Senior Product Engineer
Senior Product Engineer

Senior Product Engineer

London Full-Time 102000 - 140000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
Kernel

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join us as a Senior Product Engineer to enhance our AWS/Kubernetes stack and deliver features rapidly.
  • Company: Kernel is a fast-growing startup revolutionising how revenue teams research companies.
  • Benefits: Earn ÂŁ120-140k plus equity, with visa sponsorship available and weekly 1:1s for personal growth.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping innovative technology in a thrilling startup environment.
  • Qualifications: 6+ years in software engineering, experience in early-stage startups, and backend expertise required.
  • Other info: Enjoy a low-structure environment where your contributions directly impact our growth.

The predicted salary is between 102000 - 140000 ÂŁ per year.

Kernel provides enterprise RevOps teams with AI-powered company data for their CRMs. We raised $14M in Series A funding from top VCs and operators at Plaid, OpenAI, and Slack to build an AI-native alternative to Dun & Bradstreet\’s entity and hierarchy data.RevOps teams at Navan, Gong, Mistral, and AlphaSense use Kernel to run their organizations.At Kernel, we process 7B+ tokens a day and run 1.8M+ agents daily, all on an architecture that\’s intentionally simple: one database, one queue. It\’s minimalism built for massive scale (For reference, Wikipedia has 2.3B tokens in the English wikipedia). Our queue processes a daily volume on par with the entire Visa network\’s transactions (~365M/day). All of which has been built by a small but mighty team of engineers.The Role You are a T-shaped product engineer with a spike in backend engineering. You will work closely with the product and engineering team to build user-facing features, ship at pace, and support the existing infrastructure as we scale. You do not need to be a DevOps expert, but familiarity with AWS and Kubernetes is valuable.You take initiative, adapt quickly, and communicate clearly. The team is small and fast-moving, so you\’ll be expected to make decisions and ship code autonomously. You will help the company grow from$3Mto$30M ARR , owning projects end-to-end—from ideation to deployment—while helping shape how we build products and infrastructure at Kernel.What You\’ll Be DoingDesigning and developing product features that directly impact user workflowsCollaborating with design, product, and other engineers to deliver exceptional user experiencesWriting and maintaining clean, reliable, and scalable code across the stackHelping ensure performance and reliability for large-scale data operationsAutomating workflows to improve developer velocity and reduce manual workSupporting integrations with CRMs and third-party APIsParticipating in roadmap discussions and contributing technical insightsWhat You Bring6+ years of software or product engineering experienceStrong experience building and scaling production systemsComfort with backend engineering (NodeJS, Postgres, TypeScript)Strong understanding of LLM application development patterns (RAG, prompt engineering, consistency testing) – either through production experience or demonstrated personal projects. If you\’re new to LLMs but have shipped complex production systems in other domains and are comfortable rapidly learning new technologies, we\’d still love to hear from you.Ability to operate autonomously in a small, high-velocity teamExcellent communication and collaboration skillsSome experience with Kubernetes or distributed systemsIt Is a Plus If You Also HaveExperience working on AI-driven or data-heavy productsFrontend experience (NextJS, React, TypeScript)Understanding of CRM data models or workflow automation This role may not be for you if you:Need lots of structure or long-term roadmapsPrefer perfect specs before buildingFocus narrowly on backend or frontend only This role is definitely not for you if you:Prefer fully remote work (this role requires at least 3 days a week in the office)Don\’t enjoy the pace of early-stage startupsWant to manage a team rather than buildWhat We Offer We will do our best to offer you a ride of a lifetime. It will not be easy, but it will be thrilling. 2 weeks work-from-anywhereTop-spec equipment and central London office️ Free dinner at the officeTeam events and dinnersWork directly with the founders to scale the systems that power enterprise AIFront-end: NextJS, TypeScript, TailwindWorkflow automation: n8nWe are around 30 people with 7 engineers and 1 Product Manager, including:Sam Houghton, Founding EngineerDavid Saltares, Senior EngineerStefan Sabev, Head of ProductWillis Chou, Senior EngineerWe sponsor visas for exceptional candidates and provide relocation support for those moving to London.Interview Process Stage 1:Introductory Call (40 minutes)Stage 2:Hiring Manager Call (40 minutes)Stage 3:Technical (take-home & follow-up discussion)Final Stage:Founders Interview – a conversation with Anders (CEO) and Marcus (CTO) focused on values alignment and long-term vision.Following Mutual Fit: Reference checks and offer stage.#J-18808-Ljbffr

Senior Product Engineer employer: Kernel

Kernel is an exceptional employer for Senior Product Engineers, offering a dynamic and fast-paced work environment where innovation thrives. With competitive salaries ranging from ÂŁ120-140k plus equity, employees benefit from direct collaboration with the founding team, weekly one-on-ones for personal growth, and the unique opportunity to shape the company's infrastructure as it scales. Located in a vibrant startup ecosystem, Kernel fosters a culture of autonomy and adaptability, making it an ideal place for those looking to make meaningful contributions in their careers.
Kernel

Contact Detail:

Kernel Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Product Engineer

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Kernel's tech stack, especially AWS and Kubernetes. Understanding how these technologies work together will not only help you in the technical screen but also show your genuine interest in the role.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in early-stage startups. Highlight specific challenges you've faced and how you adapted, as this aligns with the dynamic environment at Kernel.

✨Tip Number 3

During your intro chat, be ready to articulate your motivations for wanting to join Kernel. Show enthusiasm for their mission and how your skills can contribute to their growth from $1M to $10M ARR.

✨Tip Number 4

Think about potential improvements or features you could suggest for Kernel's product. This proactive approach will demonstrate your problem-solving mindset and commitment to contributing to the team.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Engineer

Backend Engineering
AWS
Kubernetes
NodeJS
Typescript
Postgres
Workflow Automation (n8n)
Data Processing
Scalability Solutions
Problem-Solving Skills
Adaptability
Communication Skills
Independent Work
Experience in Early Stage Start-ups
Feature Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially in backend engineering and any work with AWS or Kubernetes. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills and achievements in these areas.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only showcases your technical skills but also reflects your adaptability and ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment. Mention why you are excited about the opportunity at Kernel and how you can contribute to their goals.

Prepare for Technical Questions: Since the application process includes a technical screen, brush up on your knowledge of AWS, Kubernetes, and any relevant programming languages. Be ready to discuss past projects and the challenges you faced.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: During the take-home task, focus on demonstrating your problem-solving abilities. Clearly explain your thought process and the rationale behind your solutions, as this will be crucial during the technical interview.

How to prepare for a job interview at Kernel

✨Understand the Tech Stack

Familiarise yourself with Kernel's tech stack, including AWS, NodeJS, and Kubernetes. Be prepared to discuss your experience with these technologies and how you can contribute to their backend infrastructure.

✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

During the technical screen and take-home task, demonstrate your ability to tackle real-world problems. Think critically about the challenges presented and articulate your thought process clearly.

✨Emphasise Adaptability

Kernel thrives in a low-structure environment, so highlight your adaptability and initiative. Share examples of how you've successfully navigated shifting priorities in previous roles.

✨Align with Company Values

In the final stage with the founder, be ready to discuss your personal and professional values. Show how they align with Kernel's mission and culture, as this will be crucial for a successful fit.

Senior Product Engineer
Kernel
Location: London

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