Software Engineer – AI and Data
About OceanX:
OceanX is a nonprofit working to unlock the ocean’s sustainable potential. Through a dual focus on science and education, we’re building a new paradigm where humanity and the ocean mutually thrive. Our approach is fueled by exploration, leveraging advanced research, multimedia educational programs, cross-sector partnerships, and advanced technology to help transform how people understand and value the ocean. Our work strives to fortify biodiversity and increase the sustainable use of ocean resources to help ensure the ocean remains a foundation for human wellbeing and potential. OceanX is a nonprofit operating program of Dalio Philanthropies.
For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Position Summary:
OceanX is seeking a Software Engineer – AI and Data to design, build, and strengthen the backend systems and data infrastructure that power OceanX’s science, media, and AI platforms. Reporting to the COO/CFO & Head of Data, this role will lead the development of production-grade backend services and data pipelines that ingest, process, enrich, and deliver scientific and media data across the organization.
This role will focus on backend architecture and distributed systems, including REST APIs, event-driven services, streaming platforms, batch processing pipelines, cloud-native infrastructure, and geospatial data systems that enable machine learning and agentic AI applications.
The ideal candidate will bring strong backend engineering expertise, sound architectural judgment, and experience building scalable, reliable, and maintainable production systems while leveraging modern AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery and engineering excellence.
OceanX is an entrepreneurial environment which values team players who can manage priorities and workstreams simultaneously. To thrive and succeed within our unique culture and work environment, you must demonstrate humility, innate curiosity, and openness to new ideas/approaches. You also must be hard-working, composed and goal oriented. All employees are expected to be excited about providing and receiving objective feedback, constantly striving for self-improvement, and committed to the pursuit of excellence.
Position Location:
Singapore
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Build, deploy, and maintain production backend services, with ownership spanning system architecture, data modeling, implementation, and operational support.
- Develop scalable data architectures and data movement patterns, including REST APIs, event-driven systems, streaming platforms, and batch processing pipelines.
- Build and optimize services that ingest, process, store, index, and deliver large volumes of scientific, media, and geospatial data, including real-time streaming workloads.
- Develop and support backend infrastructure, APIs, and data pipelines that power machine learning and agentic AI applications in production environments.
- Deploy, monitor, and operate services in containerized, Kubernetes-based environments using CI/CD, trunk-based development, GitOps, and infrastructure automation practices.
- Partner with scientists, machine learning engineers, and platform teams to translate evolving requirements into scalable, reliable systems.
- Contribute to technical architecture decisions, engineering standards, and the continued evolution of OceanX’s backend and data platform capabilities.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Professional Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
- At least three (3) years of professional backend engineering experience building and operating production systems, with demonstrated ownership of services from design through deployment and ongoing operation.
- Demonstrated ability to apply sound engineering principles and system design skills to develop scalable, maintainable solutions for complex engineering challenges.
- Strong proficiency in Python, including experience developing, testing, and maintaining production-grade APIs and backend services using FastAPI or comparable frameworks.
- Expertise in designing and implementing distributed backend systems, including REST APIs, event-driven architectures, streaming platforms, and batch processing pipelines.
- Strong knowledge of PostgreSQL and large-scale data systems, including time-series, scientific, or other high-volume data workloads.
- Hands-on experience deploying and operating production services in containerized environments using Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, trunk-based development, GitOps, and modern infrastructure automation practices.
- Proven track record of evolving early-stage solutions into scalable, reliable, and maintainable production systems.
- Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools to accelerate software delivery, improve code quality, and enhance engineering workflows.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders to translate complex scientific, technical, or business requirements into scalable and reliable systems.
- Demonstrated knowledge of DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles, including infrastructure automation, observability, monitoring, and reliability best practices, is highly desirable.
- Experience with distributed messaging and streaming technologies, such as NATS, Kafka, RabbitMQ, or similar platforms, would be advantageous.
- Experience working with geospatial data and technologies, including PostGIS, GIS data formats, tile or feature servers, and spatial data processing workflows is strongly preferred.
- Experience building, integrating, or supporting machine learning, large language model (LLM), or agentic AI systems in production environments is a plus.
- Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally, when necessary.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including early mornings or late evenings, to support cross-time zone collaboration.
- Adaptable to varying workloads, balancing periods of focused execution with lighter operational phases.
Personal Attributes:
- Determined, resourceful and practical. An independent, self-starter, with a “roll up your sleeves” attitude and strong work ethic
- Agility, with a track record of getting things done
- Organized, reliable, and meticulous
- Ability to prioritize, meet tight deadlines, anticipate needs, and maintain high quality work
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)
- Comfortable with ambiguity
- Maintains high standards
- Highly collaborative
- General curiosity and passion for the Ocean
Compensation and Benefits:
Compensation for the role includes a competitive salary dependent on years of experience, level of education obtained, as well as applicable skillset), and an excellent benefits package, including a comprehensive employer paid medical plan and CPF.
Please note that we do not provide immigration sponsorship for this position.
At OceanX, we believe our biggest asset is our people. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. OceanX treats all candidates and employees with respect and does not discriminate in our recruiting, hiring, and promoting processes and general treatment during employment, including on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, or disability.