At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of AI-powered workflows for C++ in a hands-on technical role.
- Company: Join JetBrains, a leader in developer tools and AI innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, extra time off, and mental health support.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent learning and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI-assisted software development and impact millions of developers worldwide.
- Qualifications: Significant software engineering experience and strong understanding of AI-powered products.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
AI is fundamentally changing how developers write, understand, debug, and maintain software.
At Jet Brains, we're exploring what an AI-native development experience should look like for C++ developers.
We are looking for a senior technical leader to help shape this future by building AI-powered workflows, integrating coding agents into developer tools, and defining how CLion can become a first-class environment for AI-assisted software development.
This is a highly hands-on role focused on technical leadership rather than people management.
You should expect to spend most of your time prototyping, implementing, and validating AI-powered workflows while helping shape technical direction through hands-on engineering.
You'll work at the intersection of developer tools, AI agents, IDE architecture, and product strategy while helping define how software developers work with AI in the future.
Example problems you'll work on
- How can coding agents become more effective when working with large C++ codebases?
- How can CLion's debugging, code understanding, and navigation capabilities be integrated into AI-assisted development workflows?
- How should AI-powered developer experiences be evaluated and benchmarked in real-world development scenarios?
- What capabilities should AI agents have access to inside a modern IDE?
- How can we make CLion a better environment for developers who increasingly collaborate with AI tools and agents?
In this role, you will
- Shape and deliver AI-powered features for CLion and C++ development workflows.
- Design the architecture for AI integrations, agent tools, and C++-specific AI capabilities.
- Build practical benchmarks and evaluation frameworks for AI-assisted C++ development scenarios.
- Prototype and validate new AI workflows, including debugging, code understanding, refactoring, and project navigation.
- Collaborate with product managers, ML engineers, QA engineers, stakeholders, and senior developers to shape and deliver the roadmap.
- Work closely with Jet Brains AI, ML, and product teams to help define the AI strategy for the C++ ecosystem.
- Evaluate and prioritize AI initiatives, bringing new ideas and proposals that align with the broader Jet Brains AI strategy.
- Contribute hands-on to technical design, software architecture, and implementation in a large, mature codebase.
- Help define a technical roadmap for AI agent and tool integrations in C++ development workflows.
- Build trust and alignment across the C++ Ecosystem, AI, Product, QA, and ML organizations
We'd love to talk if you have
- Significant software engineering experience as a Staff Engineer, Principal Engineer, Technical Lead, or similar senior technical role.
- Strong experience with Kotlin, Java, or other JVM technologies, or the ability to quickly become productive in a JVM-based codebase.
- Experience building AI-powered products, developer tools, coding assistants, agents, or LLM-based workflows.
- Strong understanding of how modern coding agents operate, including tool calling, context management, MCP, and evaluation techniques.
- A track record of driving technical direction in ambiguous and rapidly evolving areas.
- Strong product instincts and an ability to balance innovation with practical delivery.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence without formal authority.
- Nice to have
- Experience with C++ development workflows, compilers, debuggers, language tooling, or developer productivity products.
- Experience with IDE internals, language servers, code analysis, refactoring systems, or static analysis.
- Experience leading small teams or acting as a technical lead.
- Experience working on AI-native developer products.
- Why this role is unique
Rather than building generic chat experiences, you'll be working on challenges such as AI-assisted debugging, agent-powered code understanding, developer workflow automation, and evaluation systems for AI-powered development tools.
Your work will directly influence products used by millions of developers worldwide and help shape Jet Brains' broader vision for AI-powered software development.
Why join Jet Brains?
- Strong base salary. We offer competitive pay that reflects your skills and experience.
- Flexible work location. Enjoy the freedom to work from home or from the office.
- Remote work. Spend up to 30 days per year working remotely from abroad.
- Extra time off. More days to relax, recharge, and do the things you love.
- Medical insurance allowance. Enjoy peace of mind for you and your family
- Learning and development opportunities. Access to conferences, courses, and language classes.
Relocation support. We help make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible. (keep if relevant for the role)
- Language classes. Pick up the local language or sharpen your English skills.
- Fuel your day. Enjoy a hot meal or receive a lunch allowance on workdays.
- Mental health support. To help you feel your best, we provide easy access to professional mental health services.
- Sports benefit. Enjoy an on-site gym or sports club stipend.
- Internal events. Join company-wide celebrations and team gatherings.
*Some benefits may vary depending on location.
- #LI-DNI
- We are an equal opportunity employer
We know great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere.
That’s why we do our best to create an open and inclusive workplace – one that welcomes everyone regardless of their background, identity, religion, age, accessibility needs, or orientation.
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AI Technical Lead - C++ Ecosystem in London employer: JetBrains
JetBrains is an excellent employer for those looking to make a significant impact in the software development landscape. With a strong focus on innovation and a collaborative work culture, employees are encouraged to grow their skills while working on cutting-edge AI-first tools. The flexibility of remote work combined with opportunities for professional development makes JetBrains a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI Technical Lead - C++ Ecosystem 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 JetBrains 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 JetBrains.
✨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 JetBrains.
✨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 JetBrains 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 AI Technical Lead - C++ Ecosystem 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 JetBrains.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at JetBrains 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 JetBrains
✨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 JetBrains 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.
