At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and build next-gen AI workflows in a fast-paced, hands-on role.
- Company: Join an innovative AI start-up in London with a dynamic team.
- Benefits: Work in a collaborative environment with rapid feedback and growth opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a small, elite team with no legacy systems holding you back.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of AI technology.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Senior or Staff Engineer with strong software fundamentals.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Nelly Works has partnered with an exceptional, early-stage AI start-up in London developing next-generation intelligent workflows and automation systems. The team is a small, exceptionally talent-dense group of researchers and engineers. Instead of retrofitting AI onto legacy systems, they are building native infrastructure from scratch, moving at extreme speed, and shipping to production daily.
The Role
As a Staff Research Engineer, you will be one of the highest-leverage individual contributors on a lean engineering team, 2nd in command to Head of Engineering. There are no tickets or rigid roadmaps here—you will be handed broad, open-ended problem spaces and trusted to architect, validate, and ship the solutions. This is a hands-on player-coach role. You will remain deeply embedded in the codebase while defining the foundational architecture that the engineering organisation will inherit as it scales.
Core Responsibilities
- Bridge R&D and Production: Translate cutting-edge applied research into high-functioning, robust production systems.
- Own Broad Problem Spaces: Take ambiguous, complex technical goals and independently translate them into clean, executable architecture.
- Drive Technical Direction: Make the foundational engineering decisions across multiple research surfaces to ensure long-term speed and scale.
- Multiply Team Impact: Stay close to the code while scaling the team's capabilities through design docs, rigorous reviews, and technical mentorship.
What They Are Looking For
- High-Agency Builders: A proven track record as a Senior or Staff Engineer within a top-tier R&D lab, applied research team, or early-stage technology company.
- The "Seen-It-All" Mindset: Someone who can think up, architect, and execute complex systems end-to-end without needing hand-holding.
- Velocity & Agility: A builder who thrives on rapid execution—moving from a design doc on Monday to production by Friday.
- Technical Depth: Deep software engineering fundamentals paired with practical experience deploying agentic workflows, LLM infrastructure, or advanced AI systems.
- Presence: This is a fully collaborative, high-velocity environment requiring 5 days per week on-site in their London office.
Why Join This Team?
- Massive Footprint: A tiny, highly autonomous team means your fingerprints will be on the core foundation of everything they build.
- Elite Talent Bar: A world-class environment where every teammate is an exceptional operator who will sharpen your skills.
- Zero Legacy Debt: Clean slate, AI-native infrastructure built for scale from day one.
- Rapid Feedback Loops: Your work goes from the research phase to live customer interaction in days, not months.
👉 Want to build in AI space? Apply directly or message Nelly Works for a confidential chat.
Staff Engineer in Slough employer: Nelly Works
Nelly Works offers an exceptional opportunity for Staff Engineers to join a pioneering AI start-up in London, where innovation and agility are at the forefront of their mission. With a focus on building native infrastructure from scratch, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that fosters rapid feedback and personal growth, allowing you to leave a significant impact on cutting-edge projects. The elite talent pool and zero legacy debt environment ensure that your contributions will be integral to shaping the future of intelligent workflows and automation systems.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer in Slough
✨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 Nelly Works 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 Nelly Works.
✨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 Nelly Works.
✨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 Nelly Works 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 Staff Engineer in Slough
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 Nelly Works.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Nelly Works 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 Nelly Works
✨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 Nelly Works 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.
