At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and scale AI applications with a focus on large language models.
- Company: Join a cutting-edge AI startup founded by top researchers from prestigious institutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, equity options, and relocation support to London.
- Why this job: Work with elite engineers on groundbreaking AI projects in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Degree from a top university and experience in AI products required.
- Other info: This role offers unique ownership opportunities in a rapidly growing company.
The predicted salary is between 130000 - 165000 £ per year.
£150,000 – £175,000 + meaningful equity
On-site in London (£10K relocation provided)
Join a deeply technical AI-native startup founded by PhDs and researchers from Cambridge, Imperial, and other top European and US institutions. This is an opportunity to work directly with a team who’ve published at leading AI conferences, built open-source tools used across the industry, and scaled high-performance systems from first principles. Now, they’re hiring a Founding Software Engineer to help build the next generation of reasoning tools powered by large language models. The product is already live with paying customers, and the company is well-funded with serious growth ambitions.
What you'll work on:
- Architecting and scaling LLM-powered applications
- Building efficient inference pipelines and backend infrastructure
- Working across the stack to ship production-grade code fast
- Collaborating directly with the founders and early technical hires
What they’re looking for:
- A degree from a world-leading university (e.g. Cambridge, Oxford, EPFL, ETH Zurich, ENS, TUM, etc.)
- Experience in AI-focused products, ideally within a high-growth or research-heavy environment
- Strong Python engineering skills; full-stack capability a bonus (Postgres, Typescript, React)
- A bias toward action, autonomy, and technical depth
This isn’t a typical startup job. It’s a chance to work alongside an elite team of engineers and scientists on hard technical problems — with equity and early ownership in a company building something truly original in the AI space. If you’re ready to build fast, learn constantly, and work on meaningful AI challenges, we’d love to hear from you.
Founding AI Engineer employer: Better Placed Ltd - A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer!
Contact Detail:
Better Placed Ltd - A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer! Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding AI Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the AI field, especially those who have experience in startups or have worked on LLM-powered applications. Attend relevant meetups, conferences, or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into the industry.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your technical skills by contributing to open-source projects related to AI or large language models. This not only demonstrates your expertise but also helps you build a portfolio that can impress our hiring team.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and advancements in AI technology, particularly in Python and Typescript. Being well-versed in current tools and frameworks will help you stand out during discussions with our founders and technical team.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in high-growth or research-heavy environments. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled complex problems and contributed to successful projects, as this aligns with what we value in our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding AI Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in AI-focused products and showcases your strong Python engineering skills. Include any relevant projects or roles that demonstrate your ability to work in high-growth or research-heavy environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for AI and your desire to work with an elite team. Mention specific experiences that align with the job description, such as your background in building LLM-powered applications or your familiarity with full-stack development.
Showcase Relevant Projects: If you have worked on any open-source tools or published papers in AI, be sure to include these in your application. This will demonstrate your technical depth and commitment to the field, which is crucial for this role.
Highlight Your Educational Background: Since the company is looking for candidates from world-leading universities, make sure to prominently display your degree and any relevant coursework or research that aligns with the role of Founding AI Engineer.
How to prepare for a job interview at Better Placed Ltd - A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer!
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with Python and any other relevant technologies like Typescript or React. Bring examples of projects you've worked on, especially those related to AI, to demonstrate your technical depth.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Research the startup's mission and the specific AI products they are developing. Being able to articulate how your skills align with their goals will show your genuine interest in the role and the company.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Practice coding problems and system design questions that relate to building scalable applications and inference pipelines, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Demonstrate a Bias Toward Action
Highlight instances where you took initiative in previous roles or projects. The company values autonomy and a proactive approach, so sharing examples of how you’ve driven results will resonate well with the interviewers.