Ex-Founding Tech Lead for AI Startup — Build & Scale

Ex-Founding Tech Lead for AI Startup — Build & Scale

Full-Time 100000 - 250000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our team to build and scale AI solutions for mental health.
  • Company: Slingshot AI, creators of Ash, the first AI for mental health.
  • Benefits: Competitive pay, travel between NYC and London, free lunch, and a generous learning budget.
  • Other info: Join a tight-knit team dedicated to changing lives through technology.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in mental health while working with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: 6+ years of engineering experience and a passion for building innovative solutions.

The predicted salary is between 100000 - 250000 £ per year.

Slingshot AI is the team behind Ash, the first AI designed for mental health. Our mission is to make support more accessible and help people change their lives in the ways they want. Our team spans machine learning, product, engineering, conversational design, clinical, growth, and operations, with offices in both New York City and London.

We're looking for Technical Ex-Founders to join our Engineering team. If you wrote your company's early code, operated it through real user growth, and miss building and shipping more than you miss anything else about the founder job, this role is for you. Engineers who've founded or been the early technical leader at a startup thrive at Slingshot because they get to work autonomously and own a large set of problems. They're product-minded owners by default, comfortable defining a problem, talking to users, building a solution, and iterating. We'll always have a place for smart and motivated technical people who have built and scaled something interesting.

Our tech stack uses Kotlin for core backend services, Python for our ML work, Dart/Flutter for the app, Next.js/TypeScript for internal tooling, and Rust for low-level media streaming. We use gRPC and GCP (Kubernetes, Cloud Run) as our primary cloud provider. You're not required to be an expert in all of these tools, but we would like you to come with a learning mindset and to not be afraid of getting your hands dirty with whatever tool the job might require.

What we look for:

  • You founded or were the early technical lead at a startup, wrote a meaningful share of the production code yourself, and operated it through meaningful user growth.
  • 6+ years of (recent) hands-on engineering experience, with opinions on trade-offs and quality formed by having to live with your own decisions in production.
  • Comfortable building inside AI/ML codebases. We don't need you to be an ML Engineer, but having an interest in AI helps!

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you. A short note about what you built last, what you'd want to build next, and links to anything you've shipped (projects, repos, writing) is more useful to us than a polished CV.

What we offer:

  • A chance to join a passionate tight-knit team working on something to change the world.
  • Competitive compensation (top of personal market).
  • Travel between our NYC / London offices.
  • Usual startup perks like free lunch and coffee in office + generous learning budget.
  • We cover your personal therapy.

Compensation Range: £100K - £250K

Ex-Founding Tech Lead for AI Startup — Build & Scale employer: Ash by Slingshot AI

At Ash by Slingshot AI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our team members enjoy ample opportunities for professional growth while working on impactful projects that enhance mental health support through cutting-edge mobile applications. Located in a vibrant tech hub, we offer a dynamic environment where creativity thrives, and every contribution is valued.

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Contact Details:

Ash by Slingshot AI Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Ex-Founding Tech Lead for AI Startup — Build & Scale

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech world, especially those who have experience with startups. A personal introduction can make all the difference when you're trying to land that dream role at Slingshot AI.

Tip Number 2

Show off your projects! Instead of just sending a CV, share links to your previous work or any cool projects you've built. This gives us a real sense of what you can do and how you think, which is way more valuable than a list of job titles.

Tip Number 3

Be ready to chat about your experiences! When you get that interview, be prepared to discuss not just what you did, but how you approached problems and made decisions. We love hearing about your journey and the lessons you've learned along the way.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of our mission to change lives with AI.

We think you need these skills to ace Ex-Founding Tech Lead for AI Startup — Build & Scale

Kotlin
Python
Dart
Flutter
Next.js
TypeScript
Rust

Some tips for your application 🫡

Be Authentic:When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your journey and what makes you tick.

Show Your Passion for AI:Since we're all about making mental health support accessible through AI, make sure to highlight any relevant experience or projects you've worked on in this field. It’ll show us that you’re genuinely interested in what we do!

Keep it Concise:We appreciate brevity! A short note about what you built last and what you’d like to tackle next is way more valuable than a lengthy CV. Get straight to the point and keep it engaging.

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 out on any important details about the role!

How to prepare for a job interview at Ash by Slingshot AI

Know Your Tech Stack

Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Kotlin, Python, and Dart/Flutter. Even if you're not an expert, showing that you have a basic understanding and a willingness to learn will impress the interviewers.

Share Your Journey

Be ready to discuss your past experiences as a technical lead or founder. Highlight specific projects where you wrote code, faced challenges, and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills.

Emphasise Your Product Mindset

Slingshot AI values product-minded individuals. Be prepared to talk about how you've defined problems, engaged with users, and iterated on solutions in your previous roles. This shows that you understand the importance of user feedback in the development process.

Show Your Passion for AI

While you don't need to be an ML engineer, expressing your interest in AI and mental health can set you apart. Share any relevant projects or ideas you have about how technology can improve mental health support, aligning with Slingshot's mission.