Founding Engineer

Founding Engineer

Slough Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Build a groundbreaking LLM platform that powers the future of AI.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing startup shaping the next generation of AI technology.
  • Benefits: Generous compensation package with equity and opportunities for growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by working directly with founders on innovative projects.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in backend services, preferably with Golang, and a passion for learning.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

Our client is building the LLM platform that will power tomorrow's AI-first companies. A single platform that allows any LLM user to integrate, scale, secure and optimize their LLM inference across 200+ providers in a few clicks. A highly scalable, reliable and secure infrastructure that exposes simple, OpenAI-compatible APIs, that every product or tool can use. The API allows access to any of the LLM providers, taking care of API compatibility while adding telemetry, analytics, load balancing, MCP integrations, prompt management, data loss protection and much more out of the box.

This is an opportunity to build a novel infrastructure product that will be the backbone for the best AI products, and power the next AI coding assistants, agent orchestration systems or any other AI-based solution. Work directly with the founders to influence the company's direction and make a tangible impact. For those looking to build their own startup someday or thrive in the dynamic environment of a fast-growing company, this is the ideal place to accelerate impact and growth. A generous TC package with significant equity is offered.

The team runs a pragmatic micro-service architecture:

  • Kubernetes
  • Core LLM gateway in Go
  • Auxiliary and ML/AI services in Python
  • Different SQL DBs
  • Distributed caches

This list is expected to evolve. Most probably, the successful candidate will be the one redefining and building it.

They are looking for:

  • 5+ years of experience building backend services using a compiled language (preferably Golang)
  • Ability to discuss best practices in the language and frameworks used before
  • Understanding of concurrency and prior experience using it
  • Experience with different types of caches and databases and knowledge of how to choose and use them correctly
  • Ability to design both scalable and pragmatic architectures, depending on the product's stage and actual needs
  • Understanding of tradeoffs between quality, speed and completeness, and knowledge that building a minimal product is not the same as building a broken one
  • Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies independently and eagerness to do so again

Founding Engineer employer: Squirrel

Join a pioneering team at the forefront of AI technology, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape the future of LLM infrastructure. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and personal growth, allowing you to work closely with founders and make a significant impact on the company's trajectory. With a competitive compensation package that includes substantial equity, this role is perfect for those eager to thrive in a fast-paced environment and build their own entrepreneurial journey.
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Contact Detail:

Squirrel Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer

✨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 or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to backend services and micro-service architecture. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your expertise in Golang and other relevant technologies.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past experiences with concurrency, databases, and scalable architectures. Confidence is key!

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals like you. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people directly involved in the hiring process.

We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer

Backend Development
Golang
Micro-service Architecture
Kubernetes
Python
SQL Databases
Distributed Caches
Concurrency
Scalable Architecture Design
Pragmatic Architecture Design
Best Practices in Software Development
Tradeoff Analysis
Independent Learning of New Technologies
Eagerness to Learn

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and backend development shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about building innovative infrastructure products and how you can contribute to our mission.

Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in backend services, especially with Golang. We love seeing specific examples of how you've tackled challenges and built scalable architectures, so don’t hold back on the details!

Be Clear and Concise: While we appreciate creativity, clarity is key! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points if it helps to make your skills and experiences stand out more clearly.

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 join our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Squirrel

✨Know Your Tech Stack

Make sure you’re well-versed in the technical stack mentioned in the job description. Brush up on Kubernetes, Go, and Python, and be ready to discuss your experience with them. Highlight any projects where you've used these technologies to show you can hit the ground running.

✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles, especially around building scalable architectures or optimising backend services. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and demonstrate how you tackled those issues effectively.

✨Understand the Company’s Vision

Research the company’s mission and the impact of their LLM platform. Be ready to share your thoughts on how you can contribute to their goals and what excites you about working on AI-first products. This shows you’re not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in being part of their journey.

✨Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the company. Inquire about their approach to balancing quality and speed in product development or how they envision the evolution of their tech stack. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.

Founding Engineer
Squirrel
Location: Slough

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