At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build machine learning systems for Hopper's pricing engine.
- Company: Join a well-funded startup reshaping travel experiences for millions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pre-IPO equity, unlimited PTO, and generous parental leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on pricing strategies and customer experiences in fintech.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in ML systems, proficiency in Python, Scala, and SQL.
- Other info: Dynamic teams with open communication and massive growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About the Team
Hopper's Fintech Foundation team sits at the centre of the company's mission: reshaping how more than 100 million monthly active users experience travel. It owns the pricing engine that balances customer demand against financial risk across dozens of partners — including Capital One, Air Canada, and Spirit Airlines. As an ML engineer on this team, you will directly shape how Hopper prices ancillary products in real time and at scale.
About the Role
As a Software Engineer on the Fintech Foundation team, you will design, build, and evolve the machine learning systems that power Hopper's pricing engine. Your work will have direct impact on revenue, financial risk management, and the customer experience across the full partner portfolio. You will work closely with the Data Science, Engineering, and Product teams to deliver pricing solutions that are reliable, scalable, and oriented toward commercial outcomes.
What would your day-to-day look like:
- Design and implement automated, reusable training pipelines to ensure consistent, scalable model delivery across the partner portfolio.
- Build ETL pipelines with thoughtful feature engineering to guarantee clean, reliable inputs for pricing models.
- Develop and deploy real-time ML pricing solutions to production, owning the full path from model to live environment.
- Monitor production systems for latency, drift, and training-serving skew, optimising continuously to maintain model integrity.
- Run champion-challenger tests on pricing and product construction levers to surface improvements and respond to shifting market conditions.
- Partner with data scientists, engineers, and product stakeholders to translate business needs into well-scoped technical solutions.
An ideal candidate has:
- 5+ years of experience in a similar role, ideally within production ML systems or large-scale pricing platforms.
- Proficiency in Python, Scala, and SQL, applied to production ML systems rather than exploratory work.
- Experience in data modelling, software architecture, and distributed data processing frameworks at scale.
- Deep understanding of ML algorithms and when to apply them in the context of pricing, demand forecasting, or similar commercial domains.
- Strong analytical instincts and attention to detail, with a track record of catching issues before they reach production.
- A product mindset that keeps the customer outcome in view, even when the work is deeply technical.
- Clear, collaborative communication skills that hold up across data science, engineering, and business stakeholder audiences.
Perks and Benefits of working with us:
- Well-funded and proven startup with large ambitions, competitive salary, upsides of pre-IPO equity packages.
- Hopper covers 100% of the premiums for the employee for a group insurance plan through Vitality Health.
- Automatic contributions when you start with Hopper through Smart Pension.
- Very generous parental leave, much above industry standards.
- Access to co-working space on demand through FlexDesk and Work-from-home stipend.
- Carrot Cash travel stipend.
- Unlimited PTO.
- Entrepreneurial culture where pushing limits and taking risks is everyday business.
- Open communication with management and company leadership.
- Small, dynamic teams = massive impact.
Senior Software Engineer - AI Fintech foundation (UK) employer: Hopper
Contact Detail:
Hopper Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer - AI Fintech foundation (UK)
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with folks in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at Hopper. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to ML systems or pricing models. This will give you an edge and show us what you can really do.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your Python, Scala, and SQL skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. We want to see how you think and solve problems!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Make sure to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way for us to see your application and get you in front of the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer - AI Fintech foundation (UK)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Senior Software Engineer. Highlight your experience with ML systems and pricing platforms, and don’t forget to showcase your proficiency in Python, Scala, and SQL. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about AI in fintech and how you can contribute to our mission at Hopper. Be sure to mention any relevant projects or experiences that demonstrate your analytical instincts and product mindset.
Showcase Your Projects: If you’ve worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving real-time ML solutions or pricing models, make sure to include them. We love seeing practical examples of your work, so don’t hold back on sharing your achievements and the impact they had!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hopper
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Python, Scala, and SQL skills. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these languages in production ML systems, especially in relation to pricing models. Prepare examples that showcase your experience with data modelling and software architecture.
✨Understand the Business Impact
Since this role is all about shaping customer experiences and financial outcomes, think about how your technical work translates into business value. Be prepared to discuss how your previous projects have impacted revenue or improved customer satisfaction.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to talk about specific challenges you've faced in past roles, particularly around model integrity and production systems. Highlight your analytical instincts and how you've caught issues before they escalated, demonstrating your attention to detail.
✨Communicate Clearly and Collaboratively
This role requires working closely with various teams, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with data scientists, engineers, or product stakeholders to translate complex technical needs into actionable solutions.