AI-Native Software Engineer - Consultant

XPRIZE Foundation • , (Multiple States)

2d • $75 - $85 • Remote

About The Position

XPRIZE is seeking an experienced AI-Native Software Engineer consultant to help build its new Prize Execution Platform, a unified system that will replace fragmented existing tools and manage the full lifecycle of XPRIZE competitions. The platform will serve XPRIZE staff, competitors, judges, and alumni, with capabilities including competition management, submission intake, judging and scoring, mentor matchmaking, and continued alumni engagement. AI-powered product features include assisted judging and scoring, automated submission review, competitor-mentor matchmaking, and an applicant-facing chatbot.

This is a net-new platform developed using spec-driven and AI-assisted practices on a .NET, Angular or React, and Python stack. The consultant will work independently within a defined scope and timeline, deliver production-quality features, and help XPRIZE’s internal engineering team build lasting capability in AI-assisted and spec-driven development.

The engagement is fully remote and open to consultants located within the United States, subject to applicable tax and legal requirements. Expected effort is approximately 30–40 hours per week, not to exceed 40 hours without written approval. The consultant will attend milestone reviews and collaboration sessions by mutual agreement, expected approximately 2–3 times per week, and should be reasonably responsive during U.S. Pacific business hours. XPRIZE will provide required development tools and access; the consultant supplies their own computer, internet connection, and general office equipment. The consultant is an independent contractor, will receive IRS Form 1099, and is not eligible for employee benefits. Compensation is $75–$85 per hour based on skills and experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• At least 4 years of hands-on experience developing full-stack web applications, including prior consulting or contract engagements.
• Ability to ramp up quickly on an existing codebase and deliver independently within a defined scope and timeline.
• Professional experience using AI coding tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar, with concrete examples of impact on delivery speed and quality.
• Experience with AI-first, spec-driven development and ability to teach the approach to an internal team as a knowledge-transfer deliverable.
• Ability to critically evaluate AI-generated code for security, performance, and architectural consistency.
• Strong proficiency in .NET technologies and Python.
• Experience with Angular v12 or later, or React with TypeScript.
• Solid understanding of HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and TypeScript.
• Proficiency with SQL Server or another relational database system.
• Familiarity with Azure, Git, and CI/CD pipelines such as GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps.
• Ability to deliver the milestones in the Statement of Work within the engagement timeline.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills; comfort working independently with minimal day-to-day oversight.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver features and modules across the Prize Execution Platform, including competition management, submission intake, judging and scoring, competitor and mentor matchmaking, and applicant-facing AI tools.
• Collaborate with the internal product and engineering team to confirm requirements, milestones, and acceptance criteria.
• Deliver clean, maintainable, tested code that meets the quality, security, and testing criteria defined in the Statement of Work and technical guidelines.
• Submit work product for XPRIZE review at agreed milestones and participate in technical planning and review sessions as needed.
• Use AI-assisted development tools as the primary development workflow for scaffolding, refactoring, test generation, debugging, and documentation.
• Apply AI-first, spec-driven development practices and document the workflow so it can be reused by the internal team.
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated code for correctness, security, and architectural fit.
• Transfer knowledge to XPRIZE’s internal engineers, including training on the AI-assisted and spec-driven development methods used on the project.
• Provide clear technical documentation that enables the internal team to maintain and extend the solution after the engagement.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level