Senior Backend Engineer, SSCS: AI Governance

About the Role

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Gitlab, you'll play a crucial role in developing the backend systems for a paid product that provides clear visibility, policy controls, and compliance evidence for AI use in software development. This role sits at the intersection of AI, governance, and enterprise backend engineering, and your work will help customers adopt AI agents with confidence. You'll contribute to the development of reliable systems for enterprise use cases, designing for scale, and working in a space where product requirements are shaped by emerging AI regulations and customer governance needs.

The AI Governance team at Gitlab is responsible for building the backend systems that enable companies to manage AI usage with the same rigor as security, compliance, and software delivery. As a senior backend engineer, you'll be working closely with the team to develop and implement technical solutions that meet the needs of regulated enterprise organizations.

Gitlab's high-performance culture is driven by its values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. As a remote team member, you'll have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of professionals from around the world, collaborating async-first to achieve common goals.

What You Will Do

• Implement and evolve the AI audit event pipeline, including event ingestion, schema normalization, storage design, partitioning, retention, and export capabilities.
• Implement access control for AI Governance features by integrating permissions for audit logs, policy configuration, and governance dashboards into Gitlab's existing authorization model.
• Contribute backend functionality for the AI agent artifact feature, supporting structured storage and retrieval of agent run metadata alongside existing CI/CD artifacts.
• Build backend services for the MCP registry, including tool metadata and enforcement controls that can restrict or block access when needed.
• Design and optimize data models and queries for high-write, event-heavy systems using PostgreSQL and ClickHouse.
• Write and maintain solid RSpec and integration test coverage, while helping improve team test reliability practices.
• Contribute to architecture decisions and deliver implementations with ownership.
• Collaborate with the team to develop and implement technical solutions that meet the needs of regulated enterprise organizations.
• Participate in code reviews and ensure that the codebase is maintainable, efficient, and follows best practices.

What We Are Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in backend engineering, with a focus on building reliable systems for enterprise use cases.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Ruby, Python, or Java.
• Experience with designing and implementing access control systems, including role-based access control and attribute-based access control.
• Knowledge of AI and machine learning concepts, including model development, deployment, and governance.
• Experience with cloud-based technologies, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Strong understanding of database design and development, including data modeling, query optimization, and data storage.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote team environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Kubernetes and containerization.
• Knowledge of DevSecOps practices and tools, including security testing and compliance.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation tools, including Jenkins, Gitlab CI/CD, or CircleCI.
• Familiarity with AI and machine learning frameworks, including TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Scikit-learn.
• Experience with data analytics and visualization tools, including Tableau, Power BI, or D3.js.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous PTO policy, including vacation days, sick leave, and holidays.
• Remote work stipend, including reimbursement for home office expenses and internet connectivity.
• Access to professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and workshops.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment, with a team of experienced professionals.
• Flexible working hours, with the ability to work from anywhere in the world.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and contribute to the development of innovative AI solutions.

• Make sure to highlight your experience with AI and machine learning concepts, including model development, deployment, and governance.
• Emphasize your proficiency in programming languages such as Ruby, Python, or Java, and your experience with designing and implementing access control systems.
• Showcase your understanding of database design and development, including data modeling, query optimization, and data storage.
• Prepare to talk about your experience with cloud-based technologies, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, and your knowledge of DevSecOps practices and tools.
• Be ready to discuss your experience with Agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git, and your ability to work effectively in a remote team environment.
• Don't forget to mention any relevant certifications or training you've received in areas such as AI, machine learning, or cybersecurity.
• When negotiating salary, be sure to research the market rate for similar positions and highlight your unique skills and experience.