At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build AI-native systems for enterprise data management and security.
- Company: Early-stage tech company focused on AI, cyber security, and data platforms.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, private medical insurance, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant influence on product direction and architecture.
- Why this job: Join a small, innovative team and shape the future of AI-driven enterprise solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in software or AI engineering, strong Python skills, and a collaborative mindset.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Location: London (Hybrid / Flexible)
Salary: Competitive DOE + Bonus + Equity
Company Overview
We are working with an early-stage technology company building AI-native systems that help large organisations better understand, govern, and secure complex data and identity ecosystems. Operating at the intersection of AI, cyber security, and enterprise data platforms, the business is focused on transforming how organisations model access, risk, and data relationships across increasingly distributed cloud environments. The team is small, highly technical, and product-focused, with a strong bias toward ownership, rapid iteration, and building systems that operate in complex, real-world enterprise environments. Engineering sits at the centre of everything, and individuals are expected to have a direct impact on product direction and architecture.
The Role
We are seeking a Founding AI Engineer / Engineering Lead to join the business at a pivotal stage as the platform moves from early MVP into scalable production use with enterprise customers. This is a hands-on technical leadership role, not a product management position. You will be responsible for designing, building, and scaling core components of an AI-driven enterprise platform, working across data, machine learning, and distributed systems. You will also work directly with early customers to understand real-world use cases and translate them into robust, scalable product capabilities. This role suits someone who still enjoys building and shipping code, but is comfortable influencing architecture, mentoring engineers, and shaping technical direction.
You will have significant influence over:
- Core system architecture
- AI/ML strategy and implementation
- Data modelling and enterprise integration patterns
- Early product design decisions
- Engineering standards and scalability approach
Key Responsibilities
- Design and build core components of an AI-native enterprise platform from the ground up
- Develop and deploy machine learning and LLM-based systems in production environments
- Build scalable data and AI pipelines across complex enterprise datasets
- Work closely with early enterprise customers to refine requirements and shape product direction
- Define and implement system architecture for AI, data, and integration layers
- Build agentic AI workflows and knowledge-driven systems using modern LLM frameworks
- Implement robust MLOps pipelines for model training, deployment, monitoring, and governance
- Contribute directly to production code in Python and related AI/data tooling
- Support technical decision-making around cloud architecture, scalability, and system design
- Help establish engineering best practices in a fast-moving early-stage environment
Tech Stack
- Python
- TensorFlow / PyTorch
- LLM frameworks (LangChain, LangGraph, or similar agentic AI tooling)
- AWS / Azure cloud platforms (including AI services such as Bedrock)
- Data engineering tools (e.g. AWS Glue or equivalent)
- NLP, embeddings, vector databases, RAG architectures
- MLOps tooling for model deployment and monitoring
Required Skills & Experience
- Several years' experience in software engineering, data engineering, or AI engineering roles
- Strong academic background in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or similar
- Experience working in a product-led technology environment (SaaS, AI platform, or similar)
- Proven ability to ship production-grade AI or data systems
- Strong Python engineering capability
- Experience with modern ML / LLM systems and frameworks
- Exposure to cloud-based AI/ML platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Comfortable working in early-stage environments with ambiguity and ownership
- Strong communication skills and ability to work directly with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Bonus Experience (Highly Valued)
- Cyber security / identity / access management (IAM / IdAM) exposure
- Cloud operations, DevSecOps, or infrastructure-heavy environments
- Experience in regulated or enterprise-scale domains
- Knowledge of enterprise data governance, data modelling, or integration architecture
How You Work
- Highly hands-on and enjoys building systems end-to-end
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and shaping problems as well as solving them
- Strong bias toward delivery, iteration, and practical engineering outcomes
- Collaborative, but able to take full ownership of technical decisions
- Interested in building foundational systems, not just features
What We Offer
- Highly competitive base salary (DOE) + bonus
- Equity / stock options in a high-growth early-stage business
- Private medical insurance
- Hybrid working (London-based, flexible model)
- High ownership role with significant influence on product and architecture
Founding Engineer in Aberdeen employer: Oscar Associates (UK) Limited
Join an innovative early-stage technology company in London as a Founding AI Engineer, where you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI-native systems. With a strong focus on ownership and rapid iteration, you'll work in a collaborative environment that values technical excellence and offers significant opportunities for personal and professional growth. Enjoy a competitive salary, equity options, and the flexibility of hybrid working while making a direct impact on product direction and architecture.
Contact Details:
Oscar Associates (UK) Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer in Aberdeen
✨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 Oscar Associates (UK) Limited 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
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✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
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We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer in Aberdeen
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 Oscar Associates (UK) Limited.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Oscar Associates (UK) Limited 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 Oscar Associates (UK) Limited
✨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 Oscar Associates (UK) Limited 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.
