At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of engineering and AI capabilities while developing innovative software solutions.
- Company: Established organisation undergoing a major technology transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, significant influence, and executive-level visibility.
- Other info: Opportunity to build a scalable engineering function and mentor future team members.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology in a growing business with genuine ownership.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering leadership and modern programming languages.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
Location: Hertfordshire - Hybrid
Salary: £100,000 - £150,000
Our client is a well-established, successful organisation embarking on a significant technology transformation and is seeking an exceptional Founding Engineer to lead the creation of its engineering and AI capability. This is a rare opportunity to join an established business at a pivotal point in its evolution. Backed by senior leadership and long-term investment, the successful candidate will take ownership of software engineering, technical architecture, AI adoption, and technology delivery across the organisation.
Unlike many founding engineering opportunities, this role combines genuine ownership and influence with the stability, resources, and commercial maturity of an established company. The successful candidate will define engineering strategy, establish development standards and processes, drive AI-first ways of working, and build the foundations of a scalable engineering function. They will also remain hands-on, leading the design and delivery of modern software platforms that support critical business objectives.
The Opportunity
As the organisation's most senior engineering hire, you will:
- Own and shape the software engineering function from the ground up
- Establish and lead the company's AI-first development strategy
- Define architecture, tooling, engineering standards, and delivery processes
- Lead the development of business-critical software products and platforms
- Drive adoption of modern AI-assisted engineering practices
- Partner directly with senior stakeholders to translate business needs into technical solutions
- Build the foundations for future engineering team growth
- Act as the principal technical authority across the organisation
This is a highly visible role with significant autonomy and influence, offering the opportunity to shape the future technology direction of a growing business.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership
- Lead the design and delivery of scalable, secure, high-quality software systems
- Define architectural principles, technical standards, and development best practices
- Make strategic technology decisions that balance speed, scalability, and maintainability
- Remain hands-on with software development, technical design, and code reviews
- Champion engineering excellence across the software lifecycle
AI & Technology Transformation
- Establish an AI-first engineering culture and operating model
- Evaluate, implement, and govern AI-assisted development tools and workflows
- Drive improvements in productivity, quality, testing, and delivery through effective use of AI
- Identify opportunities to leverage AI across engineering and wider business processes
Delivery & Ownership
- Take end-to-end ownership of major technology initiatives
- Deliver resilient, production-ready software solutions
- Manage technical risk, dependencies, and delivery priorities
- Work closely with stakeholders to align technology delivery with business goals
Building Capability
- Create the foundations of a scalable engineering organisation
- Mentor future team members and contribute to hiring activities
- Establish processes that support long-term growth and operational excellence
Candidate Profile
We are interested in speaking with experienced software engineering leaders who combine strong technical depth with a builder's mindset. You will likely have:
- Significant experience delivering complex software systems in production environments
- Strong expertise in one or more modern languages such as TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Java, or C#
- Deep understanding of software architecture, APIs, cloud-native systems, and scalable application design
- Experience working with AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Strong DevOps, CI/CD, automation, and engineering operations experience
- A track record of leading technical projects and influencing engineering strategy
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Experience operating in fast-moving, high-growth, or transformational environments
- Experience building teams, establishing engineering functions, or driving technology transformation programmes would be particularly valuable.
This role offers a unique combination of:
- Genuine ownership of an entire engineering and AI function
- Significant influence over technology strategy and delivery
- Executive-level visibility and support
- The opportunity to build something lasting from the ground up
- The backing, stability, and resources of an established organisation
- A chance to define how AI is embedded within a modern engineering capability
For ambitious engineering leaders seeking broad ownership and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, this represents a genuinely exceptional opportunity.
Founding Software Engineer employer: James Adams
Join a forward-thinking organisation in Hertfordshire as a Founding Software Engineer, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape the engineering and AI landscape from the ground up. With a strong emphasis on innovation, stability, and growth, this role offers significant autonomy, executive support, and the chance to lead transformative technology initiatives while fostering a collaborative and dynamic work culture. The company is committed to employee development, providing ample opportunities for mentorship and career progression in a supportive environment that values creativity and technical excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Software Engineer
✨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 James Adams 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 James Adams.
✨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 James Adams.
✨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 James Adams 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
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 James Adams.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at James Adams 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 James Adams
✨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 James Adams 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.
