Remote Software Developer at AI Forensics (a non-profit)

About AI Forensics

AI Forensics is a non-profit organization defending digital rights through algorithmic investigations.
Our team has been pioneering algorithmic investigations techniques for more than 5 years, holding platforms accountable to their users and to the law.
Our investigations have received coverage on major media outlets, like the Washington Post or the Guardian. Our reports have been cited by the United Nations, the US and French Senate. We are also informing tech regulation at the European Union level.
Recent projects relate to:

• Double standards in user-generated content moderation vs promoted content
• Self-harm and suicide content on TikTok
• Exposing widespread pro-Russian propaganda on Meta
• Use of generative AI imagery in political campaigns
• Impact of recommendation personalization on YouTube

This work is funded through grants and foundations, including the Open Society Foundation, the European Commission and the Mozilla Foundation.
We particularly welcome applications from women and people who are part of marginalised groups as diverse perspectives are critical to our work.

About the job

Help us investigate influential platforms!

We are looking for a Software Developer to use creative ways to collect data from Big Tech platforms to expose digital violations of human rights.
You will develop our Digital Evidence Infrastructure, which enables researchers to automate experiments on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Microsoft Copilot, emulating the behavior of real users. You will develop the Infrastructure to test and monitor algorithms on large platforms, such as commercial Conversational Large Language Models.
Your job will involve engineering data pipelines, developing scraping modules, and orchestrating emulated mobile devices and browsers.

Work environment

Platforms are not too keen on being scrutinized, so we often need to workaround hurdles. This can look more like white hat hacking than traditional software engineering, and involves finding creative solutions to problems that don't have 10 answers on StackOverflow.
You will work with 3 other full-stack developers, a stellar sys admin, and interface with team of researchers.
The AI Forensics team works against racism, misogyny, ableism, homophobia, transphobia and any structural discrimination. Should you be impacted by any of these, please know we are looking for irreducible talent and would be pleased to receive your application.

Core skills

• 5+ years of professional software development including back-end work
• 2+ years of experience with Python or data projects
• Fluent in Web tech (HTTP, TCP, JS, CSS) & REST APIs
• Experience with ETL architectures
• Familiarity with Test-Driven development
• Comfortable with Docker

Nice to have

• Experience with Apache Airflow
• Experience with browser automation and scraping libraries such as Appium
• Familiarity with mobile app development and/or reverse engineering network traffic on mobile devices
• Experience with Agile processes and horizontal organizational models (experience of technical leadership is a plus)

You are welcome to apply even if you do not meet all the skills criteria. A demonstrable commitment to learning and capacity to take full advantage of on-the-job learning opportunities is key.

Rate

Freelance position for 40 weekly hours.
€3,500 ~ €4,800 / month

Benefits

• Fully remote position, with periodic team retreats throughout Europe
• Work schedule and location flexibility in CET compatible time zones
• Driving tangible impact in defending digital rights in the AI era
• A highly collaborative work environment with passionate teammates