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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a startup as a founding engineer, building and scaling innovative products.
- Company: Jumpstart partners with ambitious VC-backed startups in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, access to exclusive roles, and 1:1 support from experienced CTOs.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping product and engineering culture from the ground up.
- Qualifications: Senior full-stack experience, strong communication skills, and a product-minded approach.
- Other info: Enjoy unparalleled access to CTOs and a community of builders.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 91000 £ per year.
Who we are
Jumpstart is a startup hiring platform partnering with a small, curated group of ambitious VC-backed startups in the UK. Our job is not to sell you roles, it’s to make sure that when you do move, it’s into a place where you’ll actually get to build, learn, and have real impact.
About the role
You will join a Seed or pre-Seed VC-backed startup as the first (or one of the very first) engineering hires, working directly with the founders to turn an idea into a real, scalable product. This is a CTO-type role. You’ll take ownership of the technical foundation of the company: shipping the initial product, making early architectural decisions, and helping set the engineering culture, standards, and direction that future hires will build on.
What you’ll work on
Most “founding engineer” roles are either under-scoped or over-glorified. This one is real. At our partner startups, you’ll be trusted as a high-agency senior engineer to build the first version of the product end-to-end, and to think like an owner while doing it. You’ll balance speed with long-term thinking, and execution with strategy.
- Build and ship the first versions of the product end-to-end
- Design the initial system architecture, data models, and APIs
- Make pragmatic early decisions around tooling, infrastructure, and scalability
- Work directly with founders on product strategy, technical tradeoffs, and roadmap
- Establish engineering standards, patterns, and best practices
- Move fast, learn from real users, and iterate toward product-market fit
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for engineers who are:
- Senior full-stack builders with strong backend and frontend fundamentals
- Comfortable owning ambiguity and making decisions with incomplete information
- Product-minded: you think in terms of users, outcomes, and leverage
- Pragmatic and execution-focused, with good technical taste
- Strong communicators who can collaborate closely with non-technical founders
- Excited by early-stage environments and genuine ownership
You don’t need to have been a CTO before, but you should be comfortable acting like one when it matters.
How our process works
- Apply to Jumpstart: Apply in ~2 minutes with your CV and anything you’ve built (GitHub, side projects, startups). If it looks like a fit, you’ll have a short call with our in‑house CTO. No live coding. No take‑homes. Just a chat to understand how you think as an engineer.
- Join the platform: Once accepted, you’ll create a profile and get access to a curated set of early‑stage engineering roles, all from vetted VC‑backed startups.
- CTOs pitch to you: We share your profile with 100+ CTOs in our network. Strong candidates often receive multiple direct messages from CTOs pitching their role, team, and product.
- Get support landing your role: You’ll get access to a hotline with our in-house CTO, Patrick, with 1-1 support on everything from initial interview support, to case study feedback, all the way through to final offer negotiation & support.
What makes this different
- Unparalleled access: CTOs pitch to you and your profile is shared with 100s of startups
- Curated matching: We filter hard on both sides
- Signal over noise: No mass applications or recruiter spam
- Real ownership: Roles where engineers shape the product and culture
- UK-focused: Leading UK startups, remote-friendly or London-based
What you get
- Access to roles that aren’t publicly advertised
- Optional 1:1 prep with experienced engineers, founders, or CTOs
- A long-term community of builders, potential collaborators & co-founders
Founding Engineer (£60-130k) in City of London employer: Jumpstart
Contact Detail:
Jumpstart Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer (£60-130k) in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Get your profile sorted on our website! Make sure to showcase your best projects and experiences. This is your chance to shine and attract the right CTOs who are looking for someone just like you.
✨Tip Number 2
Don’t underestimate the power of networking! Reach out to fellow engineers and founders in our community. You never know who might have a lead on an exciting opportunity or can give you insider tips on landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those chats with CTOs! Think about how you can demonstrate your ownership mindset and technical skills. Be ready to discuss your past projects and how you’ve tackled challenges, as this will show you’re the right fit for a founding engineer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Take advantage of our support hotline! If you’re feeling unsure about interviews or negotiations, reach out to our in-house CTO, Patrick. He’s there to help you navigate the process and boost your confidence.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer (£60-130k) in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for engineering and startups.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of a Founding Engineer. Highlight your full-stack experience and any projects that demonstrate your ability to take ownership and make decisions in ambiguous situations.
Showcase Your Work: Include links to anything you've built, like GitHub repos or side projects. We love seeing what you've created and how you think about product development!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s quick and easy, and it helps us get your application in front of the right people faster.
How to prepare for a job interview at Jumpstart
✨Understand the Startup Landscape
Before your interview, take some time to research the startup ecosystem in the UK. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges and opportunities that early-stage companies face. This will help you speak confidently about how your skills can directly contribute to their growth.
✨Showcase Your Technical Ownership
Be prepared to discuss past projects where you took ownership of the technical aspects. Highlight your experience in making architectural decisions and how you’ve balanced speed with long-term strategy. This is crucial for a founding engineer role, so have specific examples ready.
✨Communicate Like a Founder
Since you'll be working closely with non-technical founders, practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. Demonstrating strong communication skills will show that you can bridge the gap between engineering and business, which is vital in a startup environment.
✨Prepare for Pragmatic Problem-Solving
Expect questions that assess your ability to make decisions with incomplete information. Think through scenarios where you had to make tough calls or pivot quickly. Being able to articulate your thought process will impress interviewers looking for a product-minded engineer.
