At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and build AI systems that revolutionise civil engineering assessments.
- Company: Stratum, a pioneering AI startup transforming infrastructure delivery.
- Benefits: £100k salary plus equity, remote work options, and career growth.
- Other info: Dynamic startup culture with true ownership and rapid growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Join at the forefront of AI, making a real impact on climate resilience.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in backend systems, expertise in Python and GCP required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
This is a job that Jill, our AI Recruiter, is recruiting for on behalf of one of our customers.
She will pick the best candidates from Jack's network. The next step is to speak to Jack.
- Job Title
- Founding Software Engineer
- Salary
- £100k + Equity
- Company Description
Stratum is a London-based AI startup founded by researchers from the UK AI Security Institute and Arup.
They are building an agentic platform to automate civil engineering assessments, having already secured £400k in pilot revenue and partnerships with 10% of UK local councils to transform infrastructure delivery.
Job Description
Join Stratum as a Founding Engineer to architect production-grade agentic AI systems for civil engineering.
You will build the backbone of platforms that condense weeks of manual technical assessments into hours.
Working directly with the CTO, you'll own backend architecture and AI integration, driving rapid deployment cycles for a fast-growing customer base.
- Location
- London, UK
- Why this role is remarkable
- True founding-level ownership with significant equity and a direct line into product strategy and engineering culture.
- Impressive traction including £400k pilot revenue in seven months and adoption by 10% of all UK local councils.
- Work at the frontier of AI for the physical world, solving high-stakes problems in climate resilience and infrastructure.
What You Will Do
- Architect and build robust, production-ready backend systems using Python and GCP (Cloud Run, Pub/Sub, Postgres) to power agentic workflows.
- Design and implement full-stack features in React, translating complex engineering requirements into intuitive, AI-native workspaces for technical experts.
- Lead the development of agentic architectures, evaluating and implementing cutting-edge LLM techniques like RAG and MCP for regulatory-grade precision.
- The ideal candidate
- 4+ years of experience operating production backend systems, with deep expertise in Python, GCP, and Infrastructure as Code using Terraform.
- Proven track record of shipping agentic AI systems where model evaluation, prompt design, and orchestration were central engineering challenges.
- Possesses Founding Engineer DNA—a pragmatic, autonomous builder who thrives in ambiguity and has experience scaling products from zero to one.
Who are Jack & Jill?
Ok, I'll go first.
I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career.
Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire.
Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
How does this work?
- Jack's an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
- Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack's network.
- If it's a match and the company wants to meet you, they'll make the intro. In the meantime, if you'd like, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.
- We never post fake jobs
This isn't a trick.
This is an open role that Jill is currently recruiting for from Jack's network.
Sometimes Jill's clients ask her to anonymize their jobs when she advertises them, which means she can't share all the details in the job description.
We appreciate this can make them look a bit suspect, but there isn't much we can do about it.
Give Jack a spin!
You could land this role.
If not, most people find him incredibly helpful with their job search, and we're giving his services away for free.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Founding Software Engineer (£100k + Equity) at Stratum 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 Software Engineer (£100k + Equity) at Stratum 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 Software Engineer (£100k + Equity) at Stratum 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.