Software Engineer, Data Infrastructure & Acquisition - Champaign, IL, USA

Role overview

A software engineering role on the data side of an AI team, responsible for every stage of dataset acquisition that supports large-scale model training. The position combines cloud infrastructure engineering with research collaboration, building petabyte-scale ingestion pipelines at low cost. The work centers on powering text-to-speech and audio products used by tens of millions of people worldwide.

Responsibilities

- Hunt down new audio data sources and integrate them into ingestion pipelines, often through unconventional methods - Operate and extend GCP-based cloud infrastructure managed with Terraform - Work closely with research scientists to push the cost, throughput, and quality frontier for next-generation models - Partner with AI team leadership to shape the dataset roadmap for upcoming consumer and enterprise products - Maintain Docker-based environments and large-scale data processing workflows

Requirements

- BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or a related field - 5+ years of professional software development experience - Strong bash and Python scripting skills on Linux - Working knowledge of Docker and Infrastructure-as-Code concepts - Hands-on experience with at least one major cloud provider, with GCP familiarity preferred - Clear written and verbal communication - Ability to juggle shifting priorities across multiple projects

Nice to have

- Experience building web crawlers - Familiarity with large-scale data processing pipelines

Benefits and work setup

- Fully remote, distributed team with an asynchronous working culture - Hands-off management style that emphasizes autonomy and focused work - Entrepreneurial environment that encourages initiative and measured risk-taking - Competitive compensation including base salary, bonus, and equity - Opportunity to build products that directly support people with learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD, low vision, concussions, and autism - Chance to shape product direction within a fast-growing AI and audio business