At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build core features for an innovative AI platform in the food industry.
- Company: Exciting VC-backed AI startup led by a visionary female founder.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and a hybrid work model.
- Other info: Join a small, ambitious team with direct access to leadership and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be a founding engineer and shape the future of food commerce with real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong full stack skills in Node, Python, React, and AWS; experience with AI systems is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 € per year.
Salary - £90k- £120k + meaningful equity
Location – London Hybrid 2 days a week in office
Tech Stack - Node, Python, React, Next.js and TypeScript, AWS, LLM’s
Neulinx have partnered with an early stage, VC backed AI start up in the food industry to hire a Founding Engineer. The business is building intelligent commerce infrastructure designed specifically for independent food makers and retailers. Their platform removes operational friction across ordering, payments and communication by embedding AI directly into day to day workflows.
The company is led by a female founder who previously built a world renowned ecommerce platform, and is now applying that experience to reimagining how independent food businesses operate. The team is small, senior and ambitious, with two engineers already in place reporting into an experienced Head of Engineering. This hire will be instrumental in shaping what comes next.
The Role
This is a true 0 to 1 opportunity with meaningful ownership. As a Founding Engineer, you will work across the full stack, helping to define architecture, build core product features and influence technical standards from the ground up. You will collaborate closely with the Head of Engineering and the existing team, contributing to product decisions as well as delivery.
You will be involved in:
- Designing and building core features across ordering, payments and discovery
- Backend development in Node
- Frontend development using Next.js, React and TypeScript
- AWS infrastructure, CI/CD and tooling such as Terraform
- Integrating AI and agent based systems into production
- Supporting deployments, monitoring and platform reliability
This is a hands on role suited to someone who enjoys autonomy, fast iteration and solving real world problems for non technical users.
What We Are Looking For
Must have:
- Strong full stack capability across Node, Python, React, Next.js and TypeScript
- Solid experience with AWS and modern infrastructure practices
- Exposure to AI driven systems or LLM integrations
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity within an early stage environment
- A builder mindset with end to end ownership
Nice to have:
- Experience integrating LLMs or agent frameworks into production
- Exposure to payments infrastructure
- Previous 0 to 1 start up experience
- Empathy for non technical users and a focus on clear product experiences
Why Join
- Foundational role in a high growth AI platform within the food sector
- Real ownership and influence over architecture and product direction
- Backed by leading European VCs
- Small, senior team with direct access to leadership
- Meaningful early stage equity
If you are looking for a genuine founding level engineering role where your impact will be visible across the entire platform, this is a rare opportunity to build something ambitious from the ground up.
Founding Engineer in Slough employer: Neulinx
Neulinx is an exceptional employer for those seeking to make a significant impact in the AI-driven food industry. With a strong focus on employee autonomy and growth, the company offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of commerce infrastructure while working alongside a small, ambitious team led by an experienced female founder. The hybrid work model, competitive salary, and meaningful equity further enhance the appeal of joining this innovative start-up in London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer in Slough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those that align with the tech stack mentioned in the job description. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your expertise in Node, Python, React, and more.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to full stack development. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled ambiguity in past projects, as this role requires a builder mindset in an early stage environment.
✨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 the team and being part of something ambitious from the ground up.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role and the company shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about building something impactful in the food industry!
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your experience with our tech stack—Node, Python, React, Next.js, TypeScript, and AWS. We’re looking for specific examples of how you've used these technologies to solve real-world problems.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this founding engineer role. Share your thoughts on how you can contribute to shaping the product and architecture from the ground up.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Neulinx
✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Node, Python, React, Next.js, TypeScript, and AWS. Brush up on your knowledge of AI-driven systems and LLM integrations, as these will be crucial for the role. Be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Builder Mindset
This role is all about ownership and building from scratch. Prepare examples that highlight your experience in taking projects from 0 to 1. Talk about challenges you faced and how you overcame them, especially in ambiguous environments.
✨Understand the Business Context
Since this startup is focused on the food industry, do some research on current trends and challenges in that space. Being able to connect your technical skills to real-world problems faced by independent food makers will show your genuine interest and understanding of the company's mission.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Interviews are a two-way street! Think of insightful questions that demonstrate your curiosity about the company’s vision, team dynamics, and future plans. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if this is the right fit for you.
