Founding AI Engineer (Staff)
Founding AI Engineer (Staff)

Founding AI Engineer (Staff)

Full-Time 80000 - 125000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Build AI agents for alert investigation in production workflows and tackle engineering challenges.
  • Company: Join a pioneering tech startup focused on innovative AI solutions.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, visa sponsorship, and a dynamic work environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of AI in production systems.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years of software engineering experience with strong backend and systems knowledge.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and learning.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 125000 £ per year.

Do you get excited by tackling engineering challenges that others deem impossible? Do you want to build AI agents that investigate alerts in production workflows? Do you like working in a team with only the absolute best of the best? If your answers are yes, then you should keep reading.

Tracer is building agentic alert investigation for production data pipelines. Teams already have alerts. Tracer investigates pipeline incidents before they page your team, filtering noise, correlating evidence across your stack, and producing an evidence-based RCA for the issues that actually matter. We are hiring a Founding Lead Engineer in London to own core architecture and ship an agent that produces grounded RCAs (and fix suggestions) for a set of high-value alerts. Humans stay in control of production decisions.

Tech Stack

  • Python + Langraph (for multi-agentic alert investigation)
  • Rust (because we like systems that are fast and correct)
  • ClickHouse (high-volume event + investigation history at scale)
  • AWS + Terraform (infrastructure that builds itself)
  • Next.js + TypeScript (because front-end should be sexy too)

Key Responsibilities

  • Architect and build the core alert, investigation, root cause analysis (RCA) pipeline in Python
  • Design and implement key systems including:
  • Alert ingestion + normalization
  • Context enrichment + correlation
  • Problem framing outputs
  • Hypothesis orchestration engine
  • Investigation execution runtime
  • Investigation artifacts + reporting
  • Drive core architecture decisions and ensure the system is observable, auditable, and reliable from day one
  • Partner with founders to ship a small set of high-value alert types that work extremely well, then expand coverage deliberately
  • Build customer ready integrations across the pipeline stack
  • Educate and guide future engineers, setting a high bar for technical quality, speed, and pragmatism
  • What We Are Looking For

    • 5+ years (ideally 10+) professional software engineering experience.
    • Proven track record of shipping real products at high velocity.
    • Strong backend and distributed systems foundations, ideally with experience in data platforms and production pipeline stacks and incident/observability tooling.
    • Experience working at an early stage startup and bonus points for having joined earlier.
    • High ownership and sharp product instincts: you build what matters and cut what doesn’t.

    Compensation

    • Salary: £80,000 - £125,000
    • Equity: Determined on a case by case basis depending on skill and experience level (0.3%-1%)
    • Visa sponsorship: Yes
    • Location: London

    Recruitment Process

    • Introductory Call (15-30 mins): Call with our hiring manager to discuss your background, motivations, and learn more about Tracer
    • Role Fit Interview (45 mins): Meet with your manager or a similar level team member to review your working style, skills, and fit for the role
    • Take home & Competency Deep Dive (1 hour): Complete a practical exercise (e.g., case study, presentation, or technical problem solving) to explore the role's responsibilities and expectations
    • On site meetup (Half Day): On site interviews and team lunch at our headquarters to ask any questions and experience our office and culture firsthand
    • Offer: Final decision and offer

    Founding AI Engineer (Staff) employer: Tracer Cloud Inc

    At Tracer, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration in the heart of London. As a Founding AI Engineer, you will not only tackle challenging engineering problems alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry but also enjoy competitive compensation, equity opportunities, and a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and development. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the world of AI while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of one of the world's leading tech hubs.
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    Contact Detail:

    Tracer Cloud Inc Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Founding AI Engineer (Staff)

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its tech stack, especially Python and Rust for this role. We want you to show off your knowledge and passion for building amazing systems.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms. We recommend focusing on technical questions related to backend systems and incident tooling to really shine.

    ✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.

    We think you need these skills to ace Founding AI Engineer (Staff)

    Python
    Rust
    ClickHouse
    AWS
    Terraform
    Next.js
    TypeScript
    Backend Development
    Distributed Systems
    Data Platforms
    Incident Tooling
    Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
    System Architecture
    Observability
    Technical Leadership

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Show Your Passion for AI: When writing your application, let your excitement for tackling engineering challenges shine through. We want to see how you can contribute to building AI agents that make a real difference in production workflows.

    Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase your professional software engineering experience, especially if you've worked on backend systems or data platforms. We’re looking for someone with a proven track record, so don’t hold back on those achievements!

    Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon unless it’s necessary. Remember, we want to understand your skills and experiences without wading through fluff.

    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 during the recruitment process.

    How to prepare for a job interview at Tracer Cloud Inc

    ✨Know Your Tech Stack

    Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Python, Rust, and AWS. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools and how you've used them to solve complex problems in the past.

    ✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

    Prepare examples of engineering challenges you've tackled that others found daunting. Highlight your thought process, the steps you took, and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the kind of work Tracer is doing.

    ✨Understand the Role of RCA

    Research root cause analysis (RCA) and be prepared to discuss its importance in production workflows. Think about how you would approach building an RCA pipeline and what key factors you would consider to ensure it’s effective.

    ✨Cultural Fit Matters

    Since Tracer values a team of high performers, be ready to discuss how you contribute to a positive team dynamic. Share experiences where you’ve collaborated effectively and helped elevate your team's performance.

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