At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build the core AI platform from scratch, shaping its future.
- Company: Early-stage company revolutionising a traditional industry with AI.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Work closely with founders and enjoy autonomy in a fast-paced setting.
- Why this job: Join a high-growth environment and take ownership of innovative projects.
- Qualifications: Strong backend engineering skills, preferably in Python, and experience with AI systems.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
London | Onsite
£80,000-£120,000 + equity
We’re working with an early-stage company building a next-generation AI platform to transform a large, traditional industry. They’re looking for a Founding Engineer to take ownership of the core platform from day one and help scale it into a category-defining product.
The opportunity:
This is a true 0→1 role. You’ll be responsible for architecting and building the core system that powers the product, working directly with the founders and shaping both the technical direction and product itself. If you’re someone who enjoys high ownership, fast pace, and building from scratch, this is one of those rare roles where you can have a genuine impact.
What you’ll be doing:
- Designing and building the core backend systems powering AI-driven workflows
- Owning architecture across APIs, data pipelines and distributed systems
- Working on LLM orchestration and retrieval systems in production
- Building scalable, event-driven infrastructure handling real-time workloads
- Integrating with external platforms and third-party systems
- Contributing across the stack where needed
What they’re looking for:
- Strong backend engineering experience (Python preferred)
- Experience building and shipping AI / LLM-powered systems
- Solid understanding of scalable system design and distributed architectures
- Experience with data pipelines, retrieval systems or similar
- Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, early-stage environment
- Ability to take full ownership from idea → production
Nice to have:
- Experience with real-time systems or communication platforms
- Exposure to voice, messaging or streaming systems
- Previous startup or founding engineer experience
Why join:
- Early-stage, high-growth environment
- Direct impact on product and technical direction
- Large, complex market with significant upside
- Strong ownership and autonomy from day one
- Work closely with experienced founders
Founding Engineer employer: ByteSearch
ByteSearch is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant tech hub of London, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among world-class engineers. Employees benefit from ample growth opportunities, engaging in cutting-edge projects that shape the future of AI technology while enjoying a supportive environment that values creativity and technical excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer
✨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 ByteSearch 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 ByteSearch.
✨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 ByteSearch.
✨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 ByteSearch 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 Founding Engineer
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 ByteSearch.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at ByteSearch 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 ByteSearch
✨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 ByteSearch 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.
