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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a pioneering team to build AI-driven products and scale innovative technology.
- Company: Elite tech startup with world-class talent and groundbreaking research.
- Benefits: Top-tier salary, equity stake, and flexible hybrid working model.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI while collaborating with leading experts in the field.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in engineering, experience with machine learning systems, and strong Python skills.
- Other info: Dynamic startup environment with significant career growth and mentorship opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Founding Engineer – Early-Stage Deep Tech Startup
Full-time | Onsite in London
£180,000 + Substantial Equity
An early-stage, stealth-mode startup is looking for a Founding Engineer to join the team in central London. This is a unique opportunity to help build a transformative new platform at the intersection of software systems, automation, and intelligent infrastructure.
Founded by leading academics and proven entrepreneurs, the business is backed by top-tier investors and is solving complex technical problems that demand creativity, rigour, and ambition.
The Role
- Build and own core systems and architecture from the ground up
- Work closely with the founding team on product direction and technical strategy
- Make key decisions across the full stack — from infrastructure to user-facing elements
- Contribute to the early engineering culture, processes, and hiring
Ideal Background
- Experience building complex systems in a startup or high-growth tech environment
- Strong computer science fundamentals; comfortable working across multiple layers of the stack
- Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
- Bonus: familiarity with compilers, distributed systems, systems design, or programming languages theory
Offer
- £180,000 base salary
- Significant equity in a high-potential startup
- London-based, full-time — onsite collaboration with a world-class founding team
Founding Engineer employer: Explore Group
Contact Detail:
Explore Group 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 your field, especially those who are already part of the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could make all the difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub with projects that highlight your React and Python expertise, share it. It’s a great way to demonstrate your capabilities beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview like it’s a big game! Research the company’s tech stack and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Don’t forget to think about questions you want to ask them too!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step 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 AI and engineering shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and contribute to our founding team.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially in scalable systems and machine learning. We’re looking for specific examples of your work with React, Python, and any large-scale model training you've done. Customising your CV can really make you stand out!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your journey, your achievements, and how they align with our mission at StudySmarter. This is your chance to connect the dots between your experience and what we’re looking for.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us that you’re proactive and keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Explore Group
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in React and Python, as well as any relevant frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch. Brush up on your knowledge of large-scale model training and MLOps best practices, as these will likely come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles, especially those involving scalable, machine learning-intensive systems. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your entrepreneurial mindset.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Experience
Since this role involves working closely with researchers and product strategists, be ready to share examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you influenced direction or architecture in a team setting.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company’s technology platform, their approach to reinforcement learning, and how they envision the role evolving. This shows your genuine interest and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
