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- Tasks: Develop high-quality code, unblock team members, and tackle complex tech challenges.
- Company: Focaldata uses AI to bridge the gap between perceptions and reality in research.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative startup environment with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team making a real impact with renowned brands and non-profits.
- Qualifications: 5+ years coding experience, especially with Python and LLMs; strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Office presence is required three days a week; diverse applicants encouraged.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
About us
We at Focaldata are on a mission to close the understanding gap between what organisations believe about people and reality. By leveraging AI, we provide deeper, more accurate insights at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional methods.
We have built an amazing team of research industry expert and great engineers to reimagine what is possible in research. We do impactful work with amazing organisations ranging from well-known brands to life-changing non-profits.
We are now looking for an Senior Software Engineer with extensive experience delivering high-quality code quickly, breaking down complex technical challenges into manageable tasks, and proactively unblocking team members to keep progress on track.
Join us!
What you'll do
As a Senior Software Engineer working on our agentic AI product, you will:
- Deliver High-Standard Code : Develop clean, efficient, and maintainable code that meets the highest standards and prioritises simplicity over cleverness.
- Unblock Team Members : Identify blockers in the development process, proactively assist and guide fellow team members, and resolve technical roadblocks promptly to ensure smooth progress.
- Decompose Complex Tech Challenges : Break down complex, high-level product requirements into smaller, manageable technical deliverables. You will manage the breakdown of epics into tasks to ensure clear progress and communication.
- Provide Senior-Level Insight & Pragmatism : Bring your experience and seniority to the table by making well-considered decisions that balance trade-offs. Ensure that decisions, whether technical or architectural, are clearly communicated and understandable to both peers and leaders.
- Champion Quality & Best Practices : Operate in a startup tech team environment that is growing to the next level, and champion best practices to ensure scalability and maintainability.
- Go where you're needed: We're a small startup engineering team and while we really need expertise in AI, there will also be a need for you to contribute to a wide range of different software engineering work.
Who you are (skills and experience)
Essential
- 5+ years of coding experience (3+ years with Python building applications as opposed to purely scripting)
- Strong experience working with LLMs (large language models) in a practical, product-driven context.
- Experience with evaluation systems: Comfortable writing and leveraging evals to measure and improve system performance.
- Backend-heavy product experience: Solid background in backend engineering, ideally in products with complex infrastructure.
- Strong systems thinking: Ability to see the bigger picture, considering both short-term and long-term impacts of technical decisions.
- Autonomy: Proven ability to take ownership of projects, working end-to-end with minimal supervision while aligning with high-level, often ambiguous product requirements.
- Communication excellence: Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively at all levels-be it with your peers, your manager, or non-technical stakeholders.
- Problem-solving focus: A laser-like focus on identifying and solving critical path issues, ensuring progress for yourself and your team.
Nice-to-Have
- React experience would be a benefit
- DevOps experience: Direct experience managing deployment pipelines, monitoring, or infrastructure.
- Experience in mentoring junior developers, helping them grow and ensuring adherence to best practices.
Please note that our team is required to be in the office three days a week .
Focaldata is an equal opportunities employer. We believe in the value of a diverse and inclusive workforce for our business, team and customers. We encourage all applications regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage, pregnancy, maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
We also understand that certain groups may not feel empowered to apply unless they match every single requirement. Please do apply even if you don't match 100% of every single requirement!
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Senior Software Engineer (AI) (London) employer: Focaldata
Contact Detail:
Focaldata Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer (AI) (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest advancements in AI and large language models (LLMs). Being able to discuss recent developments or trends in AI during your conversations can demonstrate your passion and expertise, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to showcase your problem-solving skills by thinking of specific examples where you've successfully unblocked team members or resolved technical roadblocks. This will help you illustrate your proactive approach and ability to work collaboratively.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your communication skills, especially when it comes to explaining complex technical concepts. Practising how to convey these ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders will be crucial in demonstrating your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Focaldata's projects and their impact on various organisations. Being knowledgeable about their work will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to align your experience with their mission during discussions.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer (AI) (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your 5+ years of coding experience, particularly with Python and LLMs. Emphasise any backend-heavy product experience and your ability to manage complex infrastructure.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for AI and how your skills align with Focaldata's mission. Mention specific examples of how you've delivered high-quality code and unblocked team members in previous roles.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: Provide concrete examples in your application that demonstrate your problem-solving focus. Highlight instances where you identified critical path issues and ensured progress for your team.
Communicate Clearly: Ensure that your application communicates complex technical concepts clearly. Use straightforward language to describe your experience and decision-making processes, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
How to prepare for a job interview at Focaldata
✨Showcase Your Coding Skills
Be prepared to discuss your coding experience, especially with Python. Bring examples of high-quality code you've written and be ready to explain your thought process behind it.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Practice breaking down complex problems into manageable tasks and articulate your approach to solving them.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since communication is key in this role, practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms. Be ready to discuss how you would communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Highlight your experience in unblocking team members and fostering collaboration. Share specific examples of how you've helped your team overcome obstacles in past projects.
