At a Glance
- Tasks: Build innovative AI applications that transform commodities trading and optimise processes.
- Company: Join Trafigura, a leader in digital transformation within the commodities sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and problem-solving.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by developing cutting-edge AI solutions for trading operations.
- Qualifications: 5-8 years of experience in backend systems, Python proficiency, and frontend skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Trafigura is undergoing a Digital Transformation, developing innovative AI technologies to change the way we work in Commodities Trading. The Document AI team is a key pillar of this initiative, unlocking data-rich proprietary documents to enable high-value process optimisation and data science use cases. We are seeking a Senior Product Engineer to work closely with our AI team to build applications and systems that bring AI capabilities to our trading operations. You will be building robust AI/LLM applications that directly impact trading operations. This is a hands-on Individual Contributor role.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain Python-based backend services and APIs
- Build document processing pipelines using LLMs and traditional ML techniques
- Build functional frontend interfaces and integrate them with backend systems
- Debug performance issues, handle edge cases, and optimize system reliability
- Write comprehensive tests and implement monitoring for backend systems
- Rapidly prototype new features, evaluate them, and implement to production
- Participate in code reviews, technical design discussions, and architecture decisions
- Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders to understand and translate business requirements into production code
- Define and build agent-user interactions to integrate AI agents into applications that 5,000+ employees use every day
- Extend the in-house intelligent document management system with additional AI-powered features with intuitive human-centred UX
- Integrate the firmwide AI Assistant with internal data sources using MCP attributes
- Engineering mindset focused on delivering practical solutions that solve real business problems
- Self-directed and comfortable working autonomously with minimal supervision
- Pragmatic approach to technology choices – pick the right tool for the job rather than chasing trends
- Deep appreciation for SRE principles and a mindset for scaling with a small and lean team
- Intellectually curious and desire to work in Applied AI
- Strong desire to help people solve problems
Required Qualifications
- 5-8+ years of experience building production backend systems and APIs
- Functional frontend skills – comfortable with React, TypeScript, and building user interfaces when needed
- Expert-level modern Python proficiency with deep knowledge of the ecosystem (Pydantic, FastAPI, asyncio, type hints)
- Strong experience with REST APIs, microservices architecture, and database design (SQL, NoSQL)
- Experience with modern AI frameworks (we currently favor Pydantic AI) and LLM integration
- Production experience with monitoring, observability, and system reliability
- Strong fundamentals in software testing, evaluation frameworks, and quality assurance
- In-depth understanding of modern software design principles (microservices, event-driven architectures, domain-driven design, object-oriented programming, test-driven development)
- In-depth understanding of modern software development lifecycle (CI/CD, IaC, containerisation)
- Practical experience with cloud engineering (preference for AWS)
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience in Commodities, Fixed Income, Equities, Asset Management is a plus
Sample Projects
- Define and build agent-user interactions to integrate AI agents into applications that 5,000+ employees use every day
- Extend our in-house intelligent document management system with additional AI-powered features with intuitive human-centred UX
- Integrate our firmwide AI Assistant with internal data sources using MCP attributes
Key Relationships
You will work closely with the Digital Transformation Team to understand business requirements and roll out production-grade applications to solve them. You will support the Data Science & Engineering teams as a primary user segment, providing ad-hoc support and understanding user problems.
Reporting Structure
You will report directly to the Document AI Lead.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or handicap, disability, or any other legally protected status. Please make sure that you submit your CV in English.
Senior Product Engineer employer: Puma Energy
Trafigura is an exceptional employer, particularly for those passionate about technology and innovation in the commodities trading sector. With a strong focus on digital transformation and AI integration, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that encourages professional growth and development. The company offers unique opportunities to work on impactful projects that directly enhance trading operations, all while fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Product Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those at Trafigura. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you've got a portfolio or GitHub with projects related to AI or backend systems, make sure to highlight them. Real-world examples of your work can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by understanding Trafigura's digital transformation goals. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to their AI initiatives.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Python, backend services, and AI technologies. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects!
Showcase Your Projects:Include specific examples of your work, especially those that involve building APIs or document processing pipelines. We love seeing practical applications of your skills, so let us know what you've built!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your experience and how it relates to the job. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Puma Energy
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Python, REST APIs, and modern AI frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of Pydantic, FastAPI, and any relevant tools. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples from your past experience where you've tackled complex problems, particularly in backend systems or AI applications. Be ready to explain your thought process and the impact of your solutions. This will demonstrate your engineering mindset and ability to deliver practical solutions.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since you'll be working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. Think about how you can translate business requirements into technical solutions. Clear communication is key to ensuring everyone is on the same page.
✨Demonstrate Your Curiosity
Express your interest in applied AI and your desire to learn more about the field. Share any recent projects or learning experiences related to AI or document processing. Showing intellectual curiosity can set you apart and highlight your commitment to growth within the role.