AI-Native Engineer (Freelance)

Oper a European Fintech company is a leader in cloud-based digital mortgage software. We provide personalized journeys for borrowers and lenders. Opers technology streamlines the mortgage application process eliminates paperwork and increases transparency. Currently collaborating with 16 leading financial institutions across 6 European countries our digital solutions result in a 27% increase in digital customer conversion 81% faster mortgage decisions and a 90% first-time-right.

Opers AI Analyst Herman is a mortgage underwriting agent that automates document validation data extraction fact-checking and credit policy application to deliver fully explainable decision-ready loan recommendations in minutes instead of hours.

A passionate and engaging team of over 40 stellar Fintech operators works vigorously to transform European mortgages by enhancing efficiency and alleviating borrower anxiety. Backed by Bessemer Venture Partners and Motive Ventures our platform has raised EUR 14 million placing Oper at the forefront of revolutionizing mortgages in Europe. Oper is based in Antwerp Belgium.

We are looking for an AI-Native Engineer to join us on a freelance project-based engagement of around 6 months. The mission is to design and build a production-grade integration layer between Opers product and a major European customers banking systems in the form of a Python microservice.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who is all-in on AI as the way they build software. We are not hiring for output measured in lines of code; we are hiring for someone who can use modern AI tooling to deliver something close to 5x the value a traditional engineer would on a real well-scoped problem.

If the engagement goes well and similar projects come up we are very open to extending or starting new ones together.

Tasks

Build the integration layer

• Design and build a Python microservice that acts as the integration layer between Opers product and the customers banking systems
• Define clean API contracts (REST OpenAPI) on both sides of the integration
• Implement reliable request handling retries idempotency and error semantics across system boundaries
• Translate between Opers domain model and the customers data formats and protocols
• Treat the integration as a real product: versioned documented and easy to evolve

Ship a production-ready service

• Build the service with FastAPI async patterns and strong typing
• Set up observability end to end: structured logging tracing metrics alerts
• Handle authentication secrets and sensitive data correctly from day one
• Containerize and deploy via our existing CI/CD setup
• Write meaningful tests at the right level (unit integration contract)

Deliver in an AI-native way

• Use modern AI coding tooling (Cursor Claude Code Copilot or your own setup) as a core part of how you build not as an afterthought
• Apply AI to the parts of the work where it actually compounds: scaffolding adapters from spec generating tests reviewing diffs writing documentation
• Be honest about where AI helps and where it does not and design your workflow accordingly
• Aim for a delivery cadence and output level that a non-AI-native engineer simply cannot match

Collaborate and communicate

• Own the delivery rhythm: weekly demos written updates clear progress signals
• Ask the right clarifying questions early and proactively flag risk
• Work closely with the Oper engineering product and customer-facing teams
• Leave behind code documentation and runbooks that the internal team can confidently maintain after the engagement

Requirements

We are looking for a senior pragmatic engineer who has shipped real integration work and is genuinely excited about AI-augmented delivery.

• 5 years of backend engineering experience ideally with a strong focus on integrations between systems
• Deep hands-on Python experience: idiomatic Python async typing packaging testing
• Strong production experience with FastAPI (and Pydantic) on real services not toy projects
• Solid grasp of REST and API design: OpenAPI versioning error handling pagination contracts
• Experience with async patterns queues and event-driven design: retries idempotency dead letters backpressure
• Comfortable with cloud and deployment: Docker CI/CD infrastructure as code deploying real services to AWS or equivalent
• Strong observability and security instincts: structured logging tracing metrics secrets management careful handling of sensitive customer data
• Genuinely AI-native: you can name the tools the workflows and the concrete recent projects where AI gave you real leverage
• Excellent communication and self-management: you set the rhythm you flag risk early you do not need to be chased
• Bonus: experience with regulated industries banking or other environments with strong compliance and security expectations

Benefits

• Freelance project-based engagement of around 6 months
• Target start date: June 2026
• Ideally based in Belgium fully remote within the EU is fine working in CET hours
• Possibility to extend or take on follow-up projects if the collaboration goes well
• Day rate to be discussed based on experience
• All equipment and access needed to do your best work