Lead Python Developer, Backend

About the Position

We are seeking a Lead Python Backend Developer to deliver secure, scalable AI-driven API services and agentic workflows for LLM integration. You will own API contracts, RAG orchestration, and service reliability across distributed systems, partnering with adjacent teams to keep quality high.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver backend API services plus LLM orchestration layers
• Implement and operate end-to-end RAG pipelines, covering document ingestion, chunking, embedding, and retrieval optimization
• Develop and wire up agent tools using orchestration frameworks
• Ensure security, privacy, enterprise-grade observability, and test coverage across all backend workflows
• Drive architecture choices and help shape engineering standards within the pod
• Collaborate with frontend engineers, data engineers, and infrastructure teams to ship cohesive solutions
• Own API contracts and end-to-end service reliability, ensuring AI edge cases fail gracefully
• Integrate LLMs with rigorous systems engineering, including evaluation, observability, fallback handling, and cost awareness
• Build dependable, reusable orchestration frameworks and logic for downstream developer consumption

Requirements

• Proven backend engineering background with 5+ years of experience in microservices and distributed systems
• High proficiency in Python for performant backend services and cloud-native APIs
• Hands-on familiarity with AWS, Docker, and ECS/EKS
• Solid understanding of RESTful APIs and API design principles
• Strong foundation in secure coding practices with clear auth/authz fundamentals
• English proficiency at B2 (Upper-Intermediate) level or higher

Nice to Have

• Production experience with AI SDKs such as OpenAI, Anthropic/Claude, AWS Bedrock, or equivalent
• Practical exposure to vector databases (Amazon Kendra, OpenSearch), embedding strategies, and retrieval systems
• Hands-on work with LangChain, LlamaIndex, or LangGraph
• Familiarity with AI evaluation tooling or real-time APM such as LangSmith, Langfuse, or Arize
• Skills in React and TypeScript
• Experience deploying to EKS environments at scale
• Understanding of agent interoperability patterns (MCP)
• Knowledge of identity and security domains (IAM, CIAM)
• Familiarity with secondary languages such as Java, Node.js, or Go

We Offer

• International projects with top brands
• Work with global teams of highly skilled, diverse peers
• Healthcare benefits
• Employee financial programs
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Upskilling, reskilling, and certification courses
• Unlimited access to the LinkedIn Learning library and 22,000+ courses
• Global career opportunities
• Volunteer and community involvement opportunities
• EPAM Employee Groups
• Award-winning culture recognized by Glassdoor, Newsweek, and LinkedIn