At a Glance
- Tasks: Take ownership of complex problems and drive technical direction across teams.
- Company: Fonoa, a forward-thinking tech company focused on real customer solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team that values innovation and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while mentoring others and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in scalable backend systems and mentoring skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About Engineering at Fonoa
Engineering is central to how we build the business. We focus on solving real customer problems, not just shipping features. We work in small, high-trust teams, with full ownership across the lifecycle, from design to production and beyond.
We value:
- Ownership – engineers own what they build end-to-end
- Simplicity – we break down complex problems into clear solutions
- Thinking Big - we innovate with modern technologies (LLMs, AI Agents, etc.) to solve meaningful problems
- Quality – scalable, maintainable systems are non-negotiable
- Speed & iteration – we ship fast, learn, and improve continuously
- Collaboration – we win as a team, not as individuals
Position Overview
As a Staff Engineer, your role is to improve the system as a whole, both technically and organizationally. You will work on ambiguous, high-impact problems, shape technical direction across teams, and help others build better systems. Your impact comes less from the code you write, and more from how you influence decisions, design, and execution at scale.
What You Will Do:
- Take ownership of complex, cross-team problems that are not clearly defined
- Define technical direction and drive system design across domains
- Identify and address systemic issues and opportunities early
- Simplify complexity through better architecture, patterns, and structure
- Improve how teams build by raising standards, tooling, and practices
- Mentor engineers and contribute to hiring and team growth
- Ensure systems are reliable, scalable, and built for long-term evolution
What Good Looks Like:
- You focus on high-leverage problems and shape how they are approached
- You create clarity in ambiguous situations and align teams around it
- You improve not just code, but how teams design and build systems
- You make others more effective through guidance, feedback, and direction
- You operate with long-term thinking, balancing today’s needs with future scale
- You adopt emerging AI technologies and create a culture of innovation in your teams
At this level, you are expected to “make the whole system, and the people in it, better.”
What We’re Looking For:
- Strong experience designing and operating scalable backend systems
- Proven ability to work on ambiguous, high-impact problems
- Track record of influencing technical decisions beyond your team
- Ability to balance speed, quality, and long-term maintainability
- Experience mentoring engineers and improving team practices
- Fostering a culture of curiosity and experimentation
API Documentation
For engineers, API design and structure are an important part of evaluating a role. You can explore our API and how we build products here: https://docs.fonoa.com/
Tech Stack
We use these technologies today, but we don’t hire for specific tools. We care about engineers who can understand problems, make good technical decisions, and choose the right tools for the job.
- Backend: Node.js, Go
- Frontend: React, TypeScript
- Infrastructure: GCP, k8s, Terraform, Postgres
Note: If you don’t think you have the full experience we’re looking for, but you could be a fit and are willing to learn, do apply anyway! We are building a diverse and inclusive team.
As part of the recruitment process at Fonoa, we process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants. This notice explains how and why your data is collected and used, and how you can contact us if you have any concerns.
Senior/Staff Software Engineer in London employer: Fonoa
Contact Detail:
Fonoa Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Staff Software Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Fonoa on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and get insights into the company culture. This can give you a leg up when it comes to interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your problem-solving skills. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to practice coding challenges. Remember, they want to see how you think through complex problems, so articulate your thought process!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your ownership mentality! Be ready to discuss past projects where you took charge and drove results. Fonoa values engineers who own what they build, so highlight your contributions and impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Fonoa team. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Staff Software Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Ownership: When writing your application, make sure to highlight instances where you've taken ownership of projects. We love engineers who can own what they build from start to finish, so share examples that showcase your ability to drive a project through its entire lifecycle.
Simplify Complex Problems: We value simplicity, so when you describe your experience, focus on how you've broken down complex issues into clear, manageable solutions. This will demonstrate your ability to think critically and approach problems in a structured way.
Think Big and Innovate: Don’t shy away from showcasing your innovative side! Mention any modern technologies or methodologies you've used to tackle high-impact problems. We’re looking for candidates who can think big and push the boundaries of what's possible.
Collaborate and Mentor: Collaboration is key at Fonoa, so include examples of how you've worked with others to improve systems or mentor fellow engineers. This shows us that you not only care about your own work but also about lifting the team as a whole.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fonoa
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, dive deep into Fonoa's values and culture. They focus on ownership, simplicity, and collaboration, so think about how your past experiences align with these principles. Be ready to share examples that demonstrate your ability to take ownership and work effectively in a team.
✨Prepare for Ambiguity
As a Staff Engineer, you'll be tackling ambiguous, high-impact problems. Prepare by thinking of scenarios where you've successfully navigated uncertainty. Practice articulating your thought process and how you create clarity in complex situations, as this will be key in your discussions.
✨Showcase Your Mentorship Skills
Fonoa values mentorship and team growth. Be prepared to discuss your experience mentoring others and how you've contributed to improving team practices. Think of specific instances where your guidance made a difference and be ready to share those stories.
✨Demonstrate Long-Term Thinking
In your interview, highlight your ability to balance immediate needs with long-term maintainability. Discuss how you've approached system design with future scalability in mind. This will show that you not only understand the technical aspects but also the strategic implications of your decisions.