At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build innovative backend services for cutting-edge AI technology.
- Company: Exciting seed-stage AI infrastructure company with a dynamic founding team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, and a chance to shape the engineering culture.
- Other info: On-site role in vibrant London with opportunities for rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Join a pioneering team and make a real impact in the AI landscape.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of backend development experience, especially in Go, and a self-starter attitude.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About the Role
This is a founding engineering role at a seed-stage AI infrastructure company building a production-grade LLM gateway — the backbone layer that helps AI-first teams integrate, route, secure, and optimise across hundreds of large language models. You'll work directly with the founding team to shape both the product and the engineering culture from the ground up.
What You'll Do
- Design and build core backend services within a pragmatic microservices architecture, primarily in Go.
- Develop and maintain the LLM gateway, including intelligent routing, failover, load balancing, and observability features.
- Architect scalable systems using Kubernetes, distributed caches, and multiple SQL databases.
- Collaborate closely with founders to define technical direction and make high-impact product decisions.
- Evolve and redefine the tech stack as the product and team grow.
What We're Looking For
- 5+ years of backend development experience, with strong hands-on Go (Golang) expertise.
- Deep understanding of concurrency and experience applying concurrent programming patterns in practice.
- Proven experience designing and working with microservices architectures and API gateways.
- Familiarity with a variety of caching strategies and database types, and the judgement to choose between them.
- Ability to balance architectural rigour with pragmatism — knowing when to build for scale vs. speed.
- A self-starter mindset: comfortable picking up new technologies independently and thriving in a fast-moving environment.
- Right to work in the United Kingdom without visa sponsorship.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive total compensation package with significant equity. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Location
On-site in London, United Kingdom.
Founding Engineer in London employer: Clera
Clera is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in the RegTech space. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with the founding team and engage with senior stakeholders, all while working in a supportive startup environment that encourages creativity and initiative. Located in a vibrant tech hub, Clera offers unique advantages such as access to cutting-edge technology and a network of industry leaders, making it an ideal place for ambitious professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer in 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 Clera 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 Clera.
✨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 Clera.
✨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 Clera 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 in 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 Clera.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Clera 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 Clera
✨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 Clera 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.
