Hire Overseas is hiring a Backend Software Engineer (AI Systems & Automation) for a global, digital-first higher education institution. This is a high-ownership role where you will integrate AI directly into production systems, focusing on product architecture, scalability, and end-to-end system ownership.

What You'll Do

Design and implement backend systems that integrate AI directly into production workflows.
Build AI-powered features that support core product functionality.
Identify automation opportunities across internal and user-facing systems.
Architect and build scalable, reliable backend services.
Design APIs and service layers that support complex product initiatives.
Work with distributed systems, databases, and cloud infrastructure.
Take ownership of technical components from design to deployment and optimization.
Collaborate with product and design teams to translate user needs into robust technical solutions.
Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, observability, and monitoring improvements.
Support junior and mid-level engineers through thoughtful code reviews and mentorship.

What We're Looking For

4+ years of professional software engineering experience in a product-focused startup environment.
Backend-leaning engineering profile.
Demonstrated experience integrating AI into production systems and workflows.
Practical experience using Claude Code (strongly preferred) or comparable AI coding copilots in real development environments.
Strong system design fundamentals including databases, service architectures, and distributed systems.
Experience working in fast-paced or scaling startups.
Background in product companies (not services, agency, or consulting-heavy environments).
Strong ownership mindset with ability to work autonomously.
Comfort working during US business hours.