Junior AI Developer

Sourcebooks • Full-time • Naperville, IL • $95,000 - $105,000 / year • 1m ago

We’re looking for a Junior AI Developer to join our Automation & AI team at Sourcebooks, an independent publisher that recently cracked the Big Five. This is an early-career, hands-on role where you’ll work alongside experienced AI leaders to build real, production-ready tools that support editorial, marketing, sales, and operations teams. If you’re excited by practical AI, curious about how technology can help scale a creative business in a moment of rapid growth, and eager to learn through mentorship and meaningful work, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact from day one.

This position can be hybrid in Naperville, Illinois or NYC, or fully remote in the following states ONLY: AZ, CT, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NY, NV, OR, PA, TN, TX, AND WI. Occasional in-person meetings may be required.

The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $105,000/annually. We determine starting pay based on a thorough evaluation of job-related factors, including geographic location, market conditions, relevant experience, training, and education. This process ensures a fair and competitive salary that aligns with both the company and the candidate’s qualifications.  

What you’ll do:

Build and maintain AI-powered applications that transform how we publish books. You'll work with modern AI frameworks (OpenAI APIs, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic Claude) to create practical solutions that help editorial, marketing, sales, and operations teams work more efficiently.
Develop workflow automations that integrate AI functionality with our existing publishing systems. Under the guidance of our Director of Automation & AI, you'll implement API integrations, create custom tools for content analysis and market research, and help maintain our growing library of AI-powered automations.
Collaborate directly with teams across the company to understand their challenges and translate business needs into technical solutions. You'll participate in requirements gathering, testing, and user training while learning the unique workflows of modern publishing.
Create clear documentation that helps both technical and non-technical users understand and maintain the systems you build. You'll maintain project notes, write technical specifications, and contribute to our team knowledge base.
Learn continuously through hands-on work, code reviews, and mentorship from experienced developers. You'll stay current with AI research and tools, experiment with proof-of-concept projects, and develop deep expertise in publishing technology while building production systems that create measurable business impact.

What you bring:

Technical Foundation

Working knowledge of Python for scripting and automation, along with familiarity with AI concepts and at least one major AI API (OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google AI).
You understand version control with Git, basic testing practices, and how to organize code effectively.
You're comfortable working with REST APIs and webhooks, and you have experience manipulating data in formats like JSON and CSV.

Experience & Portfolio

0-2 years of professional software development experience or demonstrated personal/academic projects using AI/ML technologies.
You have a portfolio (GitHub, personal website, or academic work) that shows your hands-on coding experience and problem-solving approach.
Most importantly, you have a strong interest in AI/ML and genuine enthusiasm for building production applications that solve real business problems.

Mindset & Approach

You're eager to learn rapidly in the fast-changing AI landscape and excited by the challenge of solving business problems with technology.
You communicate clearly in writing and conversation, ask good questions, and know when to seek help.
You work well in teams, welcome feedback, and approach challenges with curiosity and analytical thinking. You're committed to continuous improvement and building reliable, user-friendly systems that enhance rather than replace human creativity.

Why Sourcebooks?
As Newsweek’s #2 Most Loved Workplace in 2024 and a recognized leader in innovation by Fast Company (2024 Most Innovative Companies, 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators), we use a mission-driven, data-centered approach to drive success for our authors and their books. We’re a thriving entrepreneurial company that creates books that transcend categories and defy odds, and we’ve been honored with hundreds of national bestsellers and awards. We are passionate book lovers dedicated to connecting books to readers in innovative ways. Story by story, book by book, we have changed more than 300 million lives. Join us as we change 300 million more!

Ready to Apply:

Please submit your resume, salary requirements, and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest in this role. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Show us your passion and creativity — we’re looking for someone who’s as enthusiastic about this opportunity as we are!

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care, Dependent Care, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, & generous paid time off.

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.