At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and build public APIs, design document ingestion pipelines, and mentor engineering talent.
- Company: UnlikelyAI is a Series A startup in London, founded by Alexa's creator, William Tunstall-Pedoe.
- Benefits: Salary ranges from £130k to £150k plus equity options.
- Other info: Work in London, UK, focusing on high-stakes financial and compliance sectors.
- Why this job: Join a world-class team solving AI's reliability problem with innovative neurosymbolic technology.
- Qualifications: Deep expertise in Python and experience with AWS/Terraform for large-scale systems required.
UnlikelyAI is a Series A London startup founded by William Tunstall-Pedoe, the creator of Alexa, building a novel neurosymbolic platform. They combine LLMs with proprietary symbolic technology to provide reliable, explainable AI for regulated industries, already serving tier-1 banks and leading accountancy firms in high-stakes financial and compliance sectors.
As a Staff Software Engineer at UnlikelyAI, you will be the lead individual contributor shaping a novel neurosymbolic platform. You'll bridge the gap between probabilistic machine learning and deterministic computing, architecting public APIs and document pipelines that enable enterprises to deploy reliable, explainable AI at scale for high-stakes financial and compliance use cases.
Location: London, UK
Why this role is remarkable:
- Work at the frontier of AI alongside a world‑class team from Google, Amazon, and Imperial College, founded by the visionary creator of Alexa.
- Solve the critical "reliability problem" in AI by building a unique neurosymbolic engine that combines the power of LLMs with deterministic, symbolic reasoning.
- Lead the transition from bespoke enterprise engagements to a scalable global platform, owning the architecture of the company's first public API and core infrastructure.
What You Will Do:
- Architect and build the foundational public API, making critical decisions on scalability, versioning, and developer experience that will shape the platform for years.
- Design and implement complex document ingestion pipelines and symbolic reasoning engines capable of handling diverse regulatory data formats with deterministic precision.
- Drive cross‑cutting technical initiatives and raise the engineering bar by mentoring talent, conducting deep system design reviews, and establishing production‑quality standards.
The Ideal Candidate:
- Deep expertise in Python and a proven track record of architecting large‑scale, production‑grade systems within complex collaborative codebases and monorepos.
- Extensive experience with complex algorithms, data structures, and cloud infrastructure (AWS/Terraform) to support non‑trivial algorithmic problems at enterprise scale.
- Demonstrated technical leadership through influence, having shaped the architectural trajectory of products or platforms without necessarily managing direct reports.
Staff Software Engineer (£130k–£150k + Equity) at UnlikelyAI employer: Jack & Jill
UnlikelyAI offers competitive salaries and equity in a pioneering AI startup located in London. The team comprises experts from Google, Amazon, and Imperial College, dedicated to building reliable AI solutions for regulated industries.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer (£130k–£150k + Equity) at UnlikelyAI
✨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 Staff Software Engineer (£130k–£150k + Equity) at UnlikelyAI
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.
