# smartclip — AI Engineer

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Date found** | 2026-05-22 |
| **Company** | smartclip |
| **Role** | AI Engineer |
| **Location** | Berlin, Germany (Hybrid — remote by default, Berlin on-site for architecture/feature sessions) |
| **Salary** | Undisclosed |
| **Job URL** | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4332434565/ |
| **Status** | New |

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## Company Research

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Headquarters** | Hamburg, Germany (offices in Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Amsterdam, Paris) |
| **Founded** | ~2008 |
| **Employees** | ~171 employees (134 on LinkedIn) |
| **LinkedIn** | https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartclip/ — 11,385 followers |
| **Website** | https://www.smartclip.tv |
| **Blog** | — |

- **Product:** Proprietary AdTech platform enabling European broadcasters and publishers to monetise inventory across in-stream, CTV, audio, and gaming — the adtech development unit of RTL Group.
- **Customers:** European broadcasters, publishers, and media owners; brands seeking cross-screen advertising solutions.
- **Notable:** Part of RTL Group, Europe's leading free-to-air broadcaster group. Engineering team culture appears autonomous and low-bureaucracy despite the corporate parent.

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## Job Summary

**What they do:** smartclip is the adtech engineering unit of RTL Group, building proprietary advertising technology for European broadcasters and publishers across streaming, CTV, and audio.

**The role:** IC AI Engineer owning the architecture and operation of AI agents that bring AI prototypes into robust, scalable production systems.

**Core work:**
- Design and build reliable AI agent systems using LangGraph and Pydantic-AI
- Define quality metrics, run systematic evaluations and A/B tests for AI outputs
- Bridge the gap between Data Scientists (prototypes) and production engineering
- Evaluate and apply the latest AI/ML technologies and practices

**Stack:** Python · LangGraph · Pydantic-AI · Docker · Git · (Spark, Kubernetes, Grafana as nice-to-have)

**Work style:** Remote by default; on-site in Berlin for larger feature work, architectural decisions, and key collaboration sessions. Frequency not stated — likely irregular but could be 1–2x/month or quarterly. Dublin-based candidates would need occasional flights to Berlin (~2 hours).

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## Score: 69%

| Dimension | Score | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Agentic AI depth (25%) | 70% | AI agents in production with LangGraph; but AdTech domain and less frontier agentic research compared to top-scored roles |
| Tech fit (25%) | 80% | Python, LangGraph, Pydantic-AI are strong matches; no AWS/MLOps specifics but solid alignment |
| Remote fit (25%) | 55% | Remote-first but Berlin on-site required "when it matters"; Dublin-based means travel flights — feasible but not ideal |
| Company culture fit (15%) | 60% | Low-ego, fast, autonomous team culture stated; but ultimately adtech within RTL Group — not an AI-native startup |
| IC/leadership balance (10%) | 90% | Pure IC role with full ownership; no management signals |
| **Final (weighted)** | **69%** | |

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## Strengths

- LangGraph and Pydantic-AI explicitly listed in stack — direct match with Luca's agentic frameworks experience
- Genuine IC ownership: "ownership over tickets", end-to-end agent architecture
- Remote-first culture ("focused, efficient, full ownership") with low stated bureaucracy
- Small engineering team (134 on LinkedIn) with startup-like pace inside a stable media company

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## Weaknesses & Risks

- AdTech/media domain is a weaker fit for Luca's compliance/enterprise AI background
- Salary undisclosed — no way to validate it meets the €110k target floor
- Berlin on-site requirement from Dublin adds travel friction and cost
- RTL Group corporate parent (large European media company) may introduce bureaucracy over time
- 1,100+ total applicants already on LinkedIn — high competition

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## Suggestions

- Emphasise production-grade agentic AI systems experience (Fenergo agentic document parser, LangGraph usage)
- Highlight the bridge between prototyping and production — this is exactly the stated gap they need filled
- Ask in interview: what cadence are on-site sessions, and whether Dublin-based candidates are welcome
- Ask about salary band early given it's undisclosed

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## Interview Tracker

| Stage | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Expired | 2026-06-07 | Posting expired — no longer accepting applications |
| Applied | | |
| Recruiter screen | | |
| Technical interview | | |
| Final round | | |
| Offer / Outcome | | |