At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build innovative software features that make a real impact.
- Company: Join SourceWhale, Europe's fastest-growing software company, focused on AI and automation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and private health insurance.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative team shaping the future of recruitment technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in Python and modern frontend development is a plus.
- Other info: Dynamic startup culture with excellent growth opportunities and regular social events.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid / Remote (UK-based)
Team: Engineering
Reports to: VP of Engineering
About SourceWhale
SourceWhale is a group of really smart people solving productivity problems for people-intensive industries using AI and automation. Founded in 2020, we are currently focused on automating the manual, tedious parts of sales and recruitment activities, empowering companies and their employees to get more done. The platform consolidates every stage of the industry's workflows into one sleek, integrated tool. Building alongside cutting-edge LLMs, SourceWhale is poised to be the company that puts the AI 'agent' in recruitment agencies. Voted one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work (2025), we pursue innovation, champion employee wellbeing and offer fast-paced growth in a supportive transatlantic culture.
Our engineering team is a group of thoughtful, collaborative professionals who value quality, continuous improvement, and meaningful product outcomes over outputs. As we enter our next stage of growth, we’re on the lookout for a Software Engineer who wants to make an impact on a platform used all day, every working day, by thousands of people.
The Role
You’ll join a high-performing, collaborative engineering team building a product used constantly by modern recruiting teams. We’re a startup with high standards, where engineers are trusted owners, strong collaborators, and thoughtful product contributors. You’ll work across the stack, help shape the future of our architecture, and solve real customer problems with empathy and clarity. If you enjoy breadth, autonomy, and impactful work, you’ll thrive here.
What You’ll Do
- Design, build, and maintain product features end-to-end
- Develop scalable backend services (Python) and intuitive frontend components (Svelte/jQuery).
- Own your work from design and implementation through testing & deployment.
- Contribute to a high-quality, well-structured codebase
- Write maintainable, predictable, readable code.
- Build for reliability and long‑term health.
- Collaborate closely with product, QA, and other engineers
- Ask clarifying questions early, seek feedback, and communicate with precision.
- Work with QA as partners in quality - not downstream testers.
- Bring product thinking into engineering decisions
- Understand why a feature matters and how it impacts customers – we want missionaries, not mercenaries.
- Challenge assumptions, propose ideas, and help shape product direction.
What We’re Looking For
Technical Skills
- Solid experience with Python for backend development.
- Experience with modern frontend development (Svelte and/or jQuery preferred, but not required).
- Familiarity with distributed systems, APIs, and integrations.
- Comfortable working across multiple surfaces and technologies.
- Experience with any of the following is a bonus (not required): AWS cloud services, Browser/email extensions, Third‑party API integrations, Large Language Models.
Engineering Behaviours & Mindset
We hire for mindset as much as skill. You’ll thrive if you:
- Collaborate openly and generously.
- Think like an owner, taking responsibility from definition to delivery.
- Care deeply about quality, long‑term maintainability, and thoughtful design.
- Have strong product instincts, seeking context, understanding customer impact, and challenging assumptions.
- Communicate clearly, especially in ambiguous or high‑stakes situations.
- Adapt quickly, breaking down unclear problems into actionable steps.
- Seek continuous improvement, for yourself, your code, and your team.
Experience
We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds, but the ideal profile includes:
- Experience building production features in a startup or scale‑up environment.
- Comfort working across the stack and across multiple product surfaces.
- Evidence of taking initiative, influencing teams without relying on authority, and raising issues early with constructive solutions.
Our Engineering Principles
These principles guide how we work and grow together:
- Teamwork: We collaborate openly, communicate honestly, and celebrate shared success.
- Product quality: We take pride in delivering robust, high‑impact solutions for our users.
- Peer leadership: We foster continuous learning, feedback, and accountability.
Our teams focus on sustained product outcomes, not one‑off projects. We deliver continuous value, evolve based on feedback, minimise dependencies, and operate with transparency and collective responsibility.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
- MacBook + any additional tech or software you need
- Flexible working arrangements
- Private Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Aviva
- Income Protection Insurance
- Extended mental health cover and Employee Assistance Programme
- Compassionate leave policy
- Private pension contributions (Royal London)
- Monthly company social events
- Regular in‑person hackathons
Software Engineer - UK in London employer: SourceWhale
Contact Detail:
SourceWhale Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer - UK in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with current employees at SourceWhale. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub, make sure it’s up to date. Share projects that highlight your experience with Python and any frontend work you've done. It’s a great way to demonstrate your capabilities beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by understanding SourceWhale’s products and how they impact users. Think about how your skills can contribute to their mission of automating tedious tasks in recruitment. This shows you’re not just looking for any job, but you’re genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨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 proactive and serious about joining the team at SourceWhale.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer - UK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with what we're looking for. Highlight your Python expertise and any frontend experience you have, especially with Svelte or jQuery. We want to see how you can contribute to our engineering team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to show us your personality and passion for the role. Share why you're excited about working at SourceWhale and how you can make an impact. Don't just repeat your CV; tell us a story that connects your experiences to our mission.
Showcase Your Projects: If you've worked on any relevant projects, whether personal or professional, make sure to include them! We love seeing real examples of your work, especially if they demonstrate your ability to solve problems and think like an owner. Links to GitHub or live demos are a plus!
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. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our team and ready to take that first step towards making an impact with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at SourceWhale
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in Python and any frontend technologies like Svelte or jQuery. Brush up on your knowledge of distributed systems and APIs, as these are crucial for the role. Being able to discuss your past experiences with these technologies will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
SourceWhale values teamwork and open communication, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked collaboratively in previous roles. Highlight instances where you’ve sought feedback or partnered with QA to ensure quality. This will demonstrate that you align with their engineering principles.
✨Understand the Product Impact
Before the interview, take some time to understand how the features you’ll be working on impact customers. Be ready to discuss why certain features matter and how they can improve user experience. This shows that you think like a product owner, not just a coder.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the company culture, team dynamics, and future projects. This not only shows your interest in the role but also your proactive mindset. Asking about their approach to continuous improvement can also give you a sense of how you can contribute to their goals.