Lead Software Engineer (Founding Team)

Location: London (Canary Wharf), E14 5RE (Hybrid)

Company: BroadbandUK

Job Type: Full-Time

We’re BroadbandUK. We help millions each year make better broadband decisions, because fast, reliable connectivity improves everyday lives. We’ve already launched the UK’s first address-level price comparison service and a speed test used by over 1 million people. We are profitable, privately funded, and have partnered with brands such as Openreach, Currys, and The Telegraph.

We’re growing rapidly and entering an exciting new phase: making accurate broadband data universally accessible, whether checking speeds, switching providers, or moving house. Accurate broadband data is critical when moving home, yet it is notably absent from property listings. Solving this is our next major challenge. We are working at an industry level to ensure broadband becomes a standard for every property listing, defining the data structures that will make this possible.

To achieve this, we are transitioning into an AI-first technology company. You will leverage large language models and automated workflows to intelligently match complex datasets, streamline our operations, and give homebuyers the clarity they need to make life‑changing decisions.

We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer to take ownership of our technical vision and transition into the CTO role. This is a rare opportunity to help build a company from the ground up and become a household name that touches the lives of millions. Be part of a close‑knit, ambitious team where you’ll learn quickly and work on challenges that matter. We hope you’ll enjoy the journey as much as we do.

What you’ll do

• As Lead Software Engineer and co‑founder, you’ll play a critical role in shaping the future of BroadbandUK. You’ll work directly with the CEO and co‑founders to:
• Mentor a growing team of engineers, guiding graduates and interns as they level up their skills.
• Shape the architecture and technical direction of our products, balancing scalability with speed of delivery.
• Design and integrate AI models and algorithms that unlock insights from national connectivity data to tackle real‑world challenges.
• Leverage unique datasets from Ofcom, Openreach, independent networks and ISPs to uncover problems that directly impact how the UK connects.
• Advance the use of retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), combining LLMs with vector search, to push the boundaries of how AI can be applied to connectivity challenges.

Our stack

• Backend: PHP (Laravel), Python (for AI/ML workflows)
• Frontend: React, Next.js (preferred), with flexibility for other modern frameworks
• Infrastructure: AWS (including Lambda, S3, DynamoDB), DigitalOcean
• Data: MySQL, Redis, NoSQL stores
• Dev tools: GitHub, CI/CD, Docker
• AI & Automation: LLM APIs, vector databases, agentic workflow tools, n8n, Claude Code, Cursor

Who We Are Looking For

We know no one ticks every box, but proven experience in leading engineering teams and building and scaling real‑world products is essential.

• Experience: 5‑10+ years of professional software engineering, with a track record of building and scaling real‑world products.
• Strong leadership skills: Guiding teams and setting technical direction.
• An ownership mindset: You thrive in startup environments, enjoy solving real problems, and learn quickly.
• Proven impact: You’ve built and scaled products, led projects that made a difference, contributed to open‑source, or delivered results that truly moved the needle.

Why you’ll love it here

• Impact from day one: Your work goes live quickly and matters immediately.
• End‑to‑end ownership: You own the roadmap and technical direction, not just execution.
• Big challenges, close‑knit team: Complex, national‑scale connectivity challenges that stretch you and help you grow fast.
• Freedom to innovate: We are privately funded and profitable. No VC noise, just product signal.
• Growth and mentorship: A genuine path to senior leadership, working closely with the founders.

“We see our team like a world‑class orchestra; each person a virtuoso in their craft, together creating impact greater than the sum of our parts.”

Join us today! If you’re looking for the autonomy of a founder with the stability of a profitable business, come and build it with us. If you are tired of red tape and want to ship code that impacts millions of people, send us your CV. Let’s build the future of connectivity together.

BroadbandUK is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.