At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop AI solutions and work on innovative projects that impact real customer experiences.
- Company: Join a fast-growing fintech redefining consumer lending in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, 25 days holiday, gym membership, and wellness budget.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with exceptional growth and promotion opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of credit with cutting-edge AI technologies and make a real difference.
- Qualifications: Recent graduates in STEM fields with Python proficiency and a passion for AI.
About Abound
We’re redefining consumer lending in the UK, and beyond. Using advanced AI and Open Banking data, we make fair, affordable personal finance available to more people. While traditional lenders rely almost entirely on credit scores, we look at the full financial picture - how much you spend, and what you can afford to repay to build a deeper, more accurate understanding of each customer's unique financial situation.
And we've shown it works at scale. We’ve issued over £1.3bn in loans directly to customers while delivering market-leading credit performance - for every 10 defaults the industry expects, we see only 3. We also reached profitability just 2.5 years after launch.
Backed by £2bn+ of funding from top-tier investors including Citi, GSR Ventures, and Deutsche Bank, we’re recognised as one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintechs (Sifted, CNBC). Now, we’re expanding into new markets and product lines - and we’re looking for ambitious people who want to learn fast, take ownership, and grow with us.
Your Graduate Scheme (AI Engineering Route)
- There will be opportunities to work on projects ranging from our core AI-powered customer operations to new agentic workflows and automation products that we're just getting off the ground.
- You'll work cross-functionally with our UK and Shenzhen engineering teams, as well as risk, compliance, and customer operations teams.
- You'll start shipping code from week one, and learn by doing.
- You will join our AI Engineering team and might be contributing by:
- Building Generative AI and AI agent solutions for customer operations, internal automation, and lending operations.
- Designing prompts, workflows, and evaluation processes to make AI systems more reliable and useful.
- Integrating LLMs with internal tools, APIs, databases, and business systems.
- Writing clean, scalable, and maintainable Python code for real production use cases.
- Mentorship Program: pair with senior engineers throughout the scheme.
- Bi-annual technical reviews and career progression planning.
- Real Impact: See your AI systems go live and directly improve customer operations, risk workflows, and lending decisions for thousands of customers.
Who You Are
- You believe that learning is the most important thing to optimise for as you start your career, and want to learn by doing at the fastest growing fintech in London.
- You like using AI to solve complex, real-world problems, not just build demos.
- You thrive when given ownership, and autonomy.
- You also want to learn about the commercial impact of any technical changes you make.
- A recent (or soon-to-be) graduate with a degree in a technical or quantitative field (e.g. Computer Science, AI/Machine Learning, Statistics, Engineering or Mathematics - STEM field).
- Programming: Proficiency in Python or similar languages or a good understanding of computer science and eagerness to learn and perform in Python based technologies.
- Understanding and genuine interest in Generative AI concepts, including LLMs, embeddings, RAG, prompt engineering, structured outputs, and model limitations.
Why Join Us
- Learn from experienced AI Engineers, and product leaders in a flat, fast-paced team.
- A chance to shape the future of credit using the latest Generative AI and agentic technologies.
- A collaborative, diverse, flexible culture that values growth, ownership, and keeping our customers first in all of our engineering.
- Position yourself at the forefront of the AI and financial services revolution.
- Exceptional promotion opportunities from rapid company growth.
What We Offer
- Hybrid with 3 days a week in the office.
- 25 days' holiday a year, plus 8 bank holidays.
- 2 paid volunteering days per year.
- One month paid sabbatical after 4 years.
- Free gym membership.
- Team wellness budget to be active together - set up a yoga class, a tennis lesson or go bouldering.
The Interview Process:
- Take Home Test (20-30 mins).
- Remote (video call) Technical Interview (1 hour).
- In-person interview day where you'll meet 3-4 people across Engineering and Senior Leadership (1.5 hours).
Scheme details:
- Our graduate scheme runs for one year, with the opportunity to convert to a permanent role based on performance.
- Start date: Late September – Early October 2026 (TBC).
Please note: we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
AI Programmer in London employer: Abound
Abound is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly in the dynamic field of Generative AI. With a hybrid work model based in London, employees benefit from competitive perks such as equity options and generous paid holidays, while also having the opportunity to work on impactful projects that shape the future of consumer lending. The company prioritises employee growth and encourages curiosity and problem-solving, making it a rewarding place for those looking to make a real-world impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI Programmer in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Abound or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Abound.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Abound.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Abound that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace AI Programmer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Abound.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Abound and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Abound
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Abound uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.