At a Glance
- Tasks: Build innovative software for grid operators using cutting-edge technologies.
- Company: Join Squid, a pioneering tech company in central London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, and a vibrant work culture.
- Other info: High-ownership role with opportunities for rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of software engineering and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development with a focus on product-driven solutions.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 200000 £ per year.
About the role
Pay Range
£75k-£200k (salary + equity), based in
London, UK.
We are hiring a Software Engineer to join Squid as one of our first engineers.
You will work closely with the founders and early engineering team to build production software for grid operators.
This is a broad software engineering role spanning backend systems, frontend products, data-intensive applications, cloud infrastructure and applied AI.
You will help turn complex engineering workflows into reliable, intuitive software used by planners, operators and engineers.
This is a high-ownership role based in our central London office, with the opportunity to shape the product, technical architecture and engineering culture from an early stage.
What you'll do
- Build and ship production software across backend services, frontend applications and cloud infrastructure.
- Design APIs, data models and product interfaces for complex, data-heavy workflows.
- Develop tools for loading, validating, comparing, visualising and explaining technical datasets.
- Build reliable systems for versioning, collaboration, approvals and auditability.
- Integrate AI models and agents into practical, human-in-the-loop product workflows.
- Create benchmarks and evaluation tools for testing AI systems on real customer tasks.
- Improve system performance, reliability, security and developer experience.
- Work directly with customers to understand problems, test solutions and improve the product.
- Use modern AI development tools to prototype, test and ship software quickly.
Qualifications
You do not need to meet every requirement. We are looking for strong, product-minded software engineers who are comfortable working across a broad technical surface area.
You may be a strong fit if you have
- Professional software engineering experience building and maintaining production systems.
- Experience with Python, Type Script, React, Postgres, APIs, cloud infrastructure or data pipelines.
- Experience with Columnar storage, Relational DB’s, Object stores.
- Experience working across multiple parts of a software stack rather than within one narrow specialism.
- Strong product judgement and the ability to turn unclear, real-world problems into practical software.
- Experience designing reliable systems for complex or data-intensive workflows.
- An interest in applied AI, model evaluation, agent systems and AI-assisted software development.
- The ability to communicate clearly and work directly with technical customers.
- High ownership, curiosity and a willingness to learn quickly.
Experience with developer tools, data visualisation, geospatial products, collaborative software, workflow engines, technical computing or regulated industries would be valuable, but is not required.
Software Engineer in London employer: Join Squid 🦑
At Squid, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation thrives. As the Head of Strategy & Product, you will have the unique opportunity to shape our strategic direction and product offerings while enjoying a culture that values ownership, collaboration, and continuous learning. With competitive compensation, equity options, and a commitment to employee growth, Squid is dedicated to fostering a workplace where your contributions directly impact our success and the future of our products.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer 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 Join Squid 🦑 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 Join Squid 🦑.
✨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 Join Squid 🦑.
✨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 Join Squid 🦑 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 Software Engineer 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 Join Squid 🦑.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Join Squid 🦑 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 Join Squid 🦑
✨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 Join Squid 🦑 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.
