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Acorns

Senior Backend Engineer, AI Team

Acorns · United States

  • Hybrid
  • Full-time
  • $200,000 / year
  • United States
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Job highlights

  • Build AI-powered virtual agent for customer support.
  • Utilize proprietary data for financial wellness solutions.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams on AI initiatives.
  • Optimize data pipelines and scale AI models.
  • Shape AI product embodying company values.

About the role

About Acorns & Our Mission

At Acorns, our mission is to look after the financial best interests of the up-and-coming, beginning with the empowering, proud step of micro-investing. Our values guide us, and our mission drives us. Come join us and help deliver financial wellness for the whole family, putting the tools of wealth-making into everyone’s hands.

  • Lead With Heart
  • Make Bold Decisions
  • Always Build Trust
  • Never Stop Growing
  • Find a way

Sr. Software Engineer (AI Team)

Acorns is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our AI team! Are you passionate about cutting-edge AI technologies? Do you thrive in an environment where your skills can redefine customer experiences and positively impact lives? Join Acorns as we build the future of Fintech with a customer service virtual agent that’s as empowering as our mission.

You will harness the power of AI to design a virtual agent that redefines customer support by providing personalized, real-time assistance. You will utilize proprietary data to create intelligent, empathetic solutions that empower our users to make informed financial decisions. Playing a pivotal role, you'll help shape a product that embodies our core values of benevolence and courage, transforming customer service into an uplifting and impactful experience.

Acorns is a remote-first organization, offering the flexibility to work remotely while providing optional access to office space in Irvine, CA.

What You Will Do At Acorns

  • Understand Acorns’ mission, vision, strategic objectives, and fintech industry knowledge while building relationships with team members, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
  • Review and analyze proprietary datasets, existing Vector database architecture, pipelines, and tools to identify gaps and propose improvements.
  • Contribute to key customer-facing projects, debugging and enhancing models, scaling pipelines, and delivering the virtual support bot MVP to production.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align AI efforts with business goals, mentor junior team members, and drive innovation through LLM capabilities.
  • Optimize data pipelines, establish scalable monitoring processes, and develop a roadmap for innovation aligned with fintech objectives.

What You Will Bring To Acorns

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Statistics, or a STEM-related field
  • 5+ years of total software engineering experience
  • 3+ years of experience in artificial intelligence, data science, or machine learning engineering
  • 3+ years of experience with modern cloud computing technologies, such as AWS, Bedrock, Sagemaker, Databricks, or Kubernetes
  • Foundational knowledge with Generative AI, Transformer, fine tuning LLM, Search ranking, RAG improvement, and LLM Agent
  • Experience tuning neural networks on custom datasets.
  • Experience with Huggingface, LangChain, chatbot development
  • Proficiency in programming languages and analytical tools, such as Python or PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy, SciKit-Learn, Matplotlib
  • Hunger to deliver game-changing products
  • Exceptional drive and precision in delivery
  • A belief that your work is tied to your life's mission
  • Optimistic about the potential of societal change

You are not expected to have experience with all listed requirements. If you feel passionate about Acorns' mission, vision, and values, please apply.

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary and stock options
  • A comprehensive benefits package for you and your family
  • Flexible work location, hours, and paid time off
  • 401(k) matching
  • Monthly Acorns account contribution & GoHenry account for your family
  • Mindfulness and Financial Wellness resources, Headspace and Addition Wealth
  • Acorns Career Development Program (Ongoing training sessions, development plans, development check-ins, Cornerstone’s online training platform)
  • Roots Leadership Program for Emerging Leaders
  • Community week onsite gatherings and various virtual events
  • Talented and motivated team members who care deeply about one another, our mission, and our customers.
  • The rare opportunity to create a new world. We inspire one another every day to do meaningful work that solves big societal challenges.

About Acorns

Acorns is a financial wellness app that helps everyday people and families save and invest money for the long term. Since 2014, Acorns has grown into a global company with multiple life-stage products serving the needs of kids, teens, adults, and parents. Named one of Time’s “World’s Best Brands of 2024,” Acorns has helped over 14 million people save & invest over $25 billion dollars, much of it from spare change and small amounts.

Management Principles

  • Managers are constantly raising the bar
  • Managers ensure all team members have a voice and a path
  • No surprises - Managers give and receive feedback early and often
  • Managers continuously assess performance action on concerns quickly
  • Managers foster a resilient, results-oriented mindset

Compensation Information

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $184,500 and $217,100/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, equity grants, and discretionary cash bonus awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Work Authorization

Acorns participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. For more information about E-Verify, please visitwww.e-verify.gov

Key skills/competency

  • Senior Backend Engineer
  • AI
  • Machine Learning
  • Data Science
  • Cloud Computing
  • AWS
  • Generative AI
  • LLM
  • Python
  • Fintech

Skills & topics

  • Senior Backend Engineer
  • AI Engineer
  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Data Scientist
  • Python Developer
  • AWS Engineer
  • Fintech
  • Generative AI
  • LLM
  • Backend Development

How to get hired

  • Tailor your resume: Highlight AI, machine learning, cloud, and Python experience.
  • Craft a compelling cover letter: Emphasize your passion for Acorns' mission and values.
  • Showcase your projects: Prepare to discuss AI, LLM, and data pipeline projects.
  • Prepare for technical interviews: Brush up on algorithms, data structures, and AI concepts.
  • Demonstrate cultural fit: Align your responses with Acorns' values like Lead With Heart.

Technical preparation

Practice Python and AI/ML algorithm implementation.,Review Generative AI, LLM, and RAG concepts.,Familiarize yourself with AWS AI/ML services.,Prepare to discuss database and pipeline design.

Behavioral questions

Describe a time you led with heart.,How do you make bold decisions?,How do you build and maintain trust?,Give an example of how you never stop growing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the work arrangement for the Senior Backend Engineer AI role at Acorns?
Acorns is a remote-first organization, offering the flexibility to work remotely. While the role is primarily remote, there is optional access to office space in Irvine, CA.
What specific AI technologies will I be working with as a Senior Backend Engineer AI at Acorns?
You will be working with cutting-edge AI technologies including Generative AI, Transformers, LLM fine-tuning, Search ranking, RAG improvement, and LLM Agents. Experience with Huggingface and LangChain is also beneficial.
What is the expected educational background for this role?
A Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Statistics, or a related STEM field is preferred.
Does Acorns require experience with all the listed technical requirements for the Senior Backend Engineer AI position?
No, Acorns states that you are not expected to have experience with all listed requirements. They encourage candidates who are passionate about the mission, vision, and values to apply.
What is the typical career development path at Acorns for a Senior Backend Engineer AI?
Acorns offers a Career Development Program with ongoing training sessions, development plans, and online training platforms. They also have a Roots Leadership Program for Emerging Leaders.
How does Acorns support employee well-being?
Acorns offers comprehensive benefits, including Mindfulness and Financial Wellness resources like Headspace and Addition Wealth, flexible work hours, and paid time off.
What is the company culture like at Acorns?
Acorns fosters a culture guided by values like Lead With Heart, Make Bold Decisions, Always Build Trust, Never Stop Growing, and Find a way. They emphasize collaboration, innovation, and a mission-driven approach.
What are the key responsibilities for the Senior Backend Engineer AI at Acorns?
Key responsibilities include harnessing AI to design a virtual agent, utilizing proprietary data for intelligent solutions, contributing to customer-facing projects, optimizing data pipelines, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.