At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build cutting-edge AI systems that reshape the job market.
- Company: Join The Stepstone Group, a global leader in fair hiring practices.
- Benefits: Enjoy 29 days holiday, private healthcare, and a hybrid working model.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by integrating AI into scalable products.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering skills in Python and cloud platforms like AWS.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
At The Stepstone Group, we have a simple yet very important mission: The right job for everyone. Using our data, platform, and technology, we create opportunities for jobseekers and companies around the world to find a perfect match in a fair and equitable way. With over 20 brands across 30+ countries, we strive for fair and unbiased hiring. Join our team of 3,000+ employees and be part of reshaping the labour market and becoming the world’s leading job platform.
We are recruiting for a Staff Software Engineer (AI) to help design, build and evolve production-grade agentic AI systems. This is a strategic, hands-on engineering leadership role focused on integrating Large Language Models into scalable, secure, reliable and observable architectures. This is an individual contributor leadership role with no direct line management responsibility.
You will help move our agentic AI capabilities beyond experimentation and into dependable products that operate safely and effectively at scale across our global marketplace. Working closely with software engineers, machine learning engineers, data scientists, product managers, analysts and technical leaders, you will shape how we build, test, deploy, monitor and govern AI-powered systems. Success in this role will depend as much on influence and communication as on technical depth. You will need to create alignment across teams, explain complex concepts clearly, and help others make confident, pragmatic decisions.
Your responsibilities:
- Design, architect and deliver agentic, LLM-powered systems in AWS, ensuring production readiness, scalability, reliability and security.
- Provide technical leadership to evolve AI solutions from experimentation into robust, observable and maintainable products.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, ML and data teams to align technical decisions with user needs, business priorities and long-term platform strategy.
- Define and drive engineering standards, reusable patterns, tools and best practices for building responsible, consistent and scalable AI systems.
- Lead large-scale implementation and deployment, ensuring excellence across testing, monitoring, evaluation, guardrails and operational support, while clearly communicating architectural decisions and mentoring engineers to raise overall engineering quality.
Qualifications:
- Strong Staff-level software engineering background with expertise in Python and at least one of Java, TypeScript or .NET, and a proven track record delivering production-grade systems.
- Experience designing, building and operating distributed systems on AWS (or similar cloud platforms), including secure development, data protection, compliance and enterprise architecture principles.
- Hands-on experience integrating LLMs into production, including use of APIs (e.g. OpenAI, Bedrock), prompt orchestration, tool usage and interaction patterns.
- Expertise in AI system design including state management, memory strategies, evaluation approaches, guardrails, observability and performance optimisation for LLM-powered systems.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with experience mentoring engineers and driving high standards across teams while engaging both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Your benefits:
- 29 days holiday allowance + bank holidays
- Private medical and dental healthcare
- Matching pension contribution of 4 or 5% (after 3 years of service up to 10%)
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Life Assurance Cover
- Cycle to work scheme
- Hybrid working model (3 days working from the office)
- Volunteering days
- Bring your dog to the office on Mondays and Fridays!
Our commitment:
Equal opportunities are important to us. We believe that diversity and inclusion at The Stepstone Group are critical to our success as a global company, so we want to recruit, develop, and keep the best talent. We encourage applications from everyone, regardless of background, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, belief, age, family or parental status, and any other characteristic. As a global business we further our DEI and sustainability progress by working with national and international bodies and are proud to have been recognised for our work - both locally and internationally.
Staff Software Engineer in London employer: StepStone Group
At The Stepstone Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values work-life balance and employee well-being. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a supportive work culture where innovation thrives, alongside generous benefits such as 29 days of holiday, private healthcare, and a hybrid working model. Join us in our mission to reshape the labour market while enjoying opportunities for personal and professional growth in a collaborative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repo showcasing your projects, especially those involving AI and LLMs. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios. Don’t forget to brush up on your communication skills; explaining complex ideas clearly is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll be part of a community that values diversity and innovation.
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Software Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Staff Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with AI systems, Python, and cloud platforms like AWS. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!
Showcase Your Projects:Include specific examples of projects where you've integrated LLMs or built scalable systems. We love seeing real-world applications of your skills, so don’t hold back on the details!
Communicate Clearly:Since this role involves a lot of collaboration, make sure your application reflects your communication skills. Use clear language to explain complex concepts and demonstrate how you’ve influenced teams in the past.
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 the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at StepStone Group
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Python and any other languages like Java, TypeScript, or .NET. Brush up on your experience with AWS and LLMs, as you'll need to demonstrate your ability to design and build scalable systems.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Even though this role doesn’t involve direct management, it’s crucial to highlight your ability to influence and mentor others. Prepare examples of how you've led projects or guided teams in the past, focusing on communication and collaboration across different functions.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect in-depth technical questions about AI system design, distributed systems, and security principles. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with integrating LLMs and how you’ve tackled challenges in previous projects. Practice explaining complex concepts in a clear and concise manner.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with The Stepstone Group's mission and values, particularly around diversity and inclusion. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their commitment to fair and unbiased hiring.
