At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the tech vision and architect innovative solutions for a game-changing car leasing platform.
- Company: Join Pike + Bambridge, revolutionising car buying with a personal touch.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private healthcare, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that values honesty, excellence, and continuous growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology in a dynamic startup environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in software architecture and full-stack development is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
At Pike + Bambridge, we're on a mission to change the way people buy cars. We offer a personalised, tailored service for busy professionals who are tired of biased advice or bewildering online portals that make car buying even more of a hassle. We believe in building long-term relationships, not one-off transactions. That's why over 70% of our clients have leased two or more vehicles from us. Since we were founded, we've supported over 5,000 professionals across the UK and become a trusted partner for both individuals and businesses looking for a better way to lease vehicles.
As our first senior technical hire, you will be the primary architect of our technology going forward. This isn't just a coding role; you will be a strategic partner to the CEO, bridging the gap between high-level concepts and shippable products. You'll be responsible for documenting workflows, architecting our core engine from the ground up, and evolving our current AI-driven systems into a world-class technical stack.
We've already built some incredible AI-powered tools that streamline our work, but we also have legacy systems that need a technical lead to modernise them. We're ideally looking for someone who'll thrive in the rare opportunity to set the technical culture and standard for everything we build next.
Some qualifications you may have:
- Foundational Education: A background in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent "in-the-trenches" experience.
- Architectural Instincts: Experience building scalable, high-performance systems and a deep understanding of design patterns.
- Full-Stack Fluency: A strong grasp of front-end tech, database management, and the ability to choose the "right tool for the job."
- Backend & Infra: Node.JS, Python, FastAPI, REST APIs, GraphQL, Vercel, AWS, CI/CD, PostHog.
- Frontend: React, Next.JS, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Shadcn/ui, Storybook, PlateJS, SlateJS.
- AI/LLM Expertise: Hands-on experience working with AI tools and APIs to automate workflows or enhance product capabilities eg Claude API, OpenAI API, LangGraph, LangSmith, RAG, Prompt Engineering, Agentic AI (Certifications).
- The Startup Mindset: You are pragmatic. You understand the value of testing and process, but you don't let over-abstraction get in the way of shipping and testing ideas.
Our culture
At P+B, our culture defines how we work, how we make decisions, and how we treat the people around us. This is represented in our 4 core values:
- "Do the right thing" enables our people to demonstrate honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour in all actions and decisions.
- "Strive for excellence" pursuing the highest quality service, product and performance, and encouraging innovation, creativity and a forward-thinking mindset.
- "Embrace change, seek growth" promoting teamwork, open communication, and cooperation across P+B encouraging people to take initiative and make decisions that drive the business forward.
- "Own it" taking responsibility and accountability for one's actions, ensuring the achievement of goals and consideration for the impact that has on clients, colleagues and all other stakeholders.
Put simply, we believe better people build a better P+B. If you care about doing meaningful work and constantly improving, you will feel at home here.
You'll love this role if:
- You are a "Product-Minded" Builder: You enjoy the "Why" and the "What" as much as the "How."
- You thrive on Ownership: You want to be the person who shapes the tech stack and influences the direction of our internal product suite.
- You are AI-Native: You don't just follow AI trends; you integrate them to build smarter, leaner, and more effectively.
- You balance Pragmatism with Excellence: You know when to build a quick prototype and when to engineer a high-performance, fault-tolerant system.
- You're a Collaborative Solver: You enjoy deep-focus solo work but are at your best brainstorming complex challenges with a tight-knit team.
Some of our employee benefits include:
- Continuous development and coaching
- Private healthcare
- Competitive salary
- Access to the P+B Club and optional EV through Salary Sacrifice
- Hybrid or remote working (we'll bring you to Edinburgh for high-energy workshops, strategy sessions and team nights out)
Lead Software Engineer in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Pike + Bambridge | Vehicle Leasing
At Pike + Bambridge, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to take ownership of their projects and drive meaningful change in the automotive leasing industry. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will not only architect cutting-edge technology but also enjoy continuous development opportunities, private healthcare, and the flexibility of hybrid or remote working arrangements, all while being part of a supportive team that values excellence and personal growth. Join us in Edinburgh, where your contributions will directly impact our mission to revolutionise car buying for busy professionals.
Contact Details:
Pike + Bambridge | Vehicle Leasing Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨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 showcasing your projects, especially those that highlight your experience with AI tools and full-stack development. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to architecture and system design. Be ready to discuss how you would modernise legacy systems and implement new tech stacks.
✨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 P+B team and our mission to revolutionise car buying.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with scalable systems and AI tools, as these are key to what we're looking for at Pike + Bambridge.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate how you've used them in real projects. We want to see your architectural instincts and full-stack fluency in action, so share specific examples that showcase your expertise.
Emphasise Your Startup Mindset:We love candidates who are pragmatic and understand the balance between testing ideas and shipping products. Share experiences where you’ve had to make quick decisions or adapt to changes in a fast-paced environment.
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’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape our tech stack!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pike + Bambridge | Vehicle Leasing
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, take some time to really get to know Pike + Bambridge's culture and values. They emphasise honesty, excellence, and growth, so think about how your own values align with theirs. Be ready to share examples of how you've demonstrated these qualities in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your architectural instincts and full-stack fluency. Prepare to discuss specific projects where you've built scalable systems or worked with technologies like Node.JS, Python, or React. Bring along any relevant documentation or code samples that showcase your skills.
✨Emphasise Your AI Experience
Given the focus on AI-driven systems at Pike + Bambridge, be sure to highlight your hands-on experience with AI tools and APIs. Discuss how you've integrated AI into your previous projects and the impact it had. This will show that you're not just familiar with the technology but can leverage it effectively.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Since this role involves being a strategic partner to the CEO, be prepared to discuss high-level concepts and how you would approach bridging the gap between ideas and shippable products. Think about how you can contribute to setting the technical culture and standards at Pike + Bambridge, and be ready to share your vision.
