Posted 08 July, 2026
Senior Backend Engineer - Autonomous Networks
Zinkworks
Athlone, Ireland
Full Time
Reference: 485656644
About Zinkworks
Zinkworks partners with leading Telecommunications and Financial Services organizations to modernize legacy systems, migrate mission-critical platforms to the cloud, and engineer AI-driven automation. From OSS transformation to rApp development and network intelligence, our teams simplify complexity and turn it into competitive advantage. Based in Ireland and operating across the EU, UK, and US, Zinkworks combines deep domain expertise with delivery excellence to help clients modernize faster and operate smarter.
About the Role
We are building a small, empowered product discovery team focused on Zinkworks' Autonomous Networks product portfolio. This team will take new product ideas from concept through to high-fidelity, working prototypes that telco operators can engage with, test, and react to.
We are now hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to own the server-side foundations of these prototypes.
This is a hands-on backend role working across services, APIs, data flows, cloud infrastructure, and integrations. Many of the products we build are agent-driven, so you will work closely with AI Engineers at the boundary between the Python backend and the agent layer, designing the technical seams that allow agentic systems to operate effectively in real-world workflows.
The role is suited to someone who enjoys early-stage product engineering, can make sensible technical decisions without every requirement being fully defined, and is comfortable building quickly without compromising on quality.
What You'll Do
What We're Looking For
Nice to Have
Technologies You'll Work With
We are not tied to a fixed set of libraries or frameworks. The team chooses tools based on what is fit for purpose, scalable, and practical for the product being built.
Inclusion & Diversity at Zinkworks
At Zinkworks, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We believe that our strength lies in the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our team members. By embracing an inclusive environment, we empower innovation and collaboration across all levels of our organisation. Based in Ireland, we are proud to support and engage with our local communities through meaningful initiatives that promote equity and opportunity. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, as we actively contribute to creating a more inclusive and connected society for all.
Department Product Development Role Senior Software Engineer Locations Zinkworks HQ - Athlone Remote status Hybrid Employment type Full-time Contract Type Permanent Start Date 03 August, 2026
Zinkworks partners with leading Telecommunications and Financial Services organizations to modernize legacy systems, migrate mission-critical platforms to the cloud, and engineer AI-driven automation. From OSS transformation to rApp development and network intelligence, our teams simplify complexity and turn it into competitive advantage. Based in Ireland and operating across the EU, UK, and US, Zinkworks combines deep domain expertise with delivery excellence to help clients modernize faster and operate smarter.
About the Role
We are building a small, empowered product discovery team focused on Zinkworks' Autonomous Networks product portfolio. This team will take new product ideas from concept through to high-fidelity, working prototypes that telco operators can engage with, test, and react to.
We are now hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to own the server-side foundations of these prototypes.
This is a hands-on backend role working across services, APIs, data flows, cloud infrastructure, and integrations. Many of the products we build are agent-driven, so you will work closely with AI Engineers at the boundary between the Python backend and the agent layer, designing the technical seams that allow agentic systems to operate effectively in real-world workflows.
The role is suited to someone who enjoys early-stage product engineering, can make sensible technical decisions without every requirement being fully defined, and is comfortable building quickly without compromising on quality.
What You'll Do
- Own the backend services, APIs, and data layer for product discovery probes and working prototypes.
- Build server-side foundations that support agent-driven products and AI-enabled workflows.
- Partner closely with AI Engineers to define integration patterns between backend systems and agent frameworks.
- Design APIs, data flows, and service boundaries that allow AI agents to interact with real systems and processes.
- Stand up and maintain demo and prototype infrastructure on Google Cloud Platform.
- Work with the Tech Lead to define backend code standards, engineering practices, and technical guardrails.
- Make pragmatic technical decisions in a fast-moving discovery environment.
- Support the transition of successful prototypes into more scalable product delivery paths.
What We're Looking For
- Strong experience as a Backend Engineer, with Python used in production environments.
- Experience designing and building APIs, backend services, and data-driven applications.
- Solid understanding of cloud-native engineering principles.
- Experience working with GCP or similar cloud platforms.
- Confidence working in ambiguous or early-stage product environments.
- Ability to make technical decisions without relying on a fully defined backlog.
- Strong product instincts and an interest in building technology that users can test, validate, and respond to.
- Comfortable using AI-augmented development tools such as Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or similar.
- Ability to work closely with AI Engineers, Product, and technical stakeholders.
- A practical approach to engineering, balancing speed, quality, and maintainability.
Nice to Have
- Experience building API surfaces, backend platforms, or data pipelines for AI-driven products.
- Exposure to agentic AI systems, LLM applications, or modern agent frameworks.
- Experience with Google Cloud Platform services such as Cloud Run, Pub/Sub, BigQuery, or similar.
- Familiarity with Google ADK or related agent development frameworks.
- Telecoms, OSS, network automation, or autonomous networks experience.
- Experience working on prototypes, product discovery teams, or innovation-led engineering projects.
Technologies You'll Work With
- Python
- Google Cloud Platform
- Cloud Run
- Pub/Sub
- BigQuery
- Google ADK
- Modern agent frameworks
- AI development tools such as Claude, Cursor, and equivalent platforms
We are not tied to a fixed set of libraries or frameworks. The team chooses tools based on what is fit for purpose, scalable, and practical for the product being built.
Inclusion & Diversity at Zinkworks
At Zinkworks, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We believe that our strength lies in the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our team members. By embracing an inclusive environment, we empower innovation and collaboration across all levels of our organisation. Based in Ireland, we are proud to support and engage with our local communities through meaningful initiatives that promote equity and opportunity. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, as we actively contribute to creating a more inclusive and connected society for all.
Department Product Development Role Senior Software Engineer Locations Zinkworks HQ - Athlone Remote status Hybrid Employment type Full-time Contract Type Permanent Start Date 03 August, 2026
