Senior Software Engineer - Backend (Kotlin)

We're a venture-backed early stage startup in Chicago exploring how AI can transform people's experiences. 

Although we’re still pre-market, we’re building products to help people see themselves in the world around them. We believe the following:

• That humans are unique and deserve to be heard and listened to
• That where folks choose to go - or stay, or eat, or work, or play, you get the idea - ought to be a reflection of who they are as a person
• That new advancements in technology can make our collective experiences more human and personal, not less

If you share any of our beliefs - or our love for people, maps, recommendations, and listening - then we’d love to talk to you!

The Role

We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer specializing in Kotlin and Springboot to join our small team. You'll help develop and maintain our API and integrate with our AI layer, which is central to our AI platform.

What You'll Do

• Develop the backend and interface to our AI layer for Outfit’s customer facing product.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, product and design teammates on concepting and scoping new features.
• Design and build RESTful and streaming APIs.
• Ensure high performance and reliability.
• Write integration tests.
• Develop and optimize database schemas.
• Work with relational, in-memory, and vectorized data stores.
• Integrate external content providers.
• Build backend services that interface with AI/ML models.
• Collaborate with frontend and data teams.
• Improve development tools and processes.
• Maintain code quality and best practices.
• Develop scalable architectures.

Requirements

About You

• Self-starter mentality: You take initiative and drive projects forward independently
• Comfort with ambiguity: You thrive in a fluid, fast-paced environment where requirements may change rapidly
• Adaptability: You're ready to pivot quickly and learn new technologies as needed
• Ownership mindset: You treat the company's success as your personal mission
• Hunger for learning: You're constantly seeking to improve your skills and stay at the cutting edge of AI/ML advancements
• Actively listening: You’re constantly learning from customers and data and not afraid to form opinions about your observations.

Your Technical Skills

• 4+ years professional experience as a Backend Developer.
• Detail-oriented with a consideration for customer impact on every feature.
• Proficient in Kotlin and Spring Boot (must-have requirement)
• Experience with RESTful API design and implementation.
• Familiar with AWS services and cloud architecture.
• Experience with the Gradle build system.
• Knowledge of PostgreSQL and Redis.
• Experience integrating AI/ML models into backend systems.
• Basic understanding of AI/ML concepts.
• Familiarity with AI model serving and inference.
• Understanding of data requirements for AI systems.
• Write clean, maintainable, well-tested code.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Good communication skills, able to work with technical and non-technical team members.

Benefits

Our Values

• Listen First: We are curious, empathetic, and authentic. We listen to our teammates and show up prepared to be listened to. We talk to our customers and prove hypotheses using data. We are inclusive and open-minded. We leave our egos at the door and win as a team
• Build with Optimism: We take big swings and bias toward action. We prioritize the hardest puzzles knowing great things require persistence. We invent products, concepts, and ways of working, celebrating both the successes and the learnings.
• Leave it Better: We want a better world for our kids. We don't stay in our lanes - we take out our trash, comment on each other's code, engage in healthy debate, and build things we can be proud of. We use AI responsibly.

Why Join Outfit Labs?

• Be part of a small team changing how people experience the world.
• Work on challenging problems at the intersection of AI and human experience.
• Flexible work environment with a focus on work-life balance.
• Access to cutting-edge AI tools to boost your productivity.
• Medical, Vision, and Dental benefits.

We're looking for people ready to roll up their sleeves and build something extraordinary. If you're excited about turning a vision into reality and willing to put in the work, we'd love to hear from you.

Even if you don't meet every requirement, we'd still like to hear from you. We're seeking individuals eager to learn and grow with us.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now.

Please note:

• This position requires working on-site at our West Loop, Chicago office at least 3 days per week.
• Relocation assistance is not provided.
• Remote work is not available for this role.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers for this position.

Outfit Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.