Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and code in a high-velocity AI startup, integrating cutting-edge tech.
- Company: Rapidly expanding SaaS business offering equity and team-building opportunities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, remote work, and career-defining growth.
- Why this job: Shape the engineering culture and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 4+ years of software engineering experience and startup familiarity.
- Other info: Join a lean team and drive innovation in AI-driven solutions.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 51000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced software engineer, familiar with Azure, Python and Mongo/Atlas? Are you looking for a rare and exciting permanent software engineer lead role with a rapidly expanding SaaS business who are offering equity and the opportunity to build your own team?
Our client is looking for an experienced software engineer who is looking for the next step in their career or has experience of building or leading a software engineering team. Whilst the role is remote working, the client is initially looking for someone to be based within a commutable distance of London (1 hour). This is a great hands-on coding role where you will be leading and challenging, whilst integrating LLM/AI into a B2B workflow solution.
More Detail:
- Location: UK, greater London area (Hybrid, 1-2 days/week in person)
- Role Type: Permanent, Full-time
- Reporting to: Founder & CEO
- Team Trajectory: Scaling from 2 to 8 engineers in the next 18 months
- Stage: Early-Stage B2B SaaS
Our client is looking for a code-first leader to take ownership of engineering delivery for a growing AI-driven SaaS product. This is a career-defining "step-up" opportunity for a Senior or Lead Engineer who is ready to be a Head of Engineering. They do not need an enterprise manager, they need a builder who wants to lead, setting the technical tempo, and shipping value fast. You will have full autonomy to shape the engineering culture, keeping it lightweight, modern, and void of unnecessary ceremony. You will not be inheriting a massive legacy team or bureaucratic processes. Instead, you will take the reins of a lean, existing unit (1 Engineer + 1 Contractor) and lead the build-out of the engineering function over the next 18 months. You will define the culture, set the standards, and hire the squad that will take us from early traction to Scale-Up.
What You Will Do:
- Lead & Code: In the early days, you are a player-coach. You will spend 80% of your time on architecture, code reviews, and shipping features, and 20% on strategy and management. As the team grows, this ratio will adapt.
- Define the rhythm: Establish a high-velocity shipping cadence. They value iteration over perfection.
- Pragmatic Architecture: Make technical choices that balance speed today with scalability tomorrow. Avoid over-engineering.
- Strategic Partner: Serve as the technical right hand to the Founder/CEO and product. You will translate business vision into technical reality, ensuring they ship fast without breaking the product.
- Pragmatic Modernization: Implement lightweight, effective engineering practices (CI/CD, Code Reviews, QA) that speed us up, not slow them down.
- AI Integration: Lead the engineering side of integrating AI/LLM components into a robust SaaS architecture.
- Build the Engine: Grow the team from its current size to 8 engineers by the end of 2026. You will drive the hiring strategy, spotting talent that fits a high-velocity startup.
The Tech Stack (Modern & Simple):
- Core: Python and/or TypeScript.
- Infrastructure: Azure (Functions, Containers), Kubernetes (managed simply for deployment, not complexity).
- Data: MongoDB Atlas.
- AI: Integration of LLM/AI components into a B2B workflow. (beneficial)
- Philosophy: Event-driven components, CI/CD automation, "boring" tech where possible to move fast.
The Person:
- Experience: You will have 4+ years of software engineering experience.
- Startup DNA: You will have ideally spent at least 1 full year inside a true startup (Seed-Series B). Understanding that "process" should serve the code, not the other way around. You know how to operate with limited resources and tight deadlines.
- Technical Authority: You can confidently architect, code, and debug. This is a hands-on role - not a people-management-only position.
- Leadership Potential: You have ideally mentored engineers or led a small squad (2-6 people) and are ready to take full ownership of a function.
- Technically Versatile: You understand modern cloud-native development and can navigate the ambiguity of integrating AI features without needing to be a Data Scientist.
- Transparent: You communicate bad news early and good news often. You don’t hide behind technical debt.
Our client is offering a basic salary of 50,000 - 60,000 (possible more) depending on experience plus equity of the business. If you are looking to join a forward-thinking and rapidly expanding SaaS company then APPLY NOW in complete confidence or contact Dominic Quirke at Advancing People directly.
Software Engineer Lead in City of London employer: Advancing People
Contact Detail:
Advancing People Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer Lead in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who have experience with startups. A personal referral can make all the difference when you're aiming for that lead software engineer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your best projects, especially those involving Python, Azure, and AI integration. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Ace the interview by being ready to discuss your hands-on coding experience. Be prepared to dive into technical discussions about architecture and your approach to integrating AI into SaaS products. They want to see your thought process!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate candidates who are ready to take the next step in their careers.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer Lead in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your experience with Azure, Python, and MongoDB, and don’t forget to mention any leadership roles you've had!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for coding and leading teams, and how you can contribute to our high-velocity environment.
Showcase Your Projects: If you’ve worked on relevant projects, whether personal or professional, make sure to include them. We love seeing practical examples of your work, especially if they involve AI integration or modern cloud-native development.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands quickly. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Advancing People
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in Python, Azure, and MongoDB Atlas. Brush up on your coding skills and be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects. Being able to demonstrate your hands-on experience will show that you're not just a manager but a true player-coach.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or mentored engineers in the past. Think about how you can define a positive engineering culture and what strategies you would implement to build a high-velocity team. This role is all about leadership, so be ready to share your vision.
✨Emphasise Pragmatic Solutions
The company values speed over perfection, so be prepared to discuss how you balance quick delivery with scalability. Share your thoughts on avoiding over-engineering and how you’ve implemented lightweight practices in previous roles to enhance productivity.
✨Communicate Clearly and Transparently
Practice articulating complex technical concepts in simple terms. The ability to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders is crucial. Be honest about challenges you've faced and how you overcame them, as transparency is key in a startup environment.
