AI Engineer

As an AI Engineer at Neon, you will be responsible for building and leading the AI Team, creating innovative Agents that enhance our platform. You will code extensively, oversee project delivery from ideation to completion, and mentor other engineers to uphold high-quality coding practices. Additionally, you'll participate in on-call rotations to address any major issues that arise, ensuring the success and reliability of Neon.

To qualify for the AI Engineer role at Neon, you should have experience in building AI tools, a strong foundation in backend technologies, and proficiency in programming languages such as Go or Rust. Previous leadership experience in tech roles, familiarity with infrastructure technologies like Kubernetes and Docker, and excellent problem-solving skills are essential. Furthermore, being able to communicate complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders is crucial.

Coding is a vital aspect of the AI Engineer role at Neon, constituting at least 50% of your time. This hands-on approach not only allows you to build impressive AI Agents but also ensures you actively engage in the development processes and mentor your team effectively, fostering a collaborative work culture.

Neon's team culture is founded on transparency, accountability, and proactive collaboration. As an AI Engineer, you'll work in a flat organizational structure that encourages diverse opinions and innovative thoughts. The team embraces open-source principles and strives to create a dynamic environment where everyone's contributions are valued and recognized.

As an AI Engineer at Neon, you will enjoy a competitive benefits package, including equity options, unlimited vacation, paid parental leave, and the flexibility of remote work. You’ll have the opportunity to be part of a fast-scaling startup, impacting a transformative open-source project. Regular offsite events further strengthen team bonds while enabling a fun, engaging work environment.

To answer, provide specific examples of projects you've worked on, detailing technologies used and your specific contributions. Highlight your understanding of AI principles, tools developed, and their impact on the development workflow to showcase your expertise in the subject.

Discuss the backend languages you are comfortable with, preferably Go or Rust. Explain why you favor them based on performance, ease of integration, or their community support, linking these preferences back to your previous projects and how they align with Neon's requirements.

Share your leadership philosophy, emphasizing mentorship, fostering collaboration, and open communication. Discuss strategies for aligning team efforts with project goals while maintaining a supportive environment that encourages team members to share innovative ideas and solutions.

Frame your answer around a specific challenge, detailing the context, your thought process, the actions you took, and the final outcome. Emphasize your problem-solving skills and persistence to illustrate your capability to thrive in dynamic situations.

Discuss relevant projects where you implemented Kubernetes or Docker, detailing your role and the outcomes. Highlight any specific configurations or uses that demonstrate your proficiency and understanding of how these technologies enhance development and deployment processes.

Discuss the importance of code reviews, automated testing, and documentation as tools for maintaining code quality. Provide examples of initiatives you've implemented to promote best practices within your team, showcasing your commitment to high standards.

By giving an example, show how you tailor your communication style based on the audience. Highlight techniques like using analogies, visual aids, or focusing on the implications rather than jargon to ensure your message is clear and understood.

Explain your methods for ongoing education, such as following industry blogs, participating in online courses, attending webinars, or networking with other professionals. This demonstrates your dedication to staying current and your intrinsic motivation to grow in the field.

Highlight positive experiences you've had remotely, such as using collaborative tools, scheduling regular check-ins, and maintaining open channels of communication. Mention how you adapt your work habits and strategies to ensure efficiency in a distributed setup.

Share your enthusiasm for Neon's vision and culture, along with your interest in working on open-source projects. Discuss how the opportunity aligns with your career goals and passion for AI, emphasizing how your contributions will positively impact the team and users.