Python Backend Engineer

Job Title Senior Backend Engineer – AI Enablement & Strategy Overview Sephora is seeking a highly proactive, strategic Senior Python Backend Engineer with strong AI exposure to help teams do more with less by improving systems, workflows, and decision-making through intelligent tooling. This role is not about executing predefined tasks — it is for a problem solver and collaborator who can assess existing architecture, design best-fit solutions, and help define the path forward in a rapidly evolving environment. This individual will work closely with cross-functional teams, acting as a thought partner who augments human interactions and enables teams to operate more efficiently. Key Responsibilities Act as a strategic problem solver , not just a task executor Evaluate existing backend systems and architecture; design and recommend best-fit solutions Apply AI tools and services to improve workflows, automation, and decision-making Partner closely with engineering, QA, and platform teams to enable and unblock others Provide guidance on model selection and technology tradeoffs (no model training required) Help define structure and direction in areas that are still evolving Collaborate effectively in high-ambiguity environments; influence without authority Support a “ do more with less ” mindset through smart system design and prioritization Required Qualifications Strong backend engineering background (Python preferred) Hands-on experience with modern AI tools and services (e.g., LLMs, agent frameworks, AI platforms) Working knowledge of AI/ML concepts and models (selection, evaluation, applicability) Ability to reason about architecture, scalability, and system design Proven ability to work autonomously and proactively in loosely defined problem spaces Excellent communication and collaboration skills Nice to Have Experience building or prototyping AI-enabled workflows or agent-based systems Exposure to QA, automation, or platform enablement teams Experience in retail, e-commerce, or consumer-facing environments Background working in Centers of Excellence or enablement-focused teams What This Role Is Not Not a task-only execution role Not a frontend or full-stack position Not a pure ML research or model-training role Not a principal-level or overly senior position