At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and ship features for cutting-edge AI compute products in a collaborative environment.
- Company: Join CommonAI, a leader in AI-native cloud infrastructure with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, stock options, free snacks, and access to a gym.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic team with excellent career growth opportunities and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on groundbreaking AI projects while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: 1-3 years of software development experience and a degree in a technical field.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
CommonAI is building shared infrastructure and products that help organisations develop and deploy deep-tech AI systems. CommonAI Compute, part of the CommonAI ecosystem, develops multi-cloud compute products and services for AI teams. We work with commercial, government and research partners to accelerate the adoption of AI across the UK and Europe. We are a member of the UK government-funded £70 million Scaling Inference Programme, which is advancing AI inference hardware and software infrastructure. CommonAI is also backed by Barclays through programmes focused on deploying AI in regulated markets. Work across these programmes informs and supports our commercial product development.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a capable software engineer who combines strong engineering fundamentals with an enthusiastic, practical approach to AI-assisted development. You should be an exceptional early-career developer who learns quickly and has a strong record of technically demanding builds. This is not a role for someone who uses AI without understanding the code or is limited to occasional autocomplete. We want engineers who can reason about systems independently, then use agents to explore, implement, test and ship substantially faster.
What You'll Do
- Build and ship features for customer-facing multi-cloud AI compute products
- Use and develop coding agents for implementation, testing, and documentation day-to-day, with senior review on higher-risk changes
- Take ownership of the correctness and security of your own code, agent-generated or not
- Operate within cloud-native systems across multiple providers; diagnose day-to-day issues in Linux, network, container and cloud environments
- Work with founders, engineers and customers on defined pieces of larger projects, turning clear requirements into shipped code
- Try out new AI tools as they're introduced and give feedback on what works
How We Work with AI
Agent-assisted engineering is core to the role, not optional. We want engineers who can break ambiguous problems into agent-executable work, give agents the right context and constraints, challenge and verify generated code, and know when to take back control. What you build matters, not how many prompts it took.
Essential
- 1-3 years' building and shipping real software in a professional setting
- AI-native workflow: you use agents actively, can explain where they save you time, and how you verify their output rather than trust it on sight
- Solid debugging judgment: you can read unfamiliar code, isolate root causes, and assess whether a fix is correct
- Being comfortable in Linux, with some practical exposure to deployment/ops (containers, CI/CD, cloud, IaC, or observability)
- Someone who takes ownership, has curiosity and clear communication skills
- Degree-level education in a technical/scientific discipline
Particularly Valuable
- Experience in building backend services, developer tools, or infrastructure products
- Hands-on experience with Kubernetes, infrastructure-as-code, or working across multiple cloud providers
- Open-source contributions, ambitious personal projects, or other proof of ability outside formal employment (you are welcome to provide links)
High-impact work on ground-breaking AI and cloud infrastructure problems
A collaborative and supportive engineering environment
The opportunity to influence products and technical direction at an early stage
A competitive salary and stock-option package
Professional development and access to a network spanning technology, government and academia
A Cambridge office a few minutes' walk from the railway station, with free snacks and an on-site gym
Software Engineer - AI-Native Cloud Infrastructure in Cambridge employer: CommonAI C.I.C.
CommonAI CIC is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment, perfect for those passionate about AI technology. As a Performance Engineer, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact within a rapidly growing non-profit organisation, while enjoying competitive salary packages, professional development opportunities, and networking with influential figures in the tech sector and academia. Located just minutes from Cambridge train station, our vibrant office offers a unique advantage for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer - AI-Native Cloud Infrastructure in Cambridge
✨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 CommonAI C.I.C. 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 CommonAI C.I.C..
✨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 CommonAI C.I.C..
✨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 CommonAI C.I.C. 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 Software Engineer - AI-Native Cloud Infrastructure in Cambridge
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 CommonAI C.I.C..
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at CommonAI C.I.C. 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 CommonAI C.I.C.
✨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 CommonAI C.I.C. 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.
