GitLab
Backend Engineer (Python),AI Engineering: Agent Foundations

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An Overview Of This Role
As an Intermediate Backend Engineer (Python) in GitLab's Agent Foundations stage, you'll go beyond using AI tools. You'll help build the foundations for GitLab's agentic AI experiences: the platform that lets AI agents work across the whole software delivery lifecycle, not just write code. That covers the reusable building blocks agents and flows are made from as well as our core harness, Duo Developer.
Most of your work will be backend engineering in Python, using libraries such as LangGraph to build secure, reliable and scalable features in our AI Gateway. You'll also work across the stack where needed. You'll work closely with engineers across the stage and other AI Engineering teams. This is a high-visibility area where GitLab's core platform meets its AI strategy.
What You'll Do
- Develop, ship and maintain features for the Duo Agent Platform in the Duo Workflow Service, the AI Gateway and, where needed, the GitLab monolith. Keep them secure, well-tested and performant.
- Build and improve agentic flows and their reusable parts with LangChain and LangGraph, including the Flow Registry.
- Work with Product Management, UX, frontend, backend and AI specialists to refine requirements and ship improvements in small iterations.
- Design, implement and review APIs (including GraphQL and REST) and the backend logic behind them, with reliable, scalable and clear contracts for clients such as the GitLab monolith, IDE extensions and Duo CLI.
- Improve and extend automated testing (pytest and other frameworks), including evaluations of agent and flow behavior, to strengthen quality and give developers faster feedback.
- Share standards, patterns and learnings with other engineers to raise the bar for responsible AI integration and evidence-driven engineering.
- Join Tier 2 on-call rotations to troubleshoot production issues, contribute to root cause analysis, and improve observability and resiliency.
- Keep an eye on the competitive landscape to help keep GitLab's agent platform best-in-class as more work becomes agentic.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What You'll Bring
- Experience building and maintaining production Python backend applications, including APIs, asynchronous or background processing, and data models.
- Experience with LLM application frameworks such as LangGraph, or designing and shipping AI-powered backend features or harnesses.
- Skill in designing or extending APIs (REST, GraphQL or gRPC) with attention to scalability, maintainability and backward compatibility.
- Comfort working across the stack in a mature codebase. Familiarity with Ruby on Rails and/or JavaScript and Vue is a plus.
- Experience finding and fixing performance bottlenecks in applications.
- Clear written and verbal communication, including technical proposals and documentation, in a remote, async, cross-functional team.
- Openness to learning and to applying skills from related technologies or fields.
About The Team
The Agent Foundations stage builds the foundations for GitLab's agentic AI experiences. We provide the platform, catalog and execution features that help teams deliver resilient agents and flows to customers. The stage has three groups: Agent Developer, AI Catalog and Agent Execution. Between them, they own the GitLab Duo Developer foundational flow and the Flow Registry; the AI Catalog, including custom agents, custom flows and external agent integrations; and agent execution, agent tools and agent observability.
Our engineers work async-first across EMEA, AMER, and India timezones. We work with teams across AI engineering and the rest of GitLab so the Duo Agent Platform can power many of GitLab's AI features.
How GitLab Supports Full-Time Employees
- Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
- Flexible Paid Time Off
- Team Member Resource Groups
- Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Growth and Development Fund
- Parental Leave


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Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.
Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.
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GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab’s policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab’s EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.
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