Founding Engineer (Full Stack / Backend)
Founding Engineer (Full Stack / Backend)

Founding Engineer (Full Stack / Backend)

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead backend development, design APIs, and iterate quickly on innovative projects.
  • Company: Join Affinity Labs, a pioneering AI venture studio in London.
  • Benefits: Fast-paced environment, significant autonomy, and rapid career growth.
  • Why this job: Launch multiple products yearly and make a real impact in the tech world.
  • Qualifications: Experience in Node.js, Python, and a startup mindset.
  • Other info: Collaborate with creators and learn from experienced builders.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

At Affinity Labs, we’re building the future of company creation, a full-stack AI venture studio that partners with content creators to co-found authentic, scalable software businesses. By combining AI-native development with creator-led distribution, we are pioneering a new model of monetisation to rapidly build, launch, and scale digital ventures aligned with creators and their audiences.

You’ll lead end-to-end backend development across our products: scoping services, designing data models and APIs, building, testing, shipping, and iterating in tight cycles. This is an early-stage, hands-on role with significant autonomy and responsibility to drive backend product development, collaborating closely with founders, creators, and product/design to turn lean specs into reliable, scalable services.

Responsibilities:

  • Implement features end-to-end on the backend (APIs → data models → integrations) and maintain quality while moving fast.
  • Run tight build, test, iterate, ship loops; provide realistic estimates and surface blockers early.
  • Manage tech debt pragmatically; record key decisions as lightweight ADRs/notes in the tooling.
  • Participate in daily standups and weekly planning, contribute to technical strategy, be heard in debate, align to unified decisions.
  • Own operability: set up and maintain CI/CD, monitoring/alerting, performance solid API design fundamentals.
  • Familiarity with AWS serverless patterns and Docker for bespoke services; basic CI/CD concepts.
  • Comfortable with Redis (caching/sessions) and common queue/messaging patterns.
  • Startup mindset: high ownership, pace, ambiguity; willing to burn the midnight oil when needed.
  • Growth mindset not rigid about stack/tools.
  • Clear communicator; lean on your experience to guide product decisions.
  • Evidence of shipping quickly in small teams (links to repos, case studies, or live services).

Desired:

  • Node.js alongside Python for services or integrations.
  • Experience with vector databases (e.g., Chroma) and embedding pipelines.
  • LangChain or CrewAI for orchestration; MCP servers for integrations.
  • Security hygiene (secrets, permissions, least-privilege) and practical data-privacy basics.
  • Planning Amazon Nova Canvas (vision), Deepgram (audio).
  • AI Dev Tools: LangChain or CrewAI (orchestration), MCP servers (integration), GitHub Copilot / Claude Code.
  • Infrastructure: AWS (serverless functions), Docker (primarily for custom MCPs).
  • Frontend (when needed): React/Next.js (for dashboards/admins, used selectively).

Competencies: Applies AI learnings. Sets clear goals, tracks progress, and hits commitments; collaborates across disciplines.

Why this role is a career launchpad: Own the code we need driven people who can help us achieve an ambitious roadmap. Grow like crazy. You’ll architect, build, and launch multiple products each year. The shipping reps you’ll get in 12 months here would take 3–4 years in a typical startup. There’s a lot of work, it’s high intensity, and the expectation is to ship extremely quickly. Learn from builders, not bosses. Work shoulder-to-shoulder with a team that has scaled VC-backed startups, closed multi-million-pound term sheets, and collaborated with 1,000+ creators across formats and categories.

Founding Engineer (Full Stack / Backend) employer: Affinity Labs

Affinity Labs is an exceptional employer for those looking to make a significant impact in the tech industry. With a dynamic work culture that fosters rapid innovation and collaboration, employees have the unique opportunity to lead backend development on multiple products, gaining invaluable experience and growth in a fast-paced environment. Located in the vibrant London area, team members benefit from working alongside seasoned entrepreneurs and creators, ensuring a rewarding career path filled with learning and development.
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Contact Detail:

Affinity Labs Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer (Full Stack / Backend)

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, tech events, or even online webinars. You never know who might be looking for a Founding Engineer or who can refer you to someone who is!

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best projects, especially those that demonstrate your backend development prowess. Share links to your GitHub repos or live services to give potential employers a taste of what you can do.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and coding challenges. But don’t forget to brush up on your soft skills too! Being able to communicate your ideas clearly is just as important as your technical abilities.

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who are ready to dive into the fast-paced world of AI-driven ventures. Don’t miss out on the chance to join us at Affinity Labs and make an impact!

We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer (Full Stack / Backend)

Backend Development
API Design
Data Modelling
CI/CD
AWS Serverless
Docker
Redis
Node.js
Python
Vector Databases
Security Hygiene
Communication Skills
Agile Methodologies
Problem-Solving Skills
Growth Mindset

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about building innovative software and working with creators. Share your journey and what drives you in tech.

Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight relevant experiences that align with our needs. We’re looking for evidence of shipping quickly in small teams, so don’t forget to include links to your projects or repos that showcase your skills!

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what matters. Use bullet points if it helps convey your message better – we’re all about efficiency!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Affinity Labs

✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in Node.js, Python, and any other relevant technologies mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools and how you've used them in past projects. Bring examples of your work, like links to repos or case studies, to showcase your skills.

✨Demonstrate Your Startup Mindset

Affinity Labs is looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment. Prepare to share experiences where you’ve taken ownership, worked under tight deadlines, or navigated challenges in a startup setting. Show them you’re adaptable and ready to roll up your sleeves!

✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively

As a Founding Engineer, you'll need to collaborate closely with various teams. Practice articulating your thoughts on technical strategies and decisions. Use clear examples to illustrate your points, and don’t hesitate to ask questions during the interview to show your engagement and interest.

✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios

Expect to tackle some technical challenges during the interview. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and be ready to think on your feet. They might ask you to design an API or discuss how you would handle tech debt, so practice explaining your thought process clearly and logically.

Founding Engineer (Full Stack / Backend)
Affinity Labs

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