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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and ship AI-powered systems that solve real-world problems.
- Company: Seed-stage fintech startup with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
- Benefits: Up to £90K salary, meaningful equity, and high ownership.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI in a fast-growing startup environment.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering skills and understanding of ML fundamentals.
- Other info: Direct access to a hands-on CTO and excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 126000 £ per year.
Seed-stage startup | Founding hire | High ownership
About the Company
We’re working with a seed-funded technology startup building a platform that helps organisations make better, faster decisions using complex data. The company operates in a data-heavy, operationally complex domain, where accuracy, performance, and reliability matter far more than hype. Their products sit deep in customer workflows and are designed to automate and optimise specific tasks rather than act as generic tools. Backed by high-quality investors and led by a highly hands-on CTO, the team is lean, high agency, and engineering-led. They’ve built strong early traction and are now entering the next phase of growth as they prepare for future funding rounds and international expansion.
As part of this next phase, they are beginning to build intelligent, data-driven products at the intersection of software engineering, machine learning, and AI - and are making their first dedicated AI/Data hire to help shape this capability from the ground up.
The Opportunity
They’re looking for a Founding AI / Data Engineer - someone who can actually build and ship AI-powered systems. This is not a traditional Data Scientist role, and it’s not about building generic chatbots or prompt-only solutions. Instead, you’ll be designing and delivering task-focused, data-aware AI agents that are tightly integrated into production software. Think applied AI that solves specific problems, driven by a deep understanding of the underlying data.
You’ll sit right at the intersection of:
- Software Engineering
Very much a startup role: broad scope, high ownership, real impact.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Building production-grade AI systems that combine ML, LLMs, and strong software engineering
- Working hands-on with large, complex datasets to design intelligent, task-specific agents
- Developing and deploying machine learning pipelines, not just proofs of concept
- Making pragmatic decisions about when to use LLMs - and when not to
- Collaborating closely with a highly technical CTO to shape the company’s AI direction for the next 2–3 years
What They’re Looking For
They’re deliberately not looking for a purely academic or research-focused profile. You’ll likely be a strong fit if you:
- Are a solid software engineer who has shipped real products
- Have a genuine understanding of data science and ML fundamentals
- Can write clean, maintainable production code (Python especially)
- Have experience with applied ML, NLP, and/or LLM-based systems
- Care about delivery, reliability, and real-world impact
- Enjoy working in a lean, fast-moving startup environment
- Experience building internal tools, automation, or agent-like systems
- Exposure to data pipelines, cloud platforms, or MLOps
- Previous startup or early-stage experience
Why This Role Stands Out
- Founding AI/Data hire - you’ll shape a core technical capability
- Direct access to a highly respected, hands-on CTO
- Real ownership and influence over architecture and delivery
- Base salary up to £90K - plus meaningful equity
- Joining at seed stage, ahead of international expansion - heavy growth prospects.
Founding AI/Data Engineer | Seed Fintech | Up to £90K + Meaningful Equity employer: HUG
Contact Detail:
HUG Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding AI/Data Engineer | Seed Fintech | Up to £90K + Meaningful Equity
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fintech and AI space on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, attend meetups, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving AI and data engineering. This is your chance to demonstrate your hands-on experience and problem-solving abilities, which are crucial for a startup environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Tailor your approach! When you find a role that excites you, make sure to customise your pitch. Highlight how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around building production-grade AI systems. Show them you’re the perfect fit for their team!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application directly. It shows initiative and gives us a better chance to connect with you. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on any new opportunities that pop up!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding AI/Data Engineer | Seed Fintech | Up to £90K + Meaningful Equity
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI and Data: When you’re writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and data shine through! We want to see how your experience aligns with our mission of building intelligent, task-focused systems. Share specific projects or challenges you've tackled that demonstrate your skills.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Don’t just send a generic CV! Make sure to tailor your application to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the Founding AI/Data Engineer role. We love seeing how you can contribute to our startup's unique needs, so be specific!
Be Clear About Your Technical Skills: We’re looking for someone who can build and ship real products, so make sure to clearly outline your technical skills in your application. Mention your experience with Python, machine learning, and any relevant tools or frameworks that you’ve used in past projects.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at this exciting stage of growth.
How to prepare for a job interview at HUG
✨Understand the Company and Its Mission
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's mission and the specific problems they aim to solve with their AI/data products. This will not only help you align your answers with their goals but also show your genuine interest in being part of their journey.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with software engineering and machine learning in detail. Bring examples of projects where you've built production-grade systems or worked with complex datasets. Highlight your ability to write clean, maintainable code, especially in Python.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Since this role focuses on applied AI, think of specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you tackled them. Be ready to discuss when to use LLMs versus other solutions, showcasing your pragmatic decision-making skills.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Ownership
This startup values high ownership and collaboration. Share experiences where you've worked closely with technical teams or led projects. Illustrate how you can contribute to shaping the company's AI direction alongside their CTO.
