Senior Python Developer / AI / Chicago / Hybrid Job at Motion Recruitment in Chi
Motion Recruitment, Chicago, IL, US
Our client, one of the largest and most respected North American e-commerce companies, is hiring a Senior Python Engineer to join a high-impact AI engineering team. This role is based in Chicago (hybrid) and focuses on building Python-first, cloud-native APIs using FastAPI, AWS, EKS, and modern distributed systems to power AI-driven chat and voice applications. This is a rare opportunity to sit at the intersection of AI, ML, and large-scale e-commerce systems-without joining an early-stage startup. You'll be embedded directly with an ML team, acting as the backbone that connects LLMs, internal data, and real customer interactions across chat, email, and voice. You'll be the 5th engineer on a tight-knit team, owning real production systems from day one. Required Skills & Experience
- Strong experience with Python (primary language)
- Experience building APIs with FastAPI or similar frameworks
- API-based cloud development experience
- AWS experience
- CI/CD pipeline experience
- Kubernetes experience, specifically EKS
- Strong understanding of REST APIs
- ETL pipelines
- Streaming platforms (Kinesis or similar)
- Caching and distributed cache systems
- ~90% backend (Python) / ~10% frontend (React)
- Understanding of frontend-backend integration
- UI development experience is a plus, not required
- 70% Python / FastAPI APIs
- 20% AWS, EKS, CI/CD, distributed systems
- 10% Frontend integration (React)
- 75% Hands-On Development
- 10% Architecture & System Design
- 15% Team Collaboration & Cross-Functional Work (ML, Product)
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Vacation Time
- 401(k) with company match
- Employee stock purchase program
- Hybrid work flexibility