Senior AI Full-Stack Software Engineer (Python/Next.js/React)

Location: Remote Employment Type: Part-Time (with the potential to become Full-Time)

Appko is working with a groundbreaking AI startup company.   We are seeking a Senior Full-Stack Software Engineer with 7-10 years of experience to join our team. We are looking for an individual who will take true product ownership, acting as a partner in building our AI products from concept to launch. This is a part-time position with the potential to transition into a full-time role as the client secures its next round of funding. You will play a pivotal role in building our AI products for their customers.   You will develop a platform that bridges cutting-edge frontend experiences with a sophisticated, AI-powered backend. This is a unique opportunity to directly impact the direction and success of Appko and its clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of product features, driving them from initial ideation and design through to final deployment and maintenance.
• Develop and maintain our full-stack application using our core technologies: Next.js, React, and Python's FastAPI.
• Design and implement scalable, type-safe APIs and backend services to power both internal and external features.
• Create and optimize high-quality, responsive user interfaces using Tailwind CSS and modern React practices.
• Develop new AI products and features for our customers, taking concepts from design to deployment.
• Integrate and manage AI/ML models with strong experience using Vibe/Anthropic.
• Handle complex image processing tasks on the backend, from file uploads to computer vision.
• Collaborate with the team to define technical architecture, system design, and API contracts.
• Implement and maintain robust authentication and security features using Firebase and JWT.
• Contribute to DevOps practices, including Docker containerization and CI/CD pipelines.

Required Technical Skills

Frontend Expertise

• Advanced proficiency in TypeScript, React, and Next.js 15+.
• Hands-on experience with modern component libraries like Radix UI and shadcn/ui.
• Expertise in utility-first CSS with Tailwind CSS.
• Strong understanding of React state management patterns (hooks, with knowledge of Zustand/React Query a plus).
• Experience with client/server components and the Next.js app directory structure.

Backend Proficiency

• Deep experience with Python 3.9+ and async programming.
• Proven track record with the FastAPI framework and Pydantic for API development.
• Experience designing and optimizing MongoDB schemas for performance.
• Knowledge of asynchronous drivers like motor and aiohttp.
• Familiarity with image processing libraries like Pillow and understanding of various image formats.

Full-Stack and Specialized Skills

• Experience with Docker for containerization and application deployment.
• Solid understanding of RESTful API design, authentication flows (JWT, Firebase Admin SDK), and security best practices.
• Practical experience integrating with and leveraging Vibe/Anthropic AI APIs.
• Knowledge of real-time communication patterns using WebSockets and Socket.io.
• Ability to debug and troubleshoot across the entire stack.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• You are a proactive self-starter who thinks like a founder and takes end-to-end responsibility for the quality and success of your work.
• You are passionate about the potential of AI and excited to build products that solve real-world problems.   You will be expected to utilize and develop with AI tools in order to expedite the delivery of the products/tools you will build.
• You're a versatile problem-solver who thrives on technical challenges from the UI to the database.
• You have a strong understanding of both frontend and backend performance optimization techniques.
• You're passionate about writing clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.
• You're an autonomous learner who stays current with emerging technologies and best practices.