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- Tasks: Build innovative AI agents for Excel and design new data reasoning methods.
- Company: Join a fast-paced startup revolutionising how the world uses Excel.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, free lunch, and a trip to San Francisco.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI in spreadsheets and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in building products from scratch; curiosity about AI is a plus.
- Other info: Fast career growth opportunities and a chance to connect with top investors.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Cascade is building Cursor for Excel. Excel has more than one billion users and is the backbone of how the world works. Yet it is still clunky, manual, and difficult to extend. Our vision is to bring the intelligence of an AI coding copilot directly into Excel so that anyone can model, analyze, and reason with data inside the tool they already know.
We are starting with finance but the surface area is much bigger. Accounting, logistics, operations, supply chain, marketing. Excel is everywhere. The opportunity is massive.
This is also an extremely difficult technical problem. LLMs are not designed to reason over tabular data, time series, or multi dimensional models. We are building new systems from the ground up that make spreadsheets feel alive and intelligent. If you want to work on one of the most important applied AI problems of this decade, this is it.
The team
- CEO: Hannia has almost a decade of experience in technology, from receiving patents at Google to leading product at multiple startups that raised $20M to writing a white paper on real-time payment APIs with the World Bank. Hannia was awarded Forbes 30 Under 30 and received an award from the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
- CTO: Joana was the AI Platform Lead at Unlikely AI, a deep tech started by the inventor of Alexa, where she combined LLMs with symbolic AI for explainable AI. Before that, she was Software Engineer at Freetrade during the Meme Stock era, helping users discover the next stock to buy and understand their portfolio performance. Joana was also founding engineer at Alpher, where she built a robo-investing app from scratch in less than a month.
Why join now
- Fast-moving, ambitious team that has shipped awesome products before
- As founding engineer, you will shape the product direction and the company
- You will own large parts of the technical stack and ship end-to-end
- Backed by tier one VCs
- Opportunity to join us in San Francisco from January – April as part of the a16z Speedrun program, with exposure to top investors and leaders in the tech field
What you will do
- Build the core agents that understand and traverse spreadsheets
- Design new ways for LLMs to reason over messy real-world data
- Ship fast, from backend systems to user-facing features
- Partner with early customers to define workflows that matter most
- Set the technical and cultural DNA of Cascade
You might be a fit if
- Built zero-to-one products and love creating from scratch
- Believe scrappy code used by a million people is better than perfect code used by none
- Curious about generative AI, agents, and LLMs
- Proactive, independent, and thrive in ambiguity. We experiment and iterate constantly.
- Want ownership and impact from day one.
- We use Python, Typescript, and GCP, but no prior experience is required, just a willingness to learn!
- Eligible to work in the UK (we cannot sponsor visas atm)
- We are fully on-site in London
What we offer
- Salary range £70k–£120k, depending on experience
- Significant equity
- Free lunch every day
- Trip to San Francisco from January to April 2026 for a16z Speedrun
- Fast career progression: we believe great people should be rewarded based on impact, not age, tenure, or background. Tell us your goals, whether you want to be a founder, and we can intro you to VCs in our network. Or if you are aiming for a VP role, we’ll help make it happen.
Founding Engineer employer: Cascade
Contact Detail:
Cascade Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work at Cascade or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve built anything relevant, whether it’s a project or a prototype, make sure to showcase it. A portfolio speaks volumes and can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by understanding the tech stack they use. Brush up on Python, Typescript, and GCP. Being able to discuss these technologies confidently will show you’re serious about the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer
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 tackling the challenges of building intelligent systems for Excel. Share why this opportunity speaks to you and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight relevant experiences that align with the job description. We’re looking for someone who has built zero-to-one products and loves creating from scratch. So, don’t be shy about showcasing your past projects and how they relate to what we’re doing at Cascade!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and fluff. Use simple language to explain your skills and experiences, making it easy for us to see how you fit into our team.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and keen to join our awesome team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cascade
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Founding Engineer, you'll be tackling complex technical challenges. Brush up on your knowledge of Python, Typescript, and GCP. Be ready to discuss how you've built zero-to-one products and your approach to problem-solving in ambiguous situations.
✨Show Your Passion for AI
Demonstrate your curiosity about generative AI and LLMs during the interview. Share examples of how you've engaged with these technologies in the past or any projects you've worked on that relate to AI. This will show your enthusiasm for the role and the company's vision.
✨Prepare to Discuss Real-World Applications
Since Cascade is focused on making Excel smarter, think about how you would design systems that reason over messy real-world data. Prepare some ideas or case studies that illustrate your understanding of the challenges involved and how you would tackle them.
✨Emphasise Ownership and Impact
The role offers significant ownership from day one, so be ready to talk about times when you've taken initiative and made an impact in previous roles. Highlight your proactive nature and how you thrive in fast-paced environments, as this aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for.