Backend Developer / AI Engineer

About The Company i-gelb GmbH is a forward-thinking technology company dedicated to developing innovative Web and AI solutions that serve societal and non-profit organizations. Our core platform, ai-gelb, is a sophisticated AI infrastructure designed to create enterprise-level AI applications tailored for organizations with social responsibility. We collaborate with a diverse range of clients including aid organizations, churches, associations, and public institutions, aiming to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to make a meaningful impact. Our commitment to data privacy, security, and compliance with European standards such as GDPR underpins all our projects, ensuring our solutions are both effective and trustworthy. About The Role We are seeking a skilled Backend Developer / AI Engineer to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be instrumental in building and maintaining the backend services that power our AI-driven solutions. Your work will directly influence the reliability, scalability, and security of our AI platform, enabling us to deliver intelligent, privacy-compliant solutions to our clients. You will be responsible for developing search functionalities, integrating large language models, and ensuring seamless data handling and access control. Collaboration with frontend, data, and AI teams will be essential as you help shape the architecture of our platform and contribute to the evolution of our AI infrastructure from standard backend services to sophisticated, European-compliant AI systems. Qualifications The ideal candidate will possess several years of experience in backend development using modern, type-safe programming languages such as Go, Rust, Java, or C#. You should have a solid understanding of API design, real-time and streaming interfaces, and experience with concurrent programming and performance optimization. Knowledge of semantic search, AI-assisted retrieval, and handling large data volumes is essential. Experience with integrating AI services, particularly large language models, and familiarity with container technologies, Linux environments, version control, and CI/CD pipelines are required. A strong foundation in relational and search/vector databases, along with a keen awareness of data privacy, security, and multi-tenant architectures, is also necessary. Excellent communication skills in German are expected. Responsibilities Develop and operate backend services supporting our AI assistants, providing knowledge and agent functionalities for client projects.Enhance search capabilities to efficiently find relevant content and prepare data for AI processing.Ensure large datasets remain quickly searchable by managing the architecture, operation, and quality of search functions.Integrate and optimize language models (LLMs), preparing data for their use.Implement integrations with various AI providers and models while maintaining compliance with GDPR and European data standards.Guarantee fast, reliable responses even under high load and multiple simultaneous requests.Maintain strict separation of client data and enforce reliable access controls.Contribute to architectural decisions and collaborate closely with frontend, data, and AI teams to deliver cohesive solutions. Benefits At i-gelb, we offer an environment that fosters growth, innovation, and work-life balance. You will work with cutting-edge technologies such as semantic search, AI infrastructure, and European data privacy standards. Our projects are meaningful, supporting organizations that make a societal difference. We provide opportunities for active participation in shaping our AI platform and its future development. Our flexible working arrangements include remote work or hybrid setups at our modern office in Cologne, equipped with the latest hardware and tools. Join a team with flat hierarchies, a friendly atmosphere, and perks such as free snacks and drinks. We prioritize your well-being with flexible working hours and understanding of personal commitments. Equal Opportunity i-gelb GmbH is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, age, religion, or disability. We believe diversity enhances our innovation and success, and we strive to provide a supportive workplace for everyone.