Machine Learning Engineer

Location: Waltham, MA (hybrid)

NEXT’s mission is to help entrepreneurs thrive. We’re doing that by building the only technology-led, full-stack provider of small business insurance in the industry, taking on the entire value chain and transforming the customer experience.

Simply put, wherever you find small businesses, you’ll find NEXT.

Since 2016, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of small business customers across the United States get fast, customized and affordable coverage. We’re backed by industry leaders in insurance and tech, and we still have room to grow — that’s where you come in.

What You’ll Do:

• Design, implement and optimize backend services that support AI workflows


• Integrate ML and LLM models into production systems with focus on performance, reliability and scalability


• Collaborate with product and cross functional teams to refine requirements and translate them into clear technical plans


• Contribute to system design, architecture reviews and code quality improvements


• Diagnose complex issues across data pipelines, model serving and backend components


• Support innovation and continuous improvement by identifying opportunities and driving technical initiatives

What We Need:

• 5+ years of backend engineering experience in Python, Go, Java or similar


• Proven experience building high performance or distributed systems


• 2+ years of hands on experience integrating ML or LLM models into production


• Strong understanding of cloud infrastructure, microservices and observability


• Ability to operate effectively under ambiguity and navigate dynamic environments


• Strong communication and collaboration skills


• Hybrid Work Model: This role supports a flexible hybrid work model, requiring a minimum of two days per week on-site in the office, per company policy

Note on Fraudulent Recruiting

We have become aware that there may be fraudulent recruiting attempts being made by people posing as representatives of Next Insurance. These scams may involve fake job postings, unsolicited emails, or messages claiming to be from our recruiters or hiring managers.

The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the location(s) listed. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including, without limitation, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. NEXT employees are eligible for our benefits package, consisting of our partially subsidized medical plan, fully subsidized vision/dental options, life insurance, disability insurance, 401(k), flexible paid time off, parental leave and more.

US annual base salary range for this full-time position:

$158,000 - $213,000 USD

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some underrepresented people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NEXT, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

One of our core values is 'Play as a Team'; this means making sure everyone has an equal chance to participate and make a difference. We win by playing together. Next Insurance is an equal opportunity employer and prioritizes building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants of any type and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job-related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state, and local laws. Next's policy is to comply with all applicable laws related to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.