Senior Backend Developer

ABOUT THE ROLE A fast-growing, Series A-backed AI search analytics company in Berlin is looking for a Senior Backend Developer to architect and build the systems that power its AI-driven recommendations platform. You'll work at the intersection of scalable backend engineering and cutting-edge AI integrations, collaborating closely with product, data, and frontend teams to deliver reliable, high-performance insights for marketing teams worldwide. Formal degrees or fixed years of experience are not required — demonstrated excellence and the ability to move fast are what matter most. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Architect and build backend systems powering AI-driven recommendations. - Design, implement, and maintain scalable APIs, data pipelines, and databases delivering reliable analytics insights. - Collaborate with product, data, and frontend teams to translate requirements into robust technical solutions. - Develop and maintain automated tests and CI/CD pipelines to ensure quality and rapid delivery. - Integrate with AI model APIs (OpenAI, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Llama) to support real-time recommendations. - Ensure security, authentication/authorization, and data privacy across backend services. - Implement end-to-end changes across backend services with clean, maintainable code. - Build and scale REST/GraphQL APIs and data models to support AI-driven product features. - Actively leverage AI-assisted developer tools (e.g. Cursor) to enhance productivity while keeping committed code concise and clear. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Required: - Deep proficiency in TypeScript. - Hands-on experience with the core stack: GCP (Cloud Functions, Cloud Tasks), PostgreSQL, Firestore. - Experience integrating with AI model APIs such as OpenAI, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and/or Llama for real-time use cases. - Strong system design and architectural decision-making abilities. - Experience designing and building scalable REST and/or GraphQL APIs, data pipelines, and data models. - Experience implementing automated testing (unit/integration) and CI/CD pipelines. - Solid knowledge of security best practices, authentication/authorization, and data privacy. - Ability to match the code style of an existing codebase and implement changes end-to-end. - Excellent collaboration skills across product, data, and frontend teams. - A demonstrated track record of exceptional performance or notable achievements in past projects. - Willingness to work on-site full-time in Berlin, including extended hours when needed. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Salary: €75,000 – €120,000 per year, depending on experience. - Work at the cutting edge of AI and search analytics in a high-growth, well-funded startup environment. LOCATION - Berlin, Germany — fully on-site, 5 days per week in the office. - Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.