At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow a dynamic engineering team while staying hands-on with coding.
- Company: Exciting Series A startup revolutionising private capital with AI technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, private healthcare, and remote work flexibility.
- Other info: High ownership role with excellent career growth opportunities in a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment and make a real impact in AI development.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in scaling engineering teams and strong coding skills.
The predicted salary is between 130000 - 160000 £ per year.
We're working with a series A startup building an AI operating system for private capital. They build AI agents that automate the grind of due diligence, research and portfolio monitoring, with every insight traced back to its source. The platform is already in production with multi-billion-dollar PE funds across the UK, Europe and the US. ARR has grown 15x in the last year, and they're scaling hard into the next phase. Backed by senior operators from top PE funds and investment banks, alongside venture investors.
The role is a leadership hire to build and grow the engineering team as it roughly quadruples, from around seven or eight today to 25 over the next 12 months. You'd report to the CTO and own how the team grows, ships and holds its quality bar through that. It's a leadership role, but not one where you step back from the code. They want someone who can hire, develop and direct strong engineers while staying close enough to the work, code review, architecture, unblocking the team, to earn their respect. The wrong fit here is a pure people-manager who hasn't been near a codebase in years. The right fit is someone who has led a team through a scaling phase and still cares about how things get built.
Day to day you'd stand up the hiring loops, onboarding and delivery rhythm a bigger team needs, set objectives and own performance and retention, and partner with the founders on what the team builds and why. High ownership, high intensity, fast.
The stack is Python and FastAPI on the backend, React and TypeScript on the frontend, Postgres, ElasticSearch and vector databases for data, and LLMs, agents and RAG across the AI layer.
What they're looking for:
- Has built and managed an engineering team through a high-growth scaling phase, not just inherited a stable one
- Still close to the code: recently hands-on, credible in code review and architecture discussions
- Has hired well at pace and can tell a strong engineer from a strong interviewer
- Strong product sense and a genuine interest in the customer
- Comfortable in an early, high-intensity, high-ownership environment, in the office four days a week
- Right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship at this stage)
Benefits:
- Salary: £130k–£160k, depending on experience
- Meaningful early-stage equity, negotiable for the right hire
- Private healthcare via Bupa
- One month a year fully remote, plus a home-office budget
The process:
- Intro call with Ethiq (30 mins)
- Intro call with the CTO (45 mins): your background, what you have built and led, and what you are looking for next
- Leadership and team-building (60 mins, with the CTO): how you hire, grow and retain engineers and set direction, with real examples from teams you have scaled
- Technical and architecture (60 mins, with the engineering team): a working session on system design and how you would scale the architecture
- Meet both founders in person at the London office
They move quickly and value your time. First-stage calls are usually booked within a few days.
Software Engineering Manager employer: Ethiq
Join a dynamic Series A startup at the forefront of AI innovation, where you'll lead a rapidly growing engineering team in a high-intensity environment. With a strong focus on employee development and meaningful equity opportunities, this company fosters a collaborative culture that values hands-on leadership and technical excellence. Located in London, you'll benefit from a vibrant tech scene and the chance to make a significant impact in the private capital sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineering Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Get your network buzzing! Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, or anyone in the industry who might have a lead on opportunities. Personal connections can often get you in the door faster than a standard application.
✨Tip Number 2
Show up prepared for those interviews! Research the company and its tech stack thoroughly. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around scaling teams and staying hands-on with code.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from showcasing your leadership style! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've built and managed teams through growth phases. This will help demonstrate that you’re not just a people manager but also a technical leader.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in the role and the company.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineering Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Coding:Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with coding in your application. We want to see that you’re not just a people manager but someone who’s still close to the code and can engage in technical discussions.
Demonstrate Leadership Experience:Share specific examples of how you've built and managed engineering teams through high-growth phases. We’re looking for real stories that showcase your ability to hire, develop, and retain strong engineers.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter. Tailor your application to reflect the skills and experiences that align with our needs, especially around scaling teams and maintaining quality in fast-paced environments.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It helps us keep track of applications better and ensures you get the attention you deserve during the hiring process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ethiq
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you're well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Python, FastAPI, React, and TypeScript. Brush up on your knowledge of system design and architecture, as you'll need to demonstrate your hands-on experience during the technical interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples of how you've built and managed engineering teams through high-growth phases. Be ready to discuss your hiring strategies, how you develop talent, and how you maintain quality while scaling. This will show that you’re not just a people manager but also someone who can lead from the front.
✨Demonstrate Product Sense
Understand the company's product and its impact on private capital. Be prepared to discuss how you would align the engineering team’s work with customer needs and business goals. Showing genuine interest in the customer will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Be Ready for a Fast-Paced Environment
This role demands high ownership and intensity, so be prepared to discuss how you thrive in such environments. Share examples of how you've successfully navigated challenges in previous roles, especially in early-stage startups or high-pressure situations.
