AI Engineer
Summary
Builds and improves AI-powered applications and internal tools for enterprise automation, prototyping LLM-based workflows using retrieval, agents, and structured outputs. Works primarily in Python within a small, fully remote Eastern-time team that also serves clients.
Compensation: $115k – $130k
AI Engineer
Who we are
Makai Labs builds software that automates entire companies. We work across a diversified portfolio, which means our systems touch a wide range of domains, processes, and operational constraints. Our engineering team is small, senior, and high-output. We move fast, hold high standards, and trust each other to take ownership without being managed.
What we're looking for
Makai Labs is hiring a AI Engineer to help build AI systems for enterprise automation. This is a hands-on builder role where you’ll work closely with our engineering and design teams to prototype, ship, and improve AI-powered products and internal tools. You’ll have the opportunity to own smaller projects end to end while contributing to larger client and platform initiatives.
Responsibilities will include
- Build and improve AI-powered applications and internal tools
- Rapidly prototype, experiment, and iterate across client and internal projects
- Implement workflows that use LLMs, retrieval systems, agents, and structured outputs
- Contribute to shared platform work and reusable tooling
- Turn prototypes into reliable, client-ready systems
- Conduct research, benchmarking, testing, and evaluation of new approaches
- Own smaller projects or sub-projects with guidance from the team
- Take ownership of deliverables and help deliver work that meets client needs
- Write and maintain clear internal documentation
Ideal Experience
- Senior in college, recent graduate, or early-career engineer
- Background in computer science (bonus if you also have business exposure)
- Experience building AI applications through internships, coursework, research, or personal projects
- Experience running AI experiments and iterating quickly
- Strong Python skills
What we value
- Initiative and willingness to learn quickly on the job
- Bias toward action and comfort with fast iteration
- Interest in staying current with AI advancements and applying them in practical systems
- Wants to solve hard problems
Nice To Haves
- Experience with APIs, backend services, or workflow automation
- Familiarity with FastAPI, Flask, or similar backend frameworks
- Familiarity with React and TypeScript
- Familiarity with Docker and local development environments
- Familiarity with testing in Python or TypeScript
- Experience working with retrieval systems, embeddings, or search
- Experience working with OCR, document processing, or PDF workflows
- Experience with fine-tuning, benchmarking, or serving LLMs
- Experience in fast-paced, high-accountability team settings
Core values for Makai employees
- Have a strong work ethic
- Be self-sufficient and self-driven with an ownership mentality, no matter your role
- Be a flexible thinker
- Be congenial and a team player
- Always be of service to each other and our clients, partners, and neighbors
Benefits
- Fully remote role, Eastern time zone
- Opportunities to work in-person with local colleagues
- Generous PTO
- Full health insurance premium reimbursement
- 401(k) matching
- Career growth & development opportunities