[Remote] Lead Software Engineer - AI Data Systems at Upwork

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Requirements

Strong software engineering background with deep experience in building data collection, transformation, and featurization pipelines at scale
Proficiency in Python, including async programming and concurrency tools, as well as data-centric frameworks such as Pandas, Spark, or Apache Beam
Familiarity with ML model development workflows and infrastructure, including dataset versioning, experiment tracking, and model evaluation
Experience deploying and scaling AI systems in cloud environments such as AWS, GCP, or Azure
Proven success operating in highly ambiguous environments such as research labs, startups, or fast-paced product teams
A track record of working with or alongside high-caliber peers in top engineering teams, research groups, or startup ecosystems
Experience in building and mentoring teams, fostering a high-performance, collaborative engineering culture grounded in technical excellence and curiosity
Strong understanding of data-centric concepts, including data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model evaluation
Familiarity with cloud-native tools and modern infrastructure, including containerization, orchestration, and deployment
Experience with data storage and management systems, including data warehousing and data lakes
Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex, ambiguous environments
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders

Responsibilities

Design and implement systems to collect and curate high-quality training datasets for supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning use cases
Build scalable featurization and preprocessing pipelines to transform raw data into structured inputs for AI/ML model development
Partner with ML engineers and researchers to define data requirements and production workflows that support LLM-based agents and autonomous AI systems
Lead the development of infrastructure that enables experimentation, evaluation, and deployment of machine learning models in production environments
Support orchestration and real-time inference pipelines using Python and modern cloud-native tools, ensuring low-latency and high availability
Mentor engineers and foster a high-performance, collaborative engineering culture grounded in technical excellence and curiosity
Drive cross-functional alignment with product, infrastructure, and research stakeholders, ensuring clarity on progress, goals, and architecture
Collaborate with data scientists and engineers to define and implement data pipelines, data storage systems, and data processing workflows
Troubleshoot and debug complex data-related issues, ensuring high-quality and reliable data for AI/ML model development
Stay up-to-date with industry trends and advancements in AI/ML, data science, and software engineering, applying knowledge to drive innovation and improvement

Skills

Upwork

Online platform connecting freelancers and clients

About Upwork

Upwork connects freelancers with clients looking for various services in the gig economy, which focuses on short-term contracts instead of permanent jobs. The platform allows freelancers to create profiles that showcase their skills, while clients can post job listings for specific projects. Freelancers bid on these projects, and clients choose the best candidates based on proposals and reviews. Upwork earns revenue through service fees charged to freelancers based on their earnings, with a tiered structure that rewards long-term client relationships. The platform also offers premium memberships and additional services for enhanced visibility and access to job listings. Upwork provides tools for time tracking, invoicing, and project management, making it easier for both freelancers and clients to manage their work and payments. The goal of Upwork is to facilitate successful project completion by bridging the gap between freelancers and clients.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2015Year Founded

$143.8MTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

Consulting, Enterprise SoftwareIndustries

10,001+Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Risks

Increased competition from Fiverr and Toptal threatens Upwork's market share.

The new Fiverr-style Project Catalog may commoditize services, reducing freelancers' perceived value.

Strategic shifts under new management may not align with current client expectations.

Differentiation

Upwork connects freelancers with clients across diverse industries, enhancing global work opportunities.

The platform offers tools like time tracking and invoicing for efficient project management.

Upwork's tiered fee structure incentivizes long-term client relationships, differentiating it from competitors.

Upsides

Upwork's acquisition of Objective AI enhances its AI capabilities for better talent matching.

The introduction of Featured Jobs increases visibility for job posts, attracting more candidates.

Upwork's recognition as the top job posting site boosts its credibility among employers.

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