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- Tasks: Lead backend engineering and drive architectural decisions in a fast-paced AI startup.
- Company: High-growth AI-native infrastructure startup based in London.
- Benefits: Equity, premium gym membership, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Join a small, dynamic team with significant career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on core systems and work directly with industry leaders.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in backend engineering with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
My client, a high-growth London-based AI startup, is seeking a Senior Staff Backend Engineer / Technical Lead to join their senior engineering team. This is a rare opportunity to join an ambitious, engineering-led business at a pivotal stage of growth. The company is building complex, business-critical communications and AI-driven infrastructure, and is looking for a highly experienced backend engineer who can combine deep technical expertise with leadership, ownership, and strong execution.
They operate as an AI-native engineering organisation - not as a buzzword, but in how they actually build. AI tooling, LLM-powered systems, and rapid iteration are embedded into daily workflows. The team is small, highly capable, and ships fast - with real user impact from day one.
The ideal profile is someone operating at the level of a Meta E6 / Staff Engineer equivalent, with a background in large-scale backend systems, technical leadership, and experience working on high-performance distributed systems. This role is designed for a senior individual contributor who can act as a key technical partner to leadership, drive critical architectural decisions, and play a central role in scaling core infrastructure in a fast-moving startup environment.
You will join a small, highly capable team and work directly alongside the CTO and Founder (ex-JP Morgan) and Head of Engineering (ex-Meta), partnering on some of the company’s most important technical challenges. This is a high-ownership environment where engineers are trusted to lead from the front, solve difficult problems, and have real influence over systems, architecture, and technical direction from day one.
A successful candidate will be a highly capable senior backend engineer with strong leadership presence, excellent technical depth, and a genuine desire to build in a startup environment. You will be someone who can operate with autonomy, move quickly, and make sound decisions under ambiguity.
Requirements:- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with deep expertise in backend and distributed systems.
- Experience operating at Staff / Senior Staff / Principal Engineer level, or equivalent.
- Strong backend engineering skills, ideally in high-scale or business-critical infrastructure environments.
- Proven experience leading major technical initiatives and driving cross-team outcomes.
- Strong understanding of system design, distributed systems, reliability, and performance optimisation.
- Exposure to messaging systems, communications infrastructure, real-time systems, or similar domains is highly desirable.
- Experience with high-performance or less common backend technologies (e.g. Elixir, Erlang, Rust, Go) is a strong plus, but not required.
- A hands-on builder mindset with the ability to combine execution and technical leadership.
- Prior startup experience is a plus.
Based in London or willing to relocate for an in-person role.
Tech Environment:- Backend and infrastructure-focused systems with high performance and reliability requirements.
- Modern stack including TypeScript, Node.js, and distributed systems tooling.
- AI-native workflows with LLM-powered systems and internal AI tooling embedded into development.
- Infrastructure and data tooling including technologies such as SingleStore, OpenSearch, Trigger.dev, and Axiom.
You can expect:
- A high-ownership, small-team environment where your work has immediate and visible impact on core systems.
- Direct collaboration with the CTO and Head of Engineering on critical technical and architectural decisions.
- Equity in a fast-growing startup with significant upside potential.
- An engineering-first culture focused on clean code, strong systems thinking, and rapid iteration.
- An AI-native environment where modern tools and workflows are embedded in daily engineering work.
- The opportunity to operate with high autonomy and influence both technical direction and team outcomes.
- A centrally located office in Marylebone.
- Membership to a premium/luxury gym.
- Visa sponsorship available for the right candidate.
This role is ideal for a senior backend engineer or technical leader looking to step into a high-impact position, work closely with leadership, and help build the core infrastructure of a rapidly scaling AI business.
To apply, please submit your CV or contact gala.santaballa@mondrian-alpha.com directly.
Senior Staff Backend Engineer / Technical Lead – AI-Native Infrastructure Startup – London – Ex[...] employer: Mondrian Alpha
Contact Detail:
Mondrian Alpha Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Staff Backend Engineer / Technical Lead – AI-Native Infrastructure Startup – London – Ex[...]
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at the startup. A personal introduction can make all the difference in getting your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you have a portfolio or GitHub with projects that highlight your backend engineering expertise, make sure to share it. This is your chance to demonstrate your technical depth and hands-on builder mindset.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by understanding their tech stack and AI-native workflows. Brush up on distributed systems and be ready to discuss how you've tackled similar challenges in the past. They want to see your problem-solving skills in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining their ambitious team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Staff Backend Engineer / Technical Lead – AI-Native Infrastructure Startup – London – Ex[...]
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the job description. Highlight your backend engineering expertise, especially in distributed systems, and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Projects: Include specific examples of projects you've worked on that demonstrate your technical depth and problem-solving abilities. If you've led major initiatives or worked with high-performance systems, let us know! This is your chance to shine.
Be Authentic: When writing your application, be yourself! We appreciate genuine passion for building and innovation. Share your thoughts on AI-native workflows or any unique technologies you've used. We want to get a sense of who you are as a person and a professional.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mondrian Alpha
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your backend engineering skills, especially in distributed systems. Be ready to discuss your experience with high-performance infrastructure and any specific technologies mentioned in the job description, like TypeScript or Node.js.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led technical initiatives in the past. This role requires a strong leadership presence, so think about times when you've driven cross-team outcomes or made critical architectural decisions.
✨Emphasise Your Startup Experience
If you've worked in a startup before, highlight that experience! Talk about how you’ve thrived in high-ownership environments and how you can operate with autonomy while making sound decisions under ambiguity.
✨Be Ready for Technical Challenges
Expect to face some tough technical questions during the interview. Prepare to solve problems on the spot, demonstrating your hands-on builder mindset and ability to combine execution with technical leadership.