Senior Full Stack Engineer - (Audio & Interaction) | AI Lab at Theeconomistgroup

Who we are We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them. We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. We are launching a new AI Lab—a small, fast-moving innovation unit focused on reimagining The Economist’s journalism for an AI-driven world. This role will be central to prototyping and shipping early experiences that bring AI models into user-facing tools, particularly via web and mobile interfaces. You’ll ship products from zero-to-one and see your ideas directly influence how millions of readers interact with our journalism. If you enjoy working close to design, iterating fast, and building novel interactions across text, voice, and visuals, we’d love to hear from you. You'll be one of the first three engineers in a dedicated lab, working alongside the Tech Lead, Design Lead and Product Lead. You’ll be part of a globally distributed team working closely with colleagues in the UK and Europe. Role Base Location - Indonesia or India What You’ll Do • Build interactive prototypes that surface LLM capabilities in mobile and web environments (e.g. chat + audio agents / interfaces). These are often high-fidelity, code-based prototypes intended for user testing and internal demos, with a path to becoming V1 features. • Implement voice interaction flows in mobile and web • Work closely with the Design Lead to explore new interaction paradigms and integrate Figma flows into working prototypes • Integrate LLM outputs, voice services, and backend logic into frontend experiences—collaborating with the wider engineering team on AI infrastructure. • Contribute to frontend components and frameworks (React/Next.js, Tailwind, etc.) to streamline iteration across projects • Comfortable collaborating with Python-based AI infra and APIs (e.g. FastAPI backends, LangChain-like pipelines). • Able to run/test Python scripts (e.g. model calls, audio processing, etc.). • Ideally able to contribute some Python components if needed (like wiring up STT/TTS calls, or tweaking endpoints for a demo). • Comfortable collaborating across time zones and async workflows Specific skills and expertise • 8+ years of experience in frontend or full-stack development with a strong UX instinct • Fluency in React and modern JavaScript/TypeScript (ideally with Next.js) • Strong working knowledge of browser audio APIs and libraries for voice interaction (e.g. Web Speech API, MediaRecorder, Web Audio, or integrations with ElevenLabs/HeyGen/VibeVoice) • Familiarity with mobile-first design, responsive layouts, and rapid prototyping • Comfortable working across frontend/backend boundaries (e.g., creating lightweight API routes or integrating with LLM endpoints) • Experience working closely with product and design to prototype ideas and iterate on feedback • Strong communication skills and a collaborative, curiosity-driven attitude Strong candidates might also have • Swift/ iOS experience • Experience working in R&D labs, design-led startups, or other experimental environments • Exposure to conversational UI, voice agents, or multimodal interfaces • Familiarity with design tools like Figma, Miro, or ProtoPie • Experience integrating STT/TTS services like Whisper, ElevenLabs, Azure Speech, etc. • Interest in journalism, editorial products, or designing with tone and clarity in mind • Enthusiasm for emerging GenAI capabilities and the role they could play in everyday tools • Experience writing Python for scripting or integrating AI APIs (e.g. TTS/STT, OpenAI, Whisper, ElevenLabs) More about the Economist AI Lab We believe AI will fundamentally change both our business and the world around us, making our mission more vital than ever. While we already use AI across The Economist Group, we think the changes to come in the next few years could be even more far-reaching. This is why we are launching the Economist AI Lab–to reimagine Economist journalism for an AI-driven world. It is a deliberately ambitious project, exploring new ideas and possibilities beyond our existing AI initiatives and engineering roadmap. A small, dedicated team, the AI Lab will serve as an innovation engine for The Economist –investigating bold new ideas that will shape how we serve our global audience in the future. #LI-Hybrid Working Arrangements The majority of our roles operate on a hybrid working pattern, with 3+ days office attendance required. AI usage for your application We are an innovative organisation that encourages the use of technology. We recognise that candidates may utilise AI tools to support with their job application process. However, it is essential that all information you provide truthfully and accurately reflects your own experience, skills, and qualifications. What we offer Our benefits package is designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance. It includes a highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan, private health insurance, and 24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Program. We also offer a range of lifestyle benefits, including our Work From Anywhere program, which allows you to work from any location where you have the legal right to do so for up to 25 days per year. In addition, we provide generous annual and parental leave, as well as dedicated days off for volunteering and even for moving home. You will also be given free access to all The Economist content, including an online subscription, our range of apps, podcasts and more.