Founding Product Engineer

Founding Product Engineer

Full-Time 100000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Plan:it

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Own product outcomes, ship features quickly, and interact with enterprise customers.
  • Company: Join a pioneering tech startup revolutionising engineering workforce planning.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary up to £120k plus equity, flexible hybrid work, and autonomy.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with direct customer interaction and rapid growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Be part of a founding team shaping a groundbreaking platform with real impact.
  • Qualifications: Strong TypeScript skills, product instinct, and experience in early-stage companies.

The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.

Engineering workforce planning is broken. There's never really been a solution. Spreadsheets passed between people who don't speak the same lingo. Engineering says one thing, finance hears another, the powers that be get a number that's already wrong. And now whole companies are burning six figures a month on AI tools that nobody can account for. It's chaos. We're fixing this.

We are building a platform in a new category that attributes every cost to teams, projects and outcomes in real time, covering both human and AI resources. This gives engineering leaders absolute clarity for resource allocation, scenario planning, budgeting and forecasting. We are backed by serious investors and currently serve major enterprise customers across retail, insurance, fintech and consumer. Our revenue is growing rapidly, and we are in the middle of a huge pre‑seed/seed raise. Joining now, before the raise closes, is the optimal moment for equity.

Technologies

  • Tech: TypeScript, React, Node.js, Next.js & a smidge of Python (no exp. needed)

Location: Central London (flexible hybrid)

Salary: Up to ~£120k base plus founding equity

Team & Culture

We are a founding team led by a CTO who built the entire platform in TypeScript and a CEO who sells. We just hired Founding Engineer number 1. We need Founding Engineer number 2. No PMs, no sprints, no ticket queues. Customers and engineers set the direction together and ship in days, not months. The CTO’s management style gives full autonomy from day one. You own your outcomes and are expected to figure out what needs building without waiting to be told. You’ll have direct relationships with enterprise customers – in their Slack channels, on calls, and in meetings – shaping the product from the feedback. The codebase is clean, well‑structured, and runs entirely on your laptop. No cloud vendor lock‑in. No legacy debt. Everyone gets Claude Code from day one. You need the battle wounds of building in an early‑stage company and understand the comp‑science fundamentals, but we are building a team of engineers who think of themselves as supervisors of AI, not writers of every line.

Responsibilities

  • Own product outcomes, make decisions without permission, and ship features quickly.
  • Interact directly with enterprise customers to gather feedback and shape the product.
  • Maintain a clean, well‑structured codebase and drive engineering standards.

Qualifications

  • Strong full‑stack TypeScript skills.
  • Above‑average product instinct and commercial curiosity.
  • Comfortable talking to enterprise customers.
  • Experience building in early‑stage companies and mastery of computer science fundamentals.

Founding Product Engineer employer: Plan:it

As a Founding Product Engineer at our innovative startup in Central London, you'll be part of a dynamic team that values autonomy and direct customer engagement. We offer a flexible hybrid work environment, competitive salary with equity options, and the opportunity to shape a groundbreaking platform that addresses real-world engineering challenges. Join us to not only advance your career but also to make a significant impact in a rapidly growing company backed by serious investors.

Plan:it

Contact Details:

Plan:it Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Founding Product Engineer

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can get you in the door.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repo showcasing your projects, especially those using TypeScript and React. We want to see what you can do, so make it easy for us to find your best work.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the chat! Research our company and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with our mission to fix engineering workforce planning. We love candidates who are genuinely interested in what we’re building.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who want to join us in shaping the future of engineering resource management.

We think you need these skills to ace Founding Product Engineer

TypeScript
React
Node.js
Next.js
Python
Full-Stack Development
Product Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about fixing the chaos in engineering workforce planning and how you can contribute to our mission.

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences. We’re looking for strong full-stack TypeScript skills and a knack for product instinct, so don’t be shy about showcasing those!

Be Authentic:We value authenticity, so don’t hesitate to let your personality come through in your writing. Share your journey, your battle wounds from early-stage companies, and what makes you tick as an engineer. We want to get to know the real you!

Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of getting noticed, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the quickest way for us to see your application and get the ball rolling on your potential future with us!

How to prepare for a job interview at Plan:it

Know Your Tech Stack

Make sure you’re well-versed in TypeScript, React, Node.js, and Next.js. Brush up on your Python basics too, even if it’s not a requirement. Being able to discuss how you’ve used these technologies in past projects will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Understand the Product Vision

Familiarise yourself with the chaos in engineering workforce planning and how this company aims to fix it. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to building a platform that provides clarity for resource allocation and budgeting. Show them you’re not just a coder, but someone who understands the bigger picture.

Show Your Autonomy

This role requires you to own your outcomes and make decisions without waiting for permission. Prepare examples from your previous experiences where you took initiative and drove projects forward independently. This will demonstrate that you fit into their culture of autonomy and quick shipping.

Engage with Customer Feedback

Since you’ll be interacting directly with enterprise customers, think about how you’ve gathered and implemented feedback in the past. Be ready to discuss specific instances where customer insights shaped your work. This will highlight your ability to connect with users and improve the product based on real-world needs.