Python Engineer - W2 Contract to Hire

Python Engineer - Contract-to-Hire - W2 Location: Northern New Jersey (Hybrid - Onsite/Remote flexibility) Type: Contract-to-Hire (C2H) - W2 Role Duration: 6-12 months contract, with potential conversion to Full-Time Role Overview We are seeking a Backend Engineer with strong Python expertise to join our top News Media client's high powered AI team. This role is focused on building and maintaining backend services, APIs, and data pipelines that power AI-driven applications. The ideal candidate is highly skilled in Python and has experience developing scalable, production-ready backend systems. Key Responsibilities • Design, develop, and maintain backend services and APIs using Python. • Support the AI team by building infrastructure and services for data processing and model integration. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including data scientists, engineers, and product managers. • Optimize performance and reliability of backend systems. • Write clean, testable, and maintainable code with adherence to best practices. Required Skills & Qualifications • 5+ years of backend development experience with strong Python expertise. • Proficiency with Python frameworks (e.g., FastAPI, Flask, Django). • Solid understanding of REST APIs, microservices, and distributed systems. • Experience with databases (SQL and NoSQL). • Familiarity with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and Agile methodology. Nice to Have • Experience working in AI/ML or data-driven teams (supporting, not building models). • Exposure to data engineering concepts (ETL, pipelines, batch/stream processing). • Cloud experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure. • Knowledge of containerization and orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes). Employment Details • Contract-to-Hire opportunity with potential conversion to full-time. • Competitive hourly pay rate during the contract phase. • Full-time benefits package available upon conversion.