Backend Engineer - AI & Data (Engineer #4)

$130-160K+ • 0.25% - 0.75%

Sleuth is building the modern decision intelligence operating system for life sciences companies.

We’re using AI to automate workflows and deliver bespoke insights and reports that answer our user’s critical questions. Our team is lean, talent-dense and very ambitious.

Build foundational infrastructure for Sleuth’s platform

You’d be our fourth engineering hire. You’ll have full ownership over major features, play a huge role in creating the culture of our engineering team and will work day-to-day with the founders.

You’ll build and deploy automated, LLM-powered data ingestion pipelines. Our ideal candidate is passionate about AI-driven data engineering, comfortable navigating ambiguity and eager to build innovative, production-ready solutions from the ground up.

A typical week in this role

• Work with teammates to design and implement API endpoints to power our platform and frontend
• Build and maintain automated, AI-powered ETL pipelines for robust data ingestion and cleansing.
• Develop relationship mapping and data orchestration workflows leveraging LLM frameworks (LangGraph).
• Collaborate on architectural decisions for our AI data management layer.
• Occasionally extend and enhance frontend systems supporting internal data management processes.

Your qualifications

• 4+ years of software engineering experience, especially backend or data-intensive roles
• Proficiency with Python (Quart/FastAPI), PostgreSQL, and API design
• Familiarity with LLM frameworks (e.g. LangGraph, LangSmith) and AI-driven data workflows
• Experience with Docker, GCP/AWS infrastructure
• Experience designing, building, or maintaining ETL pipelines
• Strong ability to learn new technologies and be productive in unfamiliar domains
• Authorized to work in the United States and available during PST working hours

Why join?

• Traction: we’ve generated outsized demand for a startup of our size, and have already signed deals with some of the world’s leading biopharma companies
• Talent density: we’re growing thoughtfully and only work with incredibly smart, driven people
• Velocity: to meet the demand we’ve generated, we ship fast. You’ll learn a lot and constantly take on new challenges.
• Frontier technology & product: we’re developing cutting-edge AI systems. You’ll truly be building the future of how our biopharma clients generate insights to power their business

You might be the right fit if…

• You can lead projects end-to-end, from discovery through implementation: Sleuth is a low-structure, high-trust environment. We’re growing fast, so circumstances can be constantly changing. If you can take a high level goal and independently figure out how to achieve it, you’ll fit in great.
• You love to move quickly: velocity is our key advantage, so it’s critical to approach everything with an 80/20 mindset - how can we ship the best version of this in a week vs. a month?
• You want to be a founder: joining a fast-growing, early-stage startup is an excellent training ground to see how a company is built up close. You’ll have liberty to learn about and impact every area of the business.

You might be the wrong fit if…

• You want a relaxed gig: while we don’t encourage burnout, the reality is that startups are hard, especially when growing quickly. You’ll have a lot of responsibility with other folks on the team counting on you to meet deadlines. There’s always more we can do. To the right person, this is all exciting, but if working 60+ hour weeks doesn’t sound right for your life circumstances right now, you might not be the right fit.

What we offer

We'll treat you well. If there are any other benefits that are important to you, we'd like to hear about them!

• Compensation: $130-160K base salary with meaningful equity in a venture-backed, early-stage startup
• Comprehensive health insurance with generous employer contribution
• Flexible work schedules + remote work / hybrid options; relocation expenses to Los Angeles, CA will be covered
• Substantial growth opportunities for high performers, including accelerated promotions
• Be on the ground floor of a well-funded, innovative startup & help establish the foundational culture

How to apply

Interested in learning more? We'd love to talk! Email us at [email protected]

• Include this role's title in your subject line.
• Send along your resume and any links that best showcase the relevant things you've built and done.
• Answer this prompt: what’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done (doesn’t have to be work related!).
• No AI generated responses please (we’ll check for this)! We want to hear from you in a few sentences.

Our process can move quickly and includes a technical assessment case study. We look forward to meeting you!