At a Glance
- Tasks: Build AI-powered cybersecurity products from scratch and tackle real engineering challenges.
- Company: Join a venture-backed AI startup with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and direct access to founders.
- Other info: Be one of the first engineering hires and shape the company's culture.
- Why this job: Own your projects and make a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Strong Python skills, experience in backend architecture, and a passion for hands-on engineering.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Some engineers enjoy writing code. Others can't stop building.
If you've been programming since you were a teenager, spend your evenings experimenting with new technology, and get genuine satisfaction from shipping products, this role was written for you.
Referment is partnering with a venture‑backed AI startup looking for one exceptional engineer to help build the next generation of AI‑powered cybersecurity products.
You'll work directly with the founders and own features from customer problem through to production.
You'll enjoy this role if you...
- Love building more than talking about building
- Prefer shipping software over writing documentation
- Can move between backend, frontend and infrastructure without thinking twice
- Get excited by hard engineering challenges like building compilers, DSLs, or internal developer tools
- Use AI every day, but don't rely on it to think for you
- Enjoy solving messy customer problems instead of perfectly defined tickets
- What You'll Be Building
- Rather than owning a small corner of a huge codebase, you'll own products end-to-end
- You'll design complex backend architecture and systems.
- Ship React interfaces.
- Build internal developer tools and agentic consoles.
- Improve databases and handle systems programming.
- Debug production and deploy continuously.
- Help shape both the product and the engineering culture.
What We're Looking For
- Deep technical focus on hard engineering and complex backend architecture
- Strong Python backend fundamentals with high-level application of tools like Fast API, Django, or Flask
- Senior-level technical sophistication and the ability to move beyond routine maintenance tasks
- Verifiable track record of technical contributions and honest project claims (e. g. active Git Hub or OSS presence)
- React experience or willingness to work across the frontend
- Startup mentality with genuine product ownership
- Around 3-6 years' experience with a focus on engineering depth
Extra points for experience with
- Founding or leadership roles (e. g. Co-Founder or CTO)
- Building internal developer tools, DSLs, or compilers
- Multi-language proficiency (e. g. Go, C, or Rust)
- Cybersecurity
- Workflow orchestration (Prefect, Airflow)
- High-growth Saa S
This probably isn't for you if...
- Your focus is primarily on product management or innovation titles rather than hands‑on engineering
- You consider routine infrastructure maintenance to be your core focus area
- You need detailed specs before starting work
- You only enjoy one part of the stack
- You avoid production responsibility
- You're looking for a comfortable corporate engineering role
- You're currently splitting your attention with another startup
Why join?
- Competitive salary
- Meaningful equity
- One of the first engineering hires
- Direct access to the founders
- Huge ownership from day one
- Build products that customers actually use
- #Referment
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Founding Engineer (AI Startup) (E438C4D) employer: Referment
Join a leading Tier 1/2 contractor renowned for its commitment to delivering complex, large-scale construction projects across the South West and London. With a strong focus on employee development, you will benefit from a dynamic work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration, alongside opportunities for career progression in a site-based leadership role. This is your chance to take ownership of high-stakes infrastructure projects while working within a supportive environment that values safety, quality, and commercial success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer (AI Startup) (E438C4D)
✨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 Referment 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 Referment.
✨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 Referment.
✨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 Referment 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 Founding Engineer (AI Startup) (E438C4D)
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 Referment.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Referment 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 Referment
✨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 Referment 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.
