AI Automation Engineer

We are looking for a sharp and pragmatic AI Automation Engineer who will support cargo.one in building intelligent systems that streamline workflows, enhance decision-making, and unlock automation across the business.

You'll work closely with a variety of business units — from Customer Service to Marketing to Content Operations — identifying pain points and building tools or automations to solve them. You won’t be part of a traditional engineering squad with sprints and Scrum ceremonies. Instead, you’ll operate independently, often owning a problem from initial conversation to deployed solution.

You’ll engage directly with non-technical stakeholders to scope needs, explore opportunities, and rapidly deliver solutions using Python, AI/LLMs, and lightweight web tools or APIs. You’ll shape how business teams interact with automation and internal tooling, and help them become more effective through smart, human-centric solutions.

You’ll be a trusted partner: someone who asks good questions, listens closely, and then builds exactly what’s needed — or better. Along the way, you’ll help establish lightweight engineering standards for internal tools, share learnings across the company, and lay the groundwork for a function we plan to grow over time.

We value autonomy, curiosity, and impact over ceremony. If you enjoy having real ownership, working across domains, and applying AI to real-world workflows, we’d love to hear from you.

You can work from (almost) anywhere in Europe and South Africa. Please check here if the country you are in is on our hiring list. We are a remote company, but regularly meet in person, too.

A snapshot of what you will be doing here:

• You will work with technologies like Python 3, Flask, PostgreSQL, and BigQuery. We are running everything on Google Cloud Platform and Hetzner.

• You will collaborate directly with business units like Customer Service, Content Operations and Marketing, helping them streamline workflows and automate repetitive tasks. You’ll scope out their needs, write tools and automations, and use AI and LLM-based solutions to create high-leverage internal improvements.

• We’re excited about the impact LLMs are already having on our day-to-day work. We expect you to bring that same enthusiasm: you’ll use tools like LangChain, Claude, or OpenAI to build copilots, chatbots, and process automations that let your colleagues focus on the human parts of their roles.

• You’ll often be building internal tools and APIs, crafting custom automations, and occasionally diving into data wrangling to extract insights or enable new workflows. Most of your work will go directly into production — and into the hands of your internal users — with minimal ceremony. We value speed, ownership, and pragmatism.

• You’ll be a critical thought partner, not just an implementer. You’ll ask "Why?", challenge assumptions, and bring engineering perspectives into business conversations. You’ll often be the first (and only) engineer in a room, so we’re looking for someone who enjoys autonomy and can think and execute independently.

• You’ll also shape how this new function grows. Over time, we expect to expand this capability and possibly grow a small team around it — and you’ll have a big influence on what that looks like.

• We thrive on proactivity. Everyone is encouraged to share knowledge, offer feedback, uplift others, and step up with leadership when the moment calls for it.

We are looking for individuals with:

• We’re seeking passionate individuals with at least 5 years of relevant experience, ideally in software engineering, automation, or technical roles embedded within business units. What matters most is what you’ve built, automated, or improved — and what you’ve learned along the way.

• Our ideal candidate is deeply curious, with a passion for making life easier for others through smart tooling and automation. You thrive on spotting inefficiencies, asking “why?”, and then rolling up your sleeves to build solutions that make a real difference for your colleagues.

• You communicate clearly — in writing, in Slack, and in code. Especially in a remote-first setup, we value engineers who:

• Document their work so others can build on it.

• Share insights and technical findings across the company.

• Collaborate closely with non-engineers, translating their needs into software.

• Support new teammates with onboarding, tooling, and guidance.

• A strong foundation in Python is essential. You’ve likely used it to automate tasks, connect APIs, manipulate data, or build internal tools. Experience with LLMs, prompt engineering, or frameworks like LangChain is a big plus — but a willingness to learn and explore these tools is even more important.

• We value a strong knowledge of SQL. Whether you've been hands-on with database operations, crafted efficient queries, or delved into troubleshooting performance issues, we appreciate the diverse ways you've engaged with databases.

• Understanding the workings of web applications is also a requirement. This can mean having insights into web architecture, knowing about the flow of requests and responses, and understanding how backend systems integrate with other services. No matter your path of experience, we recognize the unique expertise you contribute.

• We love people who are low-ego, outcome-oriented, and fun to work with. You’ll be working solo at first, often across teams — so we need someone who can take initiative while being collaborative and approachable.

We think you will love working here if:

• You treasure building deep, trusting relationships with other Cargonauts.

• Innovation excites you, and you’re always on the lookout for opportunities to enhance processes, starting small and climbing your way up to the architecture.

• Remote work is not just a convenience; it's a dynamic challenge you're eager to navigate and crack open.

• Ownership, commitment, and the joy of exceeding expectations define your work ethic.

• Personal growth is paramount, and you're not afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

• Feedback is a two-way street for you; you believe in giving as much as you take.

• Voicing well-informed opinions, backed by data, is second nature to you.

We are currently offering the following benefits globally:

• Company-wide:

  • Home office budget of €650 which can be used to purchase items such as a desk, chair, mouse, keyboard & monitor, etc. in addition to the laptop that we will have delivered to you prior to your starting date.

  • Offsite fun & team trips since there’s nothing more important than culture and team spirit. We meet twice a year as a company and also have opportunities to meet as a team. Click here to watch a video from one of our early offsite events.

  • Unlimited co-working options through our partner desana all around the world.

  • 24 paid vacation days on top of the bank holidays (specific to the country you are in) and special leaves.

• Engineering-specific:

  • A full IntelliJ PyCharm license to elevate your Python development.

  • Prefer another tool like Visual Studio Code or Neovim? No problem, we are not strict about this.

  • AI assistants that support you. Currently we are running with Cursor, Claude Code and GitHub's Co-Pilot. As our understanding around LLMs and how to utilize them best evolves, so will this list.

What is so exciting about working in the air cargo industry?

Imagine a world without a Skyscanner or Kayak when trying to book your next holiday. That is exactly where the air cargo industry finds itself today. With the backing of internationally prominent investors, we are shaping the future of how the air cargo industry will work by providing a tech solution for a currently very manual and time-intensive process for airlines and freight forwarders to book air cargo, an industry which is worth almost $123bn. Our solution allows users to transparently and efficiently search for and book air cargo within seconds! If you want to be part of a company pioneering the way in the future of air cargo, get in touch!