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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Identify and support exceptional technical founders, guiding them from idea to MVP.
- Company: Join Antler, a global early-stage VC firm with a hands-on approach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and 23 days leave plus holidays.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of building impactful companies from day zero.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-growth startups or as a technical leader is essential.
- Other info: Dynamic role with real ownership and opportunities for growth.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
About Antler
Antler is a global early-stage VC firm that partners with exceptional founders from day zero to build impactful, scalable companies. We believe exceptional companies are built by exceptional people - often before an idea, team, or company exists. Our role is to find those people early, surround them with the right co-founders, capital, and conviction, and help them build ambitious, venture-scale businesses from scratch. In the UK, we are building one of the most active and hands-on early-stage investment firms in the ecosystem, backing founders from inception through to scale. Founded in 2017, Antler now operates in 27 cities across six continents. Globally, we've helped create and invest in over 1,500 companies and supported more than 10,000 founders - with the ambition to back thousands more over the coming decade.
About the Role
This is a core role on Antler UK's investment team, with a strong emphasis on product and engineering. We are looking for someone who has been in the weeds of building - someone who can sit with a founder at the earliest stage and help sharpen a problem, scope an MVP, and figure out how to ship. This is a hands-on investment and coaching role focused on technical decision-making, product strategy, and execution at zero-to-one. You will work closely with the Partners and the wider Investment Team to identify exceptional individuals before they start companies, support them through Antler's residency, and back them as founders in our portfolio. This is not a passive investing role. You will own opportunities end-to-end — sourcing, assessment, technical diligence, memo-writing, and IC participation — and represent Antler in the UK ecosystem. During residency periods, the pace is intense and highly founder-facing. This role requires energy, presence, and judgement under pressure. London-based. Typically 4+ days per week in the office.
What You'll Do
- Identify and back exceptional technical founders early: Build conviction pre-traction by assessing engineering judgement, product instinct, and founder–market fit before data exists.
- Earn credibility within technical communities: Build trusted relationships with engineers, CTOs, AI/ML builders, and product leaders to source and support top founders.
- Turn ideas into AI-first, shippable companies: Help founders frame problems, scope MVPs, embed modern AI from day one, and ship in weeks—not months.
- Guide early product and technical strategy: Coach on prioritisation, speed vs. quality trade-offs, architecture, sequencing, and early hiring—without over-engineering.
- Lead technical/product diligence and investment decisions: Evaluate product vision, technology, defensibility, and execution capability.
- Support fundraising and growth: Shape investor narratives, prepare founders for pre-seed/seed rounds, leverage networks for talent and customers, and support round execution.
- Strengthen the platform: Improve how we assess and support technical founders, contribute to ecosystem presence, and build AI-enabled systems that maximise founder-facing time.
What We're Looking For
We don't expect you to tick every box. If this excites you, we'd love to hear from you.
Background
This role is likely a strong fit if you've been:
- A founder
- A CPTO, CTO, Head of Product/Engineering, or early technical leader
- An early-stage investor with deep technical fluency
VC experience is helpful, but not required. Deep building experience is.
Experience & Capability
- Significant experience as a technical or product-led operator in high-growth startups
- Proven track record of shipping in ambiguous, resource-constrained environments
- Strong product judgement - able to move quickly from problem → user → MVP → execution
- Comfortable coaching technical founders and forming clear views with imperfect information
How You Operate
- Clear, confident communicator - build trust quickly and lead sharp, honest conversations
- Curious, commercially grounded, and energised by early-stage ambiguity
- Highly independent and accountable for outcomes
- Leverage modern tools and AI workflows to maximise impact
- Direct but kind; intense, low-ego, and focused on better decisions
What We Offer
- A front-row seat to helping build companies from day zero
- Real ownership and responsibility from day one
- Close partnership with an ambitious investment team
- Participation in carried interest in UK Fund II
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonus
- 23 days' leave plus public holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year
- Clear opportunity for increasing scope and influence as Antler UK scales
We do not sponsor visas. You must have the right to work in the UK.
Our Selection Process
We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage early submissions. Introductory conversation to explore your background, judgement, and motivation. A working session-style first interview, including preparation of either an investment memo or structured founder/product assessment. Final conversations with senior members of the UK team, concluding with an in-person discussion with a UK Partner.
Principal, Investment Team (Product & Engineering Experience) in London employer: Antler
Contact Detail:
Antler Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal, Investment Team (Product & Engineering Experience) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the investment and tech scene. Attend meetups, workshops, and conferences to meet potential founders and other investors. The more you engage, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with founders or during interviews, share your insights on product strategy and technical decision-making. This will not only demonstrate your knowledge but also help you build credibility in the community.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Reach out to startups you admire and offer your support or advice. This hands-on approach can lead to amazing connections and might just land you an interview at Antler.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative to apply directly. Make sure to highlight your relevant experience and how you can contribute to our mission of backing exceptional founders from day zero.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal, Investment Team (Product & Engineering Experience) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your personality and passion for the role. Don’t just list your skills; tell us how your experiences have shaped you as a founder or technical leader.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for this specific role. Highlight your relevant experience in product and engineering, and connect it back to what we’re looking for at Antler. Show us why you’re the perfect fit for our investment team!
Showcase Your Impact: We love seeing tangible results! In your application, share examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles. Whether it's shipping a product or mentoring a founder, let us know how you've contributed to building something great.
Keep It Clear and Concise: While we appreciate detail, clarity is key. Make your application easy to read and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant. We want to understand your journey without getting lost in the details!
How to prepare for a job interview at Antler
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of product and engineering principles. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've applied it in real-world scenarios. This role is all about helping founders shape their ideas, so being able to speak confidently about MVPs and technical decision-making is key.
✨Show Your Passion for Founders
Antler is all about backing exceptional founders, so demonstrate your enthusiasm for working closely with them. Share examples of how you've supported founders in the past or how you would approach coaching them through their early stages. This will show that you're not just interested in the investment side but genuinely care about their success.
✨Prepare for Real-World Scenarios
Expect to engage in practical exercises during the interview, like preparing an investment memo or assessing a founder's product. Practise these skills beforehand, as they’ll help you showcase your ability to think critically and make sound decisions under pressure, which is crucial for this hands-on role.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves earning credibility within technical communities, think about how you can demonstrate your networking skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've built relationships with engineers, CTOs, or product leaders in the past. This will highlight your ability to source and support top founders effectively.