiosity, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.

NICE TO HAVE

• Background in AI/ML frameworks, MLOps, or developer tools.


• Experience with open source projects, either as a contributor or maintainer.


• Knowledge of event-driven architectures, streaming systems, or message queues.


• Startup experience.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Flexible Working Hours


• Remote or Hybrid Working


• Competitive Compensation


• Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance (US)


• 401k with up to 6% matching (US)


• Unlimited PTO


• New Hire Remote Setup budget ($1500)


• Lunch Provided Mon-Fri (US)


• Internet Budget ($25/month) (US)


• Commuter Budget ($1200/year) (US)


• Learning & Development budget


• Wellbeing Budget ($1200/year)


• International in-person company retreats


• Wellbeing/Mental Health leave

DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION

MindsDB is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all of our employees. MindsDB will give all qualified applicants consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.​

Salary Range

$100,000 - $150,000 USD