At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build AI services, tackle complex problems, and shape architectural decisions.
- Company: Join a deep-tech AI startup with a collaborative and innovative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, hybrid work, and a dedicated learning budget.
- Other info: Small team environment with significant career growth and ownership opportunities.
- Why this job: Work on real AI challenges and see your impact from day one.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software engineering, strong Python skills, and experience with ML models.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 65000 £ per year.
Hands-on senior IC role at a deep-tech AI startup.
About the role:
Tikos is building a next-generation decision-reasoning platform that combines distributed systems with applied AI. We are a small, technically led team solving problems that genuinely lack a textbook answer, and we are seeking a Senior Software Engineer who wants to roll up their sleeves and help us crack them. This is a hands-on individual contributor role. You will write production code daily, shape how our AI services are built, and work closely with the CTO on architectural decisions. You will not be running a team or owning compliance frameworks; your focus is on engineering excellence on hard problems. If you are energised by small-team ownership, fast feedback loops, and seeing your work go from notebook to production in weeks rather than quarters, you will feel at home here.
What you’ll work on:
- Designing and building Python services that power our decision-reasoning platform, including the data pipelines, APIs, and inference layers behind it.
- Taking PyTorch-based models from research code into reliable, low-latency production services.
- Working with LLMs (Gemini, Claude and others) to build features that ship, not demos.
- System design, evaluation, retrieval, guardrails, profiling the real stuff.
- Modelling and querying complex data using relational and graph databases.
- Pairing with the CTO on architectural calls, distributed processing, latency budgets, cost trade-offs, where to spend complexity and where not to.
What we’re looking for:
We care more about how you think than the exact lines on your CV. That said, the following will set you up to do well here:
Must-have:- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a strong track record of shipping production systems in Python.
- Solid grounding in applied ML or deep learning, comfortable working with PyTorch, taking models to production, and reasoning about inference performance.
- Practical experience building and integrating with deep learning models.
- Experience designing services that handle real load, APIs, async workers, queues, and sensible data modelling.
- Comfortable in a cloud-native environment: Docker/K8, CI/CD pipelines (Git-based), and at least one major cloud (GCP preferred).
- Genuine startup temperament, pragmatic, self-directed, happy to operate without a fully-defined spec, and willing to own the bits nobody else has picked up yet.
- Go, or another statically typed language alongside Python.
- Graph database experience (Neo4j, ArangoDB, or similar).
- Exposure to security-conscious engineering practices (encryption, access control, audit logging), you will be contributing to our ISO 27001 / SOC 2 posture, but you will not be owning the framework.
- Front-end familiarity (Angular or similar) for the occasional full-stack pairing session.
- A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Maths, or a related field; or equivalent experience that demonstrates the same depth.
Our stack:
- AI / ML: PyTorch/JAX, deep learning inference, Gemini and other LLMs
- Cloud & DevOps: GCP, Docker, Git-based CI/CD
- Data: Relational and graph databases, distributed processing
- Compliance posture: ISO 27001, SOC 2, ISO 42001
Why this role is worth your time:
We are not pretending to compete with FAANG salaries, and you are probably not reading this if that is what you are after. What we offer instead is the kind of role that is genuinely hard to find:
- Real AI problems. Not wrapper-on-an-API work. You will be wrestling with reasoning systems, latency-sensitive inference, and graph-shaped data that does not fit neatly into existing frameworks.
- Equity that could matter. EMI share options in a deep-tech company at a stage where employee ownership still translates into meaningful upside.
- Small team, big surface area. You will shape architecture, tooling, and how we build, not inherit someone else’s decisions from three years ago.
- Short distance from idea to production. No three-layer approval process. If something needs building, you and the CTO can be designing it the same afternoon.
Salary: £60,000 – £65,000, based on experience
Equity: EMI share options
Pension: Company pension scheme
Private medical insurance: Available on successful completion of probation
Learning & development: Dedicated annual budget for courses, conferences, books, and certifications
Working pattern: Hybrid from our Bristol HQ
Culture: Small, collaborative, technically-led team that genuinely backs its engineers.
Senior Software Engineer (AI Platform) in Bristol employer: TIKOS®
At Tikos, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and technically-driven culture. Our small team environment allows for rapid innovation and direct impact on our cutting-edge AI platform, providing employees with unique opportunities for growth and ownership in their work. With a focus on real-world AI challenges, competitive equity options, and a commitment to professional development, we offer a rewarding experience for those looking to make a meaningful contribution in the tech industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer (AI Platform) in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Get your hands dirty with coding challenges! Before you even step into an interview, practice solving real-world problems that relate to the role. This will not only sharpen your skills but also give you concrete examples to discuss when you're chatting with the CTO.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Tikos on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the job. A personal connection can sometimes make all the difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your projects! If you've built anything cool using Python, PyTorch, or any relevant tech, make sure to showcase it. Whether it's on GitHub or your personal website, having tangible proof of your skills can really impress during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
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 being part of our team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer (AI Platform) in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and deep-tech shine through. We want to see that you’re not just ticking boxes but genuinely excited about tackling complex problems in this space.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to showcase your experience with Python and any applied ML or deep learning projects you've worked on. We care more about how you think than the exact lines on your CV, so share specific examples that demonstrate your skills.
Be Yourself:Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. We’re a small team looking for someone who fits our culture, so being genuine will help us get to know the real you.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at TIKOS®
✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Python, PyTorch, and the other technologies mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss your past experiences with these tools, especially how you've taken models from research to production. Brush up on your knowledge of cloud environments like GCP and containerisation with Docker.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Since Tikos is tackling complex problems without textbook answers, prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles. Think about how you approached these issues, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and critical thinking abilities.
✨Be Ready for Technical Discussions
Expect to engage in deep technical conversations with the CTO. Familiarise yourself with system design principles, latency budgets, and cost trade-offs. Prepare to articulate your thought process on architectural decisions and how you would approach building scalable services.
✨Emphasise Your Startup Mindset
Tikos values a pragmatic and self-directed attitude. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments, tackled undefined specs, and taken ownership of projects. Highlight your adaptability and willingness to jump into areas that need attention, as this aligns with their team culture.
