Senior Product Engineer - AI Infrastructure

As a Senior Product Engineer - AI Infrastructure at Intercom, you'll be responsible for developing the systems that drive our AI-powered products. This involves collaborating with machine learning engineers and scientists, ensuring robust production for proof-of-concept code, and contributing across all software development phases—from ideation to implementation and testing. You’ll also play a crucial role in mentoring fellow engineers and raising technical standards throughout the team.

Candidates for the Senior Product Engineer - AI Infrastructure position at Intercom should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in backend development. Strong fundamentals in a programming language like Python or Ruby are essential, along with a willingness to adapt and learn. Experience with machine learning systems and platforms is a bonus that can enhance your application.

The Senior Product Engineer - AI Infrastructure is vital to Intercom’s AI advancement as they build the underlying platforms that facilitate efficient AI product development. By collaborating with machine learning experts, you'll help design and implement systems that can quickly adapt to new AI technologies, ensuring our products continuously meet customer needs and enhance how businesses interact with clients.

At Intercom, you’ll work in a hybrid environment that encourages collaboration while providing the flexibility of remote work. The culture emphasizes openness and acceptance, allowing you to focus on delivering outstanding work. Expect a supportive team that values your contributions and fosters a learning environment where innovation thrives.

As a Senior Product Engineer - AI Infrastructure, you’ll have numerous growth opportunities, including mentoring junior engineers, engaging in career development initiatives, and participating in regular compensation reviews that reward your hard work. Intercom supports continuous learning and skill advancement, particularly in the ever-evolving field of AI.

When responding to this question, focus on specific projects where you implemented machine learning solutions. Highlight the tools you used, your role in the team, and any measurable impacts your work had on the product. Show your enthusiasm for AI advancements and explain how this experience equips you for the Senior Product Engineer position at Intercom.

Discuss your proficiency in relevant programming languages, particularly Python or Ruby. Provide examples of projects you completed using these languages and emphasize their significance in backend development. Relate your skills to Intercom’s tech stack and how you can leverage them to build scalable AI solutions.

Explain your strategies for scaling systems, emphasizing methods such as modular design, testing, and continuous integration. Share your experience working in fast-paced environments and how you prioritize tasks, focusing on delivering high-quality results under tight deadlines.

Provide a detailed example of a project involving collaborations with ML engineers or data scientists. Describe your role, the challenges faced, and how teamwork led to successful outcomes. Focus on communication, shared goals, and how each team’s expertise contributed.

Discuss your strategies for staying up-to-date with industry trends, such as following relevant publications, attending conferences, participating in online courses, or engaging with the tech community. Highlight how your proactive approach allows you to integrate the latest advancements into your work.

Share your perspective on the importance of balancing innovation with reliability. Provide examples of how you’ve prioritized both aspects in previous projects, ensuring that while pushing for new developments, user experiences remain stable and secure.

Explain your methods for maintaining technical standards, such as conducting code reviews, implementing unit tests, and following best practices in documentation. Emphasize how you encourage a culture of quality within your team.

Share a specific challenge you encountered, detailing the steps you took to analyze the problem and the tools you employed to solve it. Focus on your problem-solving skills and adaptability when facing technical roadblocks.

Outline your mentoring philosophy, including methods such as regular check-ins, pair programming, and providing constructive feedback. Highlight the importance of fostering a supportive environment that encourages growth and learning within the technical team.

Articulate your enthusiasm for Intercom's mission and the innovative work being done in AI customer service. Discuss how the role aligns with your career goals and your desire to contribute to a leading-edge AI platform that transforms customer interactions.