Jr. AI Engineer

Ursa Space Systems•Ithaca, NY

30d•$70,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Junior AI Engineer at Ursa Space builds foundational engineering capabilities by mastering a Human-on-the-Loop delivery model. In this AI-first environment, you won't just write code; you will be a steward of software quality and system integrity applying sound judgment, identifying risks, and escalating appropriately ensuring AI accelerates productivity without compromising accountability. As an early‑career software engineer you will develop, test, modernize, and support software systems in an AI‑augmented delivery environment. This role leverages AI tools as a default assistant while building strong foundations in software design, quality, security, and production discipline. This is an exciting opportunity transitioning from the classroom to a professional Junior AI Engineer role that requires curiosity, collaboration, and foundational knowledge.

Requirements

1–3 years of software engineering experience (including internships or co‑op experience)
Knowledge of at least one modern programming language - Python, React, Typescript preferred.
Experience using coding co-pilots like Claude, Codex or similar.
Experience working with MCP, CLI and Agentic tooling.
Familiarity with Git‑based version control and CI/CD concepts
Strong interest in AI, automation, and modern engineering practices
Exposure to cloud platforms and API‑based architectures
Experience working in agile or POD‑based delivery models
Basic understanding of testing frameworks or automation tools

Nice To Haves

Knowledge or experience about managing agentic memory and creating agent harnesses, writing evals, measuring costs etc. is very desirable.

Responsibilities

Use AI tools to assist with coding, refactoring, unit testing, and documentation
Build skills in AI‑augmented workflows, systems thinking, and analytical problem‑solving.
Follow approved AI usage standards, policies, and guardrails
Learn when to accept AI recommendations and when to seek review from senior engineers
Implement well‑defined features and enhancements under guidance
Assist in modernizing existing applications through refactoring and API updates
Ensure all changes meet quality, security, and compliance standards
Participate in structured production support rotations
Use AI‑assisted diagnostics to investigate and analyze incidents
Apply fixes (reviewed by senior engineers) to reduce recurring issues
Adhere to coding standards and AI‑assisted quality gates within CI/CD pipelines
Participate in peer code reviews and release readiness activities
Ensure traceability and observability requirements are met
Work collaboratively within an AI‑enabled POD and partner with Senior and Lead Engineers