---
title: 'Senior Fullstack Engineer at Institute of Foundation Models'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-fullstack-engineer-institute-of-foundation-models-abu-dhabi-na6g3nxt2j6m'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-26'
---

# Senior Fullstack Engineer at Institute of Foundation Models

- **Company:** Institute of Foundation Models
- **Location:** Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2025-06-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-26
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/ifm-us/1e7c8417-5b8c-45be-827e-77a8df2d60f7

## Job description

## About the Institute of Foundation Models

We are a dedicated research lab for building, understanding, using, and risk-managing foundation models. Our mandate is to advance research, nurture the next generation of AI builders, and drive transformative contributions to a knowledge-driven economy.

As part of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to work on the core of cutting-edge foundation model training, alongside world-class researchers, data scientists, and engineers, tackling the most fundamental and impactful challenges in AI development. You will participate in the development of groundbreaking AI solutions that have the potential to reshape entire industries. Strategic and innovative problem-solving skills will be instrumental in establishing MBZUAI as a global hub for high-performance computing in deep learning, driving impactful discoveries that inspire the next generation of AI pioneers.

## The Role

The Senior Fullstack Engineer will play a central role in developing and maintaining both backend and frontend components of our AI platforms, tools, and products. You will be responsible for building scalable APIs, managing data flows, and delivering user-friendly web and mobile applications. This position requires expertise across multiple technology stacks, with a focus on Python-based backend development and modern frontend frameworks. You will work closely with AI researchers, product managers, and design teams to transform cutting-edge AI research into robust and accessible applications.

## Key Responsibilities

- Design, develop, and maintain backend services and RESTful APIs using Python frameworks such as FastAPI.
- Build data processing pipelines, integrate with databases, and ensure secure and efficient data management.
- Design and implement frontend web applications using modern frameworks such as [Vue.js](http://Vue.js), React, or [Next.js](http://Next.js).
- Develop mobile applications using Flutter, delivering consistent cross-platform user experiences.
- Collaborate with AI research teams to integrate model inference, data visualization, and AI feature embedding into products.
- Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code following industry best practices.
- Optimize application performance, scalability, and security across backend and frontend systems.
- Manage database design, optimization, and queries using PostgreSQL and SQL-based systems.
- Develop CI/CD pipelines to streamline deployment and testing processes.
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues across the full software stack.
- Strong proficiency in Python backend development, particularly with FastAPI or similar frameworks.
- Solid understanding of relational databases (PostgreSQL), SQL queries, and data schema design.
- Extensive experience with modern frontend development using [Vue.js](http://Vue.js), React, [Next.js](http://Next.js), or similar frameworks.
- Proficiency in Flutter for cross-platform mobile app development.
- Strong skills in JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3 for responsive web application design.
- Experience with RESTful API design, authentication, and security best practices.
- Familiarity with version control systems (Git), Docker, and cloud deployment pipelines.
- Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities in cross-functional engineering teams.

Academic Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field required.
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Fullstack Development or Systems Engineering preferred.

Professional Experience - Required

- Strong proficiency in Python backend development, particularly with FastAPI or similar frameworks.
- Solid understanding of relational databases (PostgreSQL), SQL queries, and data schema design.
- Extensive experience with modern frontend development using [Vue.js](http://vue.js/), React, [Next.js](http://next.js/), or similar frameworks.
- Proficiency in Flutter for cross-platform mobile app development.
- Strong skills in JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3 for responsive web application design.
- Experience with RESTful API design, authentication, and security best practices.
- Familiarity with version control systems (Git), Docker, and cloud deployment pipelines.
- Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities in cross-functional engineering teams.

Professional Experience - Preferred

- Experience integrating AI/ML models or AI-driven features into web and mobile applications.
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and Kubernetes-based deployments.
- Knowledge of real-time communication protocols (WebSockets, gRPC).
- Experience building admin dashboards, data visualization tools, or annotation platforms.
- Experience working in research or academic environments with interdisciplinary teams.

## About Institute of Foundation Models

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: The Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) is a global AI research lab dedicated to the open and independent development of frontier-class foundation models, operating under the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).
- **Entity Type**: Academic Research Institute (part of MBZUAI, a university)
- **Headquarters**: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (with labs in Sunnyvale, CA, USA and Paris, France)
- **Founded**: 2026 (launched with Silicon Valley lab)
- **Founders**: Part of MBZUAI, led by President Eric Xing

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Artificial Intelligence research, foundation model development, open-source AI
- **Target customers**: Researchers, academia, industry partners, and the global AI community (B2B/Research/Public sector)
- **Mission**: To produce the world’s leading models across modalities while ensuring responsible, open, and socially meaningful impact.

## Products & Services
For each major offering:
- **JAIS Series**: State-of-the-art open-source Arabic LLM covering Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects, including Moroccan Arabic (Darija). Fully documented training lifecycle.
- **Vicuna**: Lightweight open chatbot surpassing 90% of ChatGPT and Bard quality.
- **K2 (K2-65B)**: Large language model with advanced reasoning capabilities, focusing on sustainable performance. Updated version soon to be released.
- **PAN World Model**: Next-gen foundation model for embodied reasoning and physical-world simulation, integrating multimodal inputs (language, video, spatial data, physical actions). Includes PAN-Agent for multimodal reasoning tasks.
- **FM For Bio – GET**: Domain-specific model for biology.
- **LLM360**: Open-source framework enhancing transparency and collaboration in LLM research, providing training code, datasets, and model checkpoints.
- **Research partnerships**: Collaboration with academia, startups, and enterprises via shared compute, co-publishing, and co-development.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not applicable (non-commercial research institute)
- **Key Metric**: Funded by MBZUAI; specific budget not publicly disclosed. Notable open-source model releases (JAIS, Vicuna, K2, PAN).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: MBZUAI, with international advisory boards and peer review processes. Partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and public organizations.
- **Growth Signals**: Launch of Silicon Valley lab in Sunnyvale, CA (2026); expansion into Paris and Abu Dhabi nodes; active hiring for research interns, distributed ML engineers, HPC engineers; release of flagship models (PAN, K2 update).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Openness & transparency**: Full release of training code, datasets, and model checkpoints through LLM360 – one of the most transparent approaches in AI.
- **Global research network**: Three hubs (Abu Dhabi, Silicon Valley, Paris) combining academic rigor with startup agility.
- **Access to large-scale compute**: High-performance computing infrastructure for training frontier models.
- **Multilingual & cultural focus**: JAIS addresses underrepresentation of Arabic and other languages, preserving cultural authenticity.
- **World model innovation**: PAN differentiates from text-only models by predicting comprehensive world states for advanced reasoning and simulation.

## Strategic Focus
- Continue building open, powerful foundation models across language, vision, multimodal, and domain-specific systems.
- Expand global collaboration and talent acquisition, especially in Silicon Valley.
- Advance responsible AI with safety systems and international advisory boards.
- Drive real-world impact through partnerships in scientific discovery, human-AI interaction, and public good.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Collaborative, cutting-edge academic research environment with a mission to open-source AI for global benefit. Teams span Abu Dhabi, Paris, and Silicon Valley.
- **Remote/hybrid/office**: All listed roles are **on-site** (Sunnyvale, CA or Abu Dhabi). No remote policy indicated.
- **Notable perks**: Work with world-class researchers, access to large-scale compute, opportunity to publish and contribute to open-source models. The institute combines the agility of a startup with the resources of an established university.
- **Current openings**: AI Research Internship (LLM), Distributed Machine Learning Engineer, Eval360 Error Analysis Engineer, High Performance Computing Software Engineer (Supercomputing) – all on-site in Sunnyvale or Abu Dhabi.

## Sources
1. [ifm.ai](https://ifm.ai/)
2. [ifm.ai/about](https://ifm.ai/about/)
3. [jobs.lever.co/ifm-us](https://jobs.lever.co/ifm-us)
4. [LinkedIn – Institute of Foundation Models](https://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-of-foundation-models)
5. [MBZUAI News – Launch of IFM and Silicon Valley Lab](https://mbzuai.ac.ae/news/mbzuai-launches-institute-of-foundation-models-and-establishes-silicon-valley-ai-lab/)

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