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- Tasks: Build an AI-powered education platform that transforms learning experiences for students.
- Company: Nexa School, a pioneering secondary school focused on innovative education.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, potential equity, and the chance to shape the future of education.
- Why this job: Join us to revolutionise education and make a real impact on students' lives.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of engineering experience and a passion for educational innovation.
- Other info: Opportunity for a founding technical role with significant career growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About Nexa
We are building a new kind of secondary school: AI-powered academics in ~2 hours each morning, real-world projects the rest of the day. Secondary schools still run on industrial-era timetables and one-size-fits-all curricula, leaving too many teenagers disengaged, anxious, and underprepared for the real world. Nexa School is a new secondary school model that blends ~2 hours/day adaptive learning with 1:5 coaching and real-world projects, powered by a privacy-by-design platform that gives every student a personalised path without compromising their data.
We need someone to build the first version of Nexa Core - the intelligence layer that connects curriculum, content providers, and coaches. We want something that works, has solid foundations, proves the learning loop, and doesn’t paint us into long-term corners.
What we’re building (MVP scope)
- Curriculum-to-content stitching: Map IB and/or UK curriculum objectives to third-party content (videos, exercises, platforms) via LTI/APIs. Swappable, not hardcoded.
- Next-best-lesson logic: Simple, explainable rules-based recommender (completion, performance, human overrides). No heavy ML yet - we want to understand what’s happening.
- Human dashboard: Daily summary per user/group - who’s stuck, who’s flying, who’s gone quiet. Space for notes and safeguarding flags.
- Privacy-by-design: Data minimisation, clear audit trails, easy export/delete, UK GDPR compliant from day one.
What success looks like
A working system we can use with a small pilot group over summer. If we can show a student progressing faster than expected through a subject using this system, that’s the unlock.
You might be right for this if:
- You care about education and find this problem genuinely interesting.
- You’ve built MVPs before and know the difference between 'good enough' and 'technical debt bomb'.
- You’re comfortable with ambiguity and can make sensible decisions without a 50-page spec.
- You have serious engineering experience (5+ years) - we’re not looking for someone who’ll vibe-code their way through this with Cursor and hope for the best (although we love good vibes and vibe coding has a place).
- You can architect an AI-first stack properly: LLM integrations, RAG pipelines, LTI/API orchestration - and you understand the trade-offs between building vs. buying.
- You’ve worked with external APIs and content providers before and know how to build systems that don’t break when a third party changes something.
- You think about data architecture, privacy, and compliance as foundational, not afterthoughts.
Practicalities
- Contract/freelance to start, with genuine potential to become a founding technical role.
- Competitive day rate or retainer - let’s talk.
- Equity conversation available for the right person.
- Timeline: MVP by April 2026.
Nexa School - Founding Engineer / Technical Lead in London employer: Nexa School
Contact Detail:
Nexa School Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Nexa School - Founding Engineer / Technical Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the education tech space, especially those who are already involved with Nexa School. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you've built MVPs before, create a mini-project that showcases your ability to architect an AI-first stack. Share it on GitHub or your portfolio – it’s a great way to demonstrate your expertise without waiting for an interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the unexpected! Since this role involves ambiguity, practice answering questions about how you'd handle uncertain situations. Think of examples from your past where you made decisions without a full spec – it’ll show you’re ready for the challenge.
✨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 being part of the Nexa School journey from the get-go.
We think you need these skills to ace Nexa School - Founding Engineer / Technical Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Education: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for education shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about making a difference in students' lives and are excited about the innovative approach we're taking at Nexa School.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase your engineering experience, especially any MVPs you've built. We’re looking for someone who knows the ins and outs of creating solid foundations without falling into the trap of technical debt, so share specific examples that demonstrate your skills.
Be Clear and Concise: We appreciate straightforward communication. When detailing your experience and ideas, keep it clear and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it's necessary, and make sure we can easily understand your thought process and how it aligns with our goals.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nexa School
✨Understand the Vision
Before your interview, take some time to really grasp what Nexa School is all about. Familiarise yourself with their innovative approach to education and how they aim to blend AI with real-world projects. This will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also show your genuine interest in their mission.
✨Showcase Your MVP Experience
Since they're looking for someone who has built MVPs before, be ready to discuss specific examples from your past work. Highlight the challenges you faced, the decisions you made, and how you balanced 'good enough' with avoiding technical debt. This will demonstrate your practical experience and problem-solving skills.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions, especially around AI-first stacks, LTI/API orchestration, and data architecture. Brush up on these topics and be prepared to explain your thought process and decision-making when it comes to building systems that are robust and compliant.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so come armed with thoughtful questions about Nexa's goals, their approach to privacy-by-design, and how they envision the role evolving. This shows that you're not just interested in the job, but also in contributing to their long-term success.