Backend Product Engineer

Location: Turin / Hybrid Employment: Full-time Experience: 5+ years Stack: Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, Docker, Terraform About GrantSpider GrantSpider is building the AI Grant Office: a platform that helps universities, research centres and innovative companies manage the full grant lifecycle: from opportunity discovery and partner identification to proposal development, submission and post-award management. We are evolving from an advanced AI copilot into a grant office autopilot capable of coordinating complex, multi-user workflows across our platform and enterprise systems. We are an early-stage, fast-growing startup looking for an experienced backend engineer who wants substantial ownership and the opportunity to shape both the product and the technical architecture. The role We are looking for a committed Backend Product Engineer who can take ownership of complex product areas from initial requirements to production. You will not simply receive detailed tickets. You will be expected to understand the user problem, challenge unclear requirements, design a pragmatic solution, implement it, test it and monitor it after release. You will work closely with the founders, contributing to the core systems that power GrantSpider’s workflows, agents and enterprise features. What you will work on Designing and developing scalable backend services with Python and FastAPIBuilding the infrastructure behind multi-step AI and agent workflowsDeveloping APIs, data models and asynchronous processing systemsImproving workflow state management, error recovery and observabilityBuilding enterprise features such as permissions, audit logs and secure data accessIntegrating GrantSpider with external platforms and customer systemsImproving automated testing, code quality and deployment reliabilityContributing to architectural and product decisionsReviewing code and helping strengthen engineering standards across the teamOur platform currently uses FastAPI, React, PostgreSQL, pgvector, Neo4j, AWS, Docker, Terraform and GitHub Actions, with LangGraph powering multi-agent orchestration. What we are looking for At least 5 years of professional software-development experienceStrong Python and backend-development skillsExperience designing APIs and relational data modelsExperience with PostgreSQL and production cloud environmentsAbility to independently own a feature from an ambiguous problem to productionStrong attention to maintainability, testing and failure handlingProduct mindset: you care whether users can successfully complete their work, not only whether the code runsAbility to communicate trade-offs clearly and challenge decisions constructivelyComfort working in a startup environment with changing priorities and limited processResponsible use of AI coding tools: you must accelerate development with them while retaining full understanding and ownership of the codeItalian and English, at least B2 You may be a strong fit if You prefer owning outcomes rather than completing isolated ticketsYou naturally simplify overcomplicated systemsYou investigate production issues without waiting for instructionsYou ask questions about the user and business context before codingYou can move quickly without creating unnecessary technical debt Team You will join a small, hands-on technical team composed of: a founder-led product and technology function;an AI orchestration engineer coordinating engineering delivery;a senior developer focused on integrations, authentication and infrastructure;a backend engineer focused on data pipelines and internal services.You will be given ownership of major backend product areas and will have a direct influence on how GrantSpider’s platform evolves. Compensation €50,000–€65,000 gross annual salary, depending on experience, technical capabilities and level of independencePossibility of a higher offer for an exceptional candidate with strong early-stage startup experienceEquity recognition under GrantSpider’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), based on seniority, responsibilities and long-term contribution to the companyFlexible hybrid working arrangements Why join Take meaningful ownership of core product areas from your first weeksBuild a technically ambitious AI product used in complex, real-world workflowsWork directly with the founders and influence product and architectural decisionsHelp define the engineering standards of a rapidly growing startupReceive equity participation through the company ESOP, aligning your contribution with GrantSpider’s long-term growthGrow toward broader technical leadership as the team expands Startup mentality is essential. We are looking for someone who takes full ownership of their work and understands that, at an early-stage company, important releases, incidents and customer deadlines may occasionally require flexibility beyond standard working hours. We value intensity when it matters, but we also aim to build a sustainable working environment rather than relying on permanent overtime.