At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead backend architecture and mentor engineers in a fast-paced AI-native environment.
- Company: Join a dynamic AI-native tech scale-up revolutionising due diligence and research.
- Benefits: Earn up to £130k, plus bonuses and equity, with hybrid working options.
- Other info: Exciting growth phase with opportunities for career advancement in a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI technology while making a real impact on innovative projects.
- Qualifications: Strong system design skills and experience in technical leadership are essential.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 98000 £ per year.
I'm partnered with a fast-growing AI-native technology company that's changing how organisations conduct due diligence and research. Their platform helps businesses generate intelligence reports leveraging the latest LLMs & AI. The company is entering an exciting stage of growth ahead of Series B and planning to double in size.
They’re now looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to provide technical leadership across multiple teams.
Mission of the Role:
You’ll work across 2 product squads (10 Engineers), helping shape architecture, drive technical decisions and solve complex problems. This is a genuine Staff Engineer role, combining hands-on technical leadership with mentoring and coaching responsibilities.
You’ll:
- Lead architecture and system design across multiple domains.
- Help teams make better technical decisions.
- Mentor engineers across different levels of experience.
- Partner closely with Engineering Managers and senior leaders.
- Take ownership of some of the most challenging problems in the business.
What They’re Looking For:
- Experience influencing technical direction across multiple teams.
- Strong system design and architecture skills.
- A background in scaling products and organisations.
- Experience in regulated or high-trust environments.
- A passion for mentoring and developing other engineers.
- An interest in AI-native engineering and AI-assisted software development.
- Go experience is a bonus, but not essential.
AI-First Culture:
AI is deeply embedded in both the product and engineering culture. The platform itself is built on LLM technologies, and tools like Claude Code are used heavily throughout development. They’re looking for Engineers who are excited by the opportunities and challenges of building reliable AI systems.
Tech Stack:
Go, MongoDB, Kafka, Temporal, Kubernetes, GCP, REST, gRPC, Protobuf, Grafana, OpenAI, Gemini, RAG systems.
Package:
Up to £130,000 base salary, 10% bonus, equity scheme, hybrid working (2 days per week in London).
If you’re already operating at Staff level or you’re a Senior Engineer with broad technical leadership experience and aspirations to step up, I’d love to tell you more.
Staff Engineer (Backend) in London employer: Few&Far
Join a pioneering AI-native technology company in the heart of London, where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on mentorship and technical leadership, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of AI systems while enjoying a hybrid work model that promotes work-life balance. As part of a rapidly growing team, you'll benefit from competitive compensation, equity options, and a culture that values continuous learning and development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer (Backend) 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 Few&Far 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 Few&Far.
✨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 Few&Far.
✨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 Few&Far 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 Staff Engineer (Backend) 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 Few&Far.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Few&Far 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 Few&Far
✨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 Few&Far 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.
