Staff Software Engineer in London

Staff Software Engineer in London

London Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Funding Circle

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of innovative platforms that empower small businesses across the UK.
  • Company: Join a dynamic fintech company dedicated to supporting small businesses.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, health perks, and a focus on personal development.
  • Other info: Be part of a culture that values growth, collaboration, and diversity.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact while working with cutting-edge technology and a supportive team.
  • Qualifications: Experience in software engineering and a passion for emerging technologies like Generative AI.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

We’re on a mission to back the UK’s small businesses like no one else. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and we’re here to help them win. We’ve built a platform that uses clever data to get them the funding they need in minutes, not weeks. At Funding Circle, we have the restless energy of a fintech start-up with the stability of a public company. It’s a unique mix that gives Circlers the autonomy to take ownership and the scale to make an impact that truly counts.

We’re a high-performing team that chooses to lift each other up. We challenge, we champion, and we have each other’s backs because we know that when we stand together, we move faster and build better. The impact is real: Last year alone, the businesses on our platform generated £7.2bn for the UK economy.

The role is based in London (Hybrid) with 2 days in the office and offers a competitive salary plus benefits. We are looking for an experienced Staff Engineer with an excellent track record of building successful platforms for internal teams or as a SaaS. The role sits within our Platform Capabilities Engineering Group, providing technical leadership for the core platforms that enable our product teams to build business functionality fast and predictably. Staff Engineers are amongst the most senior leaders we have within our Technology function and as such are responsible for raising the bar and enabling us to achieve the incredible.

You will take accountability for high-level solution design, standards, engineering performance, and technology decisions within your Group. You will have sound commercial acumen and a solid understanding of how tech drives the top and bottom line. You understand and can articulate how our platform drives customer and commercial outcomes.

You proactively identify and leverage the latest Generative AI tools and techniques to drive innovation and transform our engineering processes, helping the organisation become fully 'AI Native.' You understand collaboration with customer-facing product teams is vital for a successful platform. Building an informed roadmap and shaping the technical direction to deliver on it. You translate this into a target system and data architecture with clear milestones to iterate towards it.

You are able to perform deep-dives and troubleshoot issues in a hands-on capacity, but you seek to enable the teams rather than becoming a dependency for future issues. You have excellent stakeholder-management skills and can present technology solutions, risks, and trade-offs to any audience across Funding Circle, demonstrating the ability to influence without requiring reporting authority to do so. You represent Funding Circle externally at events, leveraging your network to share industry trends and insight, as well as attracting talent to Funding Circle.

We value deep expertise, but a growth mindset and good energy are what really make our team click. We’re a group that chooses to lift each other up and think smart every day. We are looking for an engineering leader who can lead on solving high-level problems, whilst also deep-diving into technical challenges in a hands-on capacity.

Experience operating as the technical lead for a platform domain, either as a staff equivalent or a SaaS founding/lead engineer is essential. Understanding of the importance and limitations of internal platforms, experienced with deciding when to invest in centralisation vs bespoke, and in driving adoption is required. Experience in at least one major programming language (e.g. Python, Ruby, Java) is necessary.

We are looking for a true advocate for an empowered engineering team over 10x engineers, with a passion for coaching, mentoring, and sponsoring. A strong passion for critically assessing and applying emerging technologies to solve complex engineering challenges is important, as is driving transformational change across an organisation. We’re building a place where everyone truly feels they belong. Even if your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you.

As a flexible-first employer, we use a 'best of both' approach. We’ll see you in our London office to collaborate – with barista coffee and subsidised Just Eat lunches on us! Our Circler Proposition focuses on five areas:

  • Flexibility: We provide a benefit allowance you can tailor to your own life and family.
  • Health: This includes private medical and dental, health assessments, and access to a digital GP.
  • Wealth: We offer life assurance, share schemes, and financial coaching.
  • Development: You get a dedicated annual learning allowance to help you level up.
  • Lifestyle: We have electric car and cycle-to-work schemes, plus season ticket loans.

We also have award-winning parental leave policies. We're here to support you through the big life moments, from fertility treatments to new additions to the family. Ready to join a mission that matters? We’d love to chat!

Staff Software Engineer in London employer: Funding Circle

Funding Circle is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly in our London office where hybrid working allows for flexibility and balance. We prioritise employee growth through mentorship opportunities and encourage the development of cutting-edge AI solutions, all while offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits that support your well-being and career advancement.

Funding Circle

Contact Details:

Funding Circle Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer 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 Funding Circle 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 Funding Circle.

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 Funding Circle.

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 Funding Circle 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 Software Engineer in London

Technical Leadership
High-Level Solution Design
Engineering Performance
Commercial Acumen
Generative AI Tools and Techniques
Collaboration with Product Teams
System and Data Architecture

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 Funding Circle.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Funding Circle 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 Funding Circle

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 Funding Circle 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.