At a Glance
- Tasks: Tackle complex technical challenges and enhance system scalability and performance.
- Company: Fast-paced fintech scaleup backed by top-tier VCs.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, and opportunities for real responsibility.
- Other info: Autonomous work culture with a focus on flexibility and growth.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact while working with intelligent, high-calibre teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in building scalable systems and strong debugging skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
As a Staff Software Engineer, you will take on the hardest technical problems across Performativ’s platform and turn complexity into systems that scale. You will move to where things break, slow down, or do not scale, and fix them. You will also help evolve how we build by pushing pragmatic use of AI and agent-based tooling in ways that increase speed without losing control.
What You’ll Do
- Take on the hardest technical problems across the platform and drive them to resolution.
- Move across teams and systems to improve scalability, performance, and reliability.
- Design and evolve distributed systems operating at million-client scale.
- Find weak points early and fix them before they turn into incidents.
- Write production-grade code in the parts of the system that matter most.
- Turn unclear situations into concrete solutions that ship.
- Introduce better ways of working, including pragmatic use of agent-assisted workflows where they add real leverage.
- Challenge technical decisions and push for simpler, more robust solutions.
- Raise the bar for engineering quality through your actions, not process.
- Help teams move faster by removing friction and unnecessary complexity.
What We’re Looking For
- You’ve built systems that run in production at scale and understand what breaks.
- You have strong intuition for distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and engineering tradeoffs.
- Experience in fintech, wealth management, or other regulated environments is a plus, not a requirement.
- You do not need everything defined upfront and can operate in ambiguity while still delivering.
- You are hands-on and comfortable writing code in critical paths.
- You’ve influenced technical direction across teams through credibility, not authority.
- You are strong at debugging and getting to root causes quickly.
- You focus on what works, not what looks good on paper.
- You use AI and agent-based tools to move faster, while staying accountable for the outcome.
- You communicate clearly and do not hide behind jargon.
- You take ownership and finish what you start.
What We Can Offer You
- Impact: Work on the problems that define whether we scale or not.
- Environment: Join a fast-moving fintech scaleup backed by top-tier VCs.
- Team: Work with high-caliber people with extensive building experience.
- Growth: Take on real responsibility with room to expand your scope.
- Compensation: Competitive salary and equity.
Performativ is building the infrastructure that investment advisors and financial institutions rely on. Working at Performativ means joining a fast-paced tech scaleup with intelligent people who are passionate about what they build. We are scaling fast, expectations are high, and the opportunity to make a real impact is immediate. We are funded by some of the leading VC funds in the world and are on a mission to establish ourselves as a European market leader in record time. You can read more about our product at performativ.com. At Performativ, we are builders first. We care about people who take ownership, move fast, and do things properly. You will be trusted from day one to make your mark, drive your vision forward, and help solve the problems that matter most. Autonomous work is embedded in our culture, and we are committed to giving you the tools and support you need while recognizing the importance of flexibility.
Staff Engineer employer: Performativ
Performativ is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, perfect for those passionate about fintech and AI. With a focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to tackle challenging technical problems while working alongside talented professionals in a fast-paced environment. Located in the UK, we offer competitive benefits and a collaborative atmosphere that encourages creativity and excellence, making it a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer
✨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 Performativ 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 Performativ.
✨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 Performativ.
✨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 Performativ 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
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 Performativ.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Performativ 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 Performativ
✨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 Performativ 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.