At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative workflows and build scalable systems for the consulting industry.
- Company: Join a VC-backed startup transforming consulting with cutting-edge technology.
- Benefits: Equity ownership, competitive salary, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Collaborate with elite professionals and enjoy a high-trust, low-bureaucracy culture.
- Why this job: Be a founding engineer and shape the future of consulting technology.
- Qualifications: Proficient in Python/TypeScript and passionate about user experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Cherry Ventures is supporting our portfolio with this hire.
The Mission
We are building the Agentic Operating System for Consultants. The $1 trillion consulting industry is powered by some of the world’s brightest minds, yet they remain trapped in manual, inefficient workflows - spreadsheet orchestration, slide-deck assembly, and fragmented data synthesis. We are moving the industry from "human-plus-tools" to autonomous agency. Backed by a seed round from Cherry Ventures, Blue Lion, and the founders of QuantumBlack, our cap table includes angels from OpenAI, McKinsey, BCG, and Apple. We have the capital, the network, and the domain expertise - now seeking further engineering support to get there faster.
The Challenge
As one of our first engineers, you aren't just "writing code" - you are defining the technical DNA of the company. You will:
- Build Beyond the Chatbot: Design multi-step agentic workflows that move past simple RAG into reliable, enterprise-grade inference.
- Architect for Scale & Privacy: Build systems that can handle the rigorous data security requirements of Tier-1 financial and consulting firms.
- Own the Stack: Make foundational decisions on everything from our LLM orchestration layer to our deployment infrastructure.
- Interface with the Best: Work directly with technical & non-technical stakeholders across clients & advisory teams (OpenAI/McKinsey vets) to translate elite consulting tradecraft into code.
You Are a Fit If:
- You are a Product Engineer: You don’t need a 20-page PRD. You can take a vague user pain point from a design partner and ship a functional prototype by Friday.
- You have "Velocity as a Habit": You believe that in a seed-stage startup, speed is the only unfair advantage. You prefer shipping a 90% solution today over a perfect one next month.
- You are "T-Shaped": You are deeply technical in Python/Typescript and LLM frameworks (PydanticAI, LangGraph, etc.), but you also care about UI polish and user ergonomics.
- You have High Agency: When you hit a wall with an undocumented API or a hallucinating model, you find a way around it, over it, or through it.
Our Stack
- Languages: Python, TypeScript
- AI/Data: Pydantic / LLM Frameworks, LiteLLM, ElasticSearch
- Infra: AWS, Terraform, PostgreSQL
- Frontend: React / Tailwind
Why Join Us?
- Real Ownership: Significant founding-level equity. You will own a meaningful piece of the company you are building.
- Elite Peer Group: Join a team that has lived this problem at the highest levels of global consulting and AI research.
- High Trust / Low Bureaucracy: We value clarity of thought and bias to action. No middle management, no pointless meetings - just building.
Cherry Ventures is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.
Founding Engineer - VC backed startup (London) employer: Cherry Ventures
Cherry Ventures is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and diversity within its portfolio of startups. With a commitment to fostering a collaborative work culture, employees are encouraged to grow and thrive in their careers while contributing to groundbreaking projects. The dynamic environment and focus on equal opportunity make it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding C-suite roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer - VC backed startup (London)
✨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 Cherry Ventures 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 Cherry Ventures.
✨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 Cherry Ventures.
✨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 Cherry Ventures 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 - VC backed startup (London)
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 Cherry Ventures.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Cherry Ventures 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 Cherry Ventures
✨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 Cherry Ventures 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.
