At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect systems to transform complex energy documents into actionable AI data.
- Company: Join cepter, a pioneering AI infrastructure startup in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary plus equity, with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Other info: Dynamic, high-intensity culture focused on rapid development and cutting-edge tools.
- Why this job: Be the first engineer and shape the future of AI in the energy sector.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in high-performance tech startups, expertise in Python/FastAPI and TypeScript/React.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
cepter is a London-based AI infrastructure startup building the platform to unlock proprietary energy sector data for the AI era. Founded by Kaspar (ex-BCG/terralayr) and Duxi (ex-IBM/ETH Zurich), they are transforming complex technical reports and legal contracts into machine-ready data to accelerate the global energy transition.
As the first engineering hire at cepter, you will architect the systems turning complex energy documents into actionable AI data. You'll build end-to-end features using FastAPI, React, and Temporal, owning everything from database migrations to LLM pipelines. This high-intensity role offers the chance to define the technical foundation for the energy transition’s AI infrastructure.
Location: London, UK
Why this role is remarkable:
- Shape a company from day one as the first engineer, working directly with founders from Oxford, BCG, and ETH Zurich to define the product architecture and culture.
- Solve critical data bottlenecks in the energy transition by building sophisticated AI pipelines that process high-stakes proprietary documents and complex legal technicalities.
- Join a high-performance, high-intensity culture designed for rapid shipping, utilizing cutting-edge tools like Temporal for workflow orchestration and AI-native development workflows with Cursor and Claude.
What You Will Do:
- Ship end-to-end features across a FastAPI and React/TypeScript stack, designing durable domain APIs and data models that work in production-like PR previews.
- Build and debug complex Temporal workflows for long-running AI pipelines, ensuring idempotency, retries, and reliable structured extraction from unstructured documents.
- Own the entire infrastructure and DevOps lifecycle using Docker Compose and Railway, while improving developer experience through robust CI checks and observability.
The Ideal Candidate:
- Brings at least 6 years of experience at high-performance tech startups with a proven track record of shipping full-stack products from scratch.
- Demonstrates deep expertise in Python/FastAPI, TypeScript/React, and building production-grade LLM/document pipelines using tools like Langfuse for quality diagnosis.
- Possesses a “founding bar” mindset: high agency in ambiguity, a bias toward small and correct changes, and comfort pairing with AI coding agents to accelerate delivery.
Founding Engineer (+ Equity) at cepter in London employer: Jack & Jill
At Jack & Jill, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture. Our team enjoys a range of benefits including flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and growth. Located in a vibrant area, we offer unique advantages such as access to cutting-edge technology and the chance to work with industry leaders in AI-driven marketing strategies.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer (+ Equity) at cepter 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 Jack & Jill 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 Jack & Jill.
✨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 Jack & Jill.
✨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 Jack & Jill 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 Founding Engineer (+ Equity) at cepter in London
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 Jack & Jill.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Jack & Jill 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 Jack & Jill
✨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 Jack & Jill 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.
