Software Engineer

Software Engineer **Bloodstock AI Limited | Newmarket, Auckland | Full-time | Hybrid** Company Description Bloodstock AI Limited is a New Zealand technology company developing an AI-powered intelligence platform for the global thoroughbred industry. Our platform analyses every horse across a sale catalogue, combining pedigree information, biomechanics from video and imagery, veterinary imaging, historical performance data, and market intelligence to help buyers, agents, syndicates, and vendors make more informed decisions. Using AI and 27 years of historical data, Bloodstock AI identifies relevant signals, potential risks, and opportunities, presenting findings through transparent, explainable reports. Our technology is designed to support, not replace, the expertise of veterinarians, bloodstock agents, and industry professionals. Founded in New Zealand with global ambitions, we're building technology to transform how thoroughbreds are assessed, compared, and purchased. Role Description We're looking for a motivated and technically capable **Software Engineer** to join Bloodstock AI in a full-time position. The role is based at our **Newmarket, Auckland office** , with flexibility to work from home. You'll play an important role in designing, developing, and maintaining the back-end infrastructure that powers the Bloodstock AI platform, working across data-processing systems, AI integrations, APIs, and core product functionality. As part of a growing technology company, you'll have the opportunity to take ownership of meaningful engineering challenges, contribute to architectural decisions, and help shape the development of our platform. **Key responsibilities include:** * Designing, building, and maintaining reliable, scalable back-end services and APIs. * Developing and optimising data-processing pipelines that power our AI analysis systems. * Integrating AI models, machine-learning services, and third-party APIs into the platform. * Writing clean, maintainable, secure, and well-tested production code. * Reviewing, debugging, and improving existing codebases. * Collaborating on system architecture, database design, and performance improvements. * Translating complex product requirements into robust technical solutions. * Maintaining clear technical documentation and contributing to code reviews. * Taking ownership of development tasks from initial implementation through testing and deployment. AI-Assisted Development At Bloodstock AI, we actively embrace AI-assisted software development and believe that modern engineers should be equipped with the best tools available. We provide **unlimited access to approved AI coding tools and credits** to support development, debugging, testing, and problem-solving. We encourage engineers to use AI to accelerate their workflow, improve productivity, and explore better technical solutions. However, we maintain strict engineering standards. **AI-generated code must meet the same standards as manually written code.** All contributions must be properly understood, reviewed, tested, secure, efficient, and maintainable. We're looking for engineers who can leverage AI effectively without compromising their understanding of the systems they're building or the quality of their work. Qualifications **Required skills and experience:** * Strong understanding of computer science fundamentals and software engineering principles. * Proficiency in at least one modern programming language, such as Python, TypeScript, or JavaScript. * Experience in back-end development, including REST APIs, databases, and server-side frameworks. * Understanding of object-oriented programming, data structures, and software architecture. * Familiarity with Git, automated testing, debugging, and code review practices. * Ability to write clean, maintainable, and production-quality code. * Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently. * Willingness to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving technical requirements. * Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate within a small, fast-moving team. * Ability to work from our Newmarket office as part of a hybrid working arrangement. **Highly regarded, but not essential:** * Experience integrating LLMs, AI APIs, or machine-learning models into software applications. * Experience with cloud infrastructure and deployment. * Knowledge of relational databases, data pipelines, and large-scale data processing. * Experience with system design, API architecture, and performance optimisation. * Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, or GitHub Copilot. * Experience working in startups or early-stage product development. * An interest in AI, data analytics, sports technology, or the thoroughbred industry. A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline is beneficial, but **demonstrated technical ability and practical experience are more important than formal qualifications.** No previous knowledge of the thoroughbred industry is required. What We Offer * **Full-time employment:** An opportunity to become a core member of a growing New Zealand technology company. * **Meaningful ownership:** Work on real production systems and contribute directly to the direction of the platform. * **AI-first development:** Unlimited access to approved AI coding tools and credits. * **Flexible working:** A hybrid working arrangement combining our Newmarket office with work-from-home flexibility. * **Technical challenges:** Work across AI integrations, data engineering, back-end infrastructure, and emerging technologies. * **Direct collaboration:** Work closely with the founder and technical team, with the ability to contribute ideas and influence product decisions. * **Professional growth:** Opportunities to expand your technical responsibilities as the company and platform develop. * **Global ambitions:** Help build technology designed for an international industry. Who We're Looking For We're looking for someone who enjoys building software, takes pride in the quality of their work, and is genuinely interested in emerging technologies. You'll be comfortable taking ownership of technical problems, exploring solutions independently, and using modern tools to work efficiently. We value initiative, practical engineering ability, attention to detail, and a willingness to continuously improve. Whether you've gained your experience through professional development, independent projects, or building your own products, we're interested in what you can do. * If you're excited about AI, enjoy solving complex technical challenges, and want to play a meaningful role in building an ambitious technology platform, we'd love to hear from you.