Backend Developer

Job DescriptionTeklTalk is building an AI-powered chatbot designed to give website visitors accurate, trustworthy answers based on a website’s own content. We are looking for a Backend Engineer to help us build, improve, and scale the backend systems that power TeklTalk. You’ll work primarily with Python and FastAPI, building APIs, backend services, data pipelines, integrations, and infrastructure that support our AI-powered product. This is a hands-on engineering role where you’ll have the opportunity to design solutions, write production code, deploy services, troubleshoot real-world issues, and work closely with the AI, engineering, and product teams. As an early member of the team, your work will directly influence the architecture and reliability of the product. What you'll work onDesign, build, and maintain backend services using Python and FastAPIDevelop clean, scalable, and well-documented REST APIsBuild backend systems that support AI/LLM, RAG, search, and conversational featuresIntegrate third-party APIs, AI models, databases, and external servicesDesign and work with relational and NoSQL databasesBuild data ingestion, processing, and background jobs where requiredImplement authentication, authorization, API security, and access controlsOptimize backend performance, reliability, and scalabilityWrite clean, maintainable, and testable Python codeDesign error handling, logging, monitoring, and observabilityDeploy backend services to cloud or production environmentsSet up and maintain deployment pipelines and development environmentsWork with Docker and containerized applicationsTroubleshoot production issues and improve system stabilityParticipate in architectural and technical decisions as the product evolvesWork closely with the AI and product teams to turn ideas into production featuresReview code and contribute to engineering best practicesDocument APIs, architecture, technical decisions, and deployment processes What we're looking forStrong programming experience with PythonHands-on experience building APIs with FastAPI or similar Python frameworksGood understanding of REST APIs and backend architectureExperience working with databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or similarUnderstanding of asynchronous programming and Python async/awaitExperience deploying backend applications to productionFamiliarity with Docker and containerizationUnderstanding of Linux and basic server administrationExperience working with Git and collaborative development workflowsGood understanding of software engineering principles and writing maintainable codeAbility to debug problems and investigate issues independentlyComfortable working in a fast-moving startup environmentStrong analytical and problem-solving skillsGood written and verbal communication Nice to haveExperience or familiarity with: AWS, GCP, Azure, or other cloud platformsCI/CD pipelines and automated deploymentMonitoring and observability toolsAutomated testing with pytestInfrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform Who would be a good fit?This role could be a great fit for someone who enjoys asking: “How can we build this better, faster, and more reliably?” You should be someone who enjoys building things from the ground up, investigating technical problems, and taking ownership of a feature from development through deployment. You don't need to know everything. We value engineers who are curious, practical, and willing to learn — someone who can explore an unfamiliar technology, build a prototype, test it, and turn a successful idea into reliable production code. We're a startup, so you'll have a lot of freedom and ownership. You'll work closely with the founding/engineering team and have a direct opportunity to influence the architecture, infrastructure, and product. If you're passionate about Python, backend engineering, APIs, cloud deployment, and building real products, we'd love to hear from you.