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- Tasks: Lead engineering efforts and drive innovation in a high-impact role.
- Company: Join Smarkets, a tech company revolutionising the betting industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, stock options, health insurance, and flexible working.
- Why this job: Shape the future of prediction markets with cutting-edge technology and a collaborative culture.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software development with strong leadership and technical skills.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Smarkets runs one of the world’s most sophisticated prediction markets, handling over £29 billion in volume since 2010 and engaging 200,000+ traders globally. We’re a technology company that revolutionises betting - from sports to political markets, delivering the sharpest prices and the fairest odds.
Our stack is designed for scale, reliability, and speed: Linux, Kafka, Postgres, Kubernetes, with Python 3, C++17, and React powering our platform. We build infrastructure that institutions trust while keeping trading accessible to everyone. Our edge? We’ve thrived through every market cycle, competitor, and industry revolution.
At the heart of our success are our people. We create a high-performance environment where exceptional talent can thrive, blending deep business experience with a commercial mindset to drive strategic growth.
If you’re ready to help shape the future of prediction markets with cutting-edge technology and a customer-first philosophy, Smarkets is where you belong.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced Staff Engineer to lead our engineering efforts in a senior individual contributor role in our business, reporting directly to the VP of Engineering. You’ll be the most senior technical IC in the company and pivotal in shaping our tech stack and driving innovation across teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as a senior technical leader, providing thought leadership and hands-on support for high-impact projects and driving the engineering roadmap.
- Partner with the VP of Engineering to consolidate tech stack and streamline development processes.
- Collaborate with frontend and backend teams to design scalable, reliable microservices architecture using Rust, Python, and Typescript.
- Optimize service latency and performance across PostgreSQL, Redis, and Kafka-driven architectures.
- Support implementation of CI/CD, monitoring, and alerting solutions to ensure system health and performance.
- Drive best practices in engineering and contribute to a culture of collaboration, learning, and innovation.
- Influence and support the development of a best-in-class engineering culture.
- Identify opportunities for innovation and optimization to drive business value and maintain a competitive edge.
About You:
- 8+ years in software development, 2+ years as a Staff Engineer, 4+ years extensive experience in designing scalable and reliable architecture for consumer systems technologies.
- Proven ability to set technical direction and standards.
- Expertise across Backend, Frontend, DevOps, Data, and Mobile Engineering.
- Strong experience with AWS, scalable solutions, and infrastructure as code tools like Terraform.
- Proficiency in Python, C++, Rust, Javascript, Typescript, Node.js, and familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, Redis, Elasticsearch.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and orchestration.
- Expert problem-solving skills and bias towards action.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Passionate about delivering high-quality products and leading technical challenges with enthusiasm.
Technologies We Use:
- Languages: Python, Rust, C++, Erlang, JavaScript, TypeScript
- Frontend: React
- Cloud: AWS, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes
- Databases: PostgreSQL, S3, Redshift, Redis, ElasticSearch, GraphQL
- Messaging: Kafka, RabbitMQ
- CI/CD & DevOps: GitLab, Jenkins, Ansible
- Monitoring: Sentry, Grafana, Prometheus
Our Values
Our values are at the heart of everything we do - guiding how we work, collaborate, and innovate. They reflect what we expect of ourselves and each other to deliver the best results, while fostering a positive, high-performing environment:
- Push to Win: We set ambitious goals and relentlessly pursue them, always striving for excellence.
- Make Others Better: We lift each other up, share knowledge, and celebrate team success over individual achievement.
- Give a Shit: We care deeply about our work, our users, and the impact we make.
- Be a Pro: We take ownership, act with integrity, and consistently deliver to a high standard.
- Bring the Energy: We bring positivity, curiosity, and enthusiasm to everything we do, inspiring those around us.
Culture Fit: These values define how we succeed as a team. If this isn’t you, this may not be the right place. We hire people who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and ambitious environment.
Perks & Benefits
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, alongside a dynamic, collaborative environment where your work truly makes an impact and your voice is heard. Our team is diverse, driven, and ambitious - united by a strong work ethic and a hunger to innovate and win.
Our benefits are designed around Health, Wealth, and Development, supporting you both professionally and personally. These include:
- Stock Options: Vest over 4 years - your success is our success.
- Pension Scheme: Competitive plan via Aviva, with up to 6% matched contributions if you opt in.
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
- Enhanced Parental Leave: Enhanced maternity and paternity leave to support you through life’s most important moments.
- Stay Fuelled: Enjoy fresh, chef-made breakfast and lunch every day, plus a constant supply of fruit, snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks — because great work starts with great food.
- Cycle-to-Work Scheme: Support for sustainable commuting and staying active.
- Learning & Development: £1,000 annual education budget for courses, conferences, books, or training.
- Holiday: 25 days paid leave + bank holidays, with the option to carry over 5 days.
- Flexible Working: Hybrid model with 3 days in the office and 2 days from home to fit your lifestyle.
- Global Working: Work from anywhere in the world for up to 20 days a year.
- Team Energy: Regular socials, hackathons, and events — because collaboration and fun go hand-in-hand.
What happens next
We aim to have a simple and speedy hiring process and we want to make sure that we are right for you as much as the other way around.
- CV application review - We will review it as quickly as possible
- Let’s chat - Quick chat with our team about your experience and the role
- Hiring Manager chat - Meet your potential Line Manager
- Technical Interview - System Design Fullstack Interview
- Technical Interview - System Design Infrastructure & Tooling Interview
- In Office Interview - Lunch with other colleagues in the team and Leadership chats
Staff Engineer in London employer: Smarkets
Contact Detail:
Smarkets Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Smarkets on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and system design knowledge. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to practice. We want to see your problem-solving skills in action!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for technology and innovation during interviews. Share examples of projects you've worked on that align with our tech stack. We love hearing about how you’ve tackled challenges and driven results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to 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 joining our team at Smarkets.
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Staff Engineer role. Highlight your experience with the technologies we use, like Python, Rust, and Kubernetes, and showcase any relevant projects that demonstrate your skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about prediction markets and how your background aligns with our values. Show us your enthusiasm for the role and the impact you want to make.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, don’t just list your skills—give examples of how you've tackled challenges in past roles. We love seeing how you approach problems and drive innovation, so share those stories!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands quickly. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Smarkets
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Python, Rust, and Kubernetes. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools and how you've used them to solve real-world problems.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Staff Engineer, you'll be expected to lead projects and influence teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led initiatives in the past, focusing on collaboration and driving innovation.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect technical interviews that may include system design and architecture questions. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and be ready to explain your thought process clearly and confidently.
✨Embrace the Company Culture
Smarkets values collaboration, ambition, and a customer-first philosophy. Think about how your personal values align with theirs and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their high-performance environment.
