Software Engineer, Backend (New-York)

About Mistral

Mistral AI provides full-stack AI solutions: from frontier models to developer tools, applications, and compute. We partner with enterprises tackling the hardest problems—across high-stakes industries like finance, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and the public sector—co-creating customized AI systems that they can run on their terms.

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.

About Mistral 

At Mistral AI, we believe in the power of AI to simplify tasks, save time and enhance learning and creativity. Our technology is designed to integrate seamlessly into daily working life.

We democratize AI through high-performance, optimized, open-source and cutting-edge models, products and solutions. Our comprehensive AI platform is designed to meet enterprise needs, whether on-premises or in cloud environments. Our offerings include le Chat, the AI assistant for life and work.

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society.

Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between France, USA, UK, Germany and Singapore. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.

Join us to be part of a pioneering company shaping the future of AI. Together, we can make a meaningful impact. See more about our culture on https://mistral.ai/careers.

Role summary

We are seeking passionate and skilled software engineers to join our new team in NYC. As a Backend Engineer, you’ll contribute to the development of the core systems powering our three main products, AI Studio, Le Chat & Mistral Code, shaping how users and developers interact with our AI platform at scale. You’ll work on building reliable, high-performance backend systems and APIs that serve millions of users and developers. Your work will directly impact the developer and user experience, making it more engaging, efficient, and intuitive. We welcome engineers from mid-level to senior and staff engineers who are eager to learn, collaborate and ship impactful products.

What you will do

Depending on your skills and field of expertise, you will be involved in key components of our technology, including:

Backend Development

- Design, develop and maintain scalable, robust backend features and APIs using modern frameworks.

- Ensure high performance and reliability across our distributed systems.

- Contribute to systems powering inference, billing, AI tooling, observability, and developer experience.

System Architecture

- Design and implement efficient, secure and scalable architectures that support our fast-growing products.

- Collaborate with infrastructure teams on deployment, monitoring, and performance optimization.

Code Quality

- Write clean, maintainable and well-documented code.

- Participate in code reviews and contribute to technical standards and best practices.

Cross-functional Collaboration

- Collaborate with product managers, platform engineers, and AI/ML teams to design, build, and deliver scalable model-as-a-service solutions for developers and enterprise users.

- Partner with teams across AI Studio, Le Chat & Mistral Code to ensure consistent platform-wide experience.

Problem-Solving & Innovation

- Tackle complex engineering challenges, from distributed systems to AI product integration.

- Stay up-to-date with new technologies (e.g., AI/LLM integration, observability, or backend frameworks) and bring them into production when relevant.

Who you are

• Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

• Proficiency in Python or another backend language (Golang, Kotlin, C#). Engineers are assessed in their preferred language during a live coding session.

• Strong understanding of backend fundamentals: APIs, databases, caching, messaging systems and distributed architectures.

• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.

• Ownership mindset capable of shipping end-to-end features with minimal oversight.

• Excellent communication skills and collaborative attitude.

• Team-oriented, low-ego mindset and curiosity for learning.

Now, it would be ideal if you had experience with:

• Full-stack exposure

• Working closely with an API & developer ecosystem

• Deploying software to a diverse set of environments (cloud, on-premises, etc.)

• Infrastructure management (Docker, CI/CD, Kubernetes, Helm, Terraform...)

• AI/ML engineering

• Observability and monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog…).

• UX and product-centric mindset.

Hiring Process

• Introduction call - 30 min

• Live-coding interview - 45 min

• System Design interview - 45 min

• Hiring Manager interview - 30 min

• Deep Dive Interview (only for leads & staff engineers) - 60 min

• Culture-fit discussion - 30 min

• Reference checks

Our Culture

We're driven to build a strong company culture and are looking for individuals with solid alignment with the following:

• Reason with rigor

• Are you audacious enough?

• Make our customers succeed

• Ship early and accelerate

• Leave your ego aside

Location & Work Policy

This role is based in our NYC office, and we’re currently considering candidates who either already live in the area or are open to relocating. We strongly believe in the value of in-person collaboration and we encourage going to the office as much as we can (at least 3 days per week) to create bonds and smooth communication. Our remote policy aims to provide flexibility, improve work-life balance and increase productivity.

What we offer

💰 Competitive salary and equity

🚑 Healthcare: Medical/Dental/Vision covered for you and your family

👴🏻 401K : 6% matching

🏝️ PTO : 18 days 

🚗 Transportation: Reimburse office parking charges, or $120/month for public transport

🏀 Sport: $120/month reimbursement for gym membership

🥕 Meal stipend: $400 monthly allowance for meals 

🌎 Visa sponsorship 

🤝 Coaching: we offer BetterUp coaching on a voluntary basis

By applying, you agree to our Applicant Privacy Policy.

What do we offer?

We support our employees’ well-being, growth, and work-life balance, with a range of global benefits designed to meet the diverse needs of our team members worldwide.

Health & Family

• Healthcare Coverage
  100% employer-sponsored premium plans for medical, dental, and vision care for you and your dependents.

• Parental Leave
  20 weeks of paid leave for all primary parents.

• Childcare Support
  Reserved daycare seats or financial assistance for working parents.

Financial & Career Planning

• Retirement Plans
  Competitive employer-matched contributions in applicable markets (e.g., 6% 401k match in the US, 5% pension contribution in the UK) to secure your financial future.

• Relocation Support
  Financial assistance for moving expenses, visa sponsorship, and settling-in services for you and your family.

Daily Life & Wellness

• Meal Allowances
  Monthly stipends, vouchers, or catered in-office meals, depending on your office location.

• Transportation Support
  Monthly allowances for public transport, parking, or sustainable mobility

• Fitness & Wellness
  Subsidies or memberships for gyms, wellness programs, or fitness activities

Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters to us. You can learn more about how we handle your personal data in our Applicant Privacy Policy.