Senior Backend Engineer

Senior Backend Engineer – AI/MLLocation: Abu Dhabi, UAEWorking Arrangement: On-siteContract: 6 monthsThe RoleWe are seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to join a major AI transformation programme in Abu Dhabi.You will be responsible for designing and building production-grade backend services, microservices and APIs supporting AI/ML applications, LLM-powered solutions and intelligent agent systems.This is a hands-on engineering role working across backend architecture, AI integration, enterprise systems and secure infrastructure.Key ResponsibilitiesDesign and develop scalable backend services and microservices for AI-powered applications.Build APIs and orchestration services supporting LLMs, AI agents and automated workflows.Develop secure integrations with enterprise platforms, data platforms and external APIs.Build backend services supporting RAG, semantic search and vector database use cases.Develop high-performance applications using Python, Go or Java.Design and implement RESTful APIs and/or gRPC services.Build and deploy containerised applications using Docker and Kubernetes.Implement authentication, authorisation, RBAC, logging, monitoring and auditability.Optimise systems for secure on-premise and restricted environments.Work closely with AI/ML Engineers, Data Scientists and Frontend Engineers to take solutions from development into production.Essential Experience5+ years' experience in Backend Engineering.Strong production experience with Python, ideally FastAPI or Django.Strong experience with Go or Java.Proven experience building distributed systems and microservices.Strong hands-on experience with Docker and Kubernetes.Experience designing and developing REST APIs and/or gRPC.Strong experience with PostgreSQL or relational databases.Experience building production systems supporting AI/ML, LLM or data-intensive applications.Strong understanding of software architecture, scalability, security and reliability.Desirable ExperienceLLM applications, AI agents or agent orchestration.RAG and vector databases such as Weaviate or Milvus.API gateways such as Kong or NGINX.Enterprise integrations including SAP, OData or SOAP.On-premise, air-gapped or restricted environments.Experience in defence, government, fintech, healthcare or other regulated environments.Observability, monitoring and distributed tracing.The OpportunityThis is an opportunity to work on a high-profile AI transformation programme in Abu Dhabi, building secure and scalable backend architecture at the intersection of AI, enterprise technology and distributed systems.If you're a Senior Backend Engineer who wants to work on technically challenging AI applications and production-scale platforms, we'd like to hear from you.Please note: The end client is confidential. Further details will be shared with shortlisted candidates.