At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of an AI SRE agent that transforms alerts into actionable insights.
- Company: Join Tracer, a pioneering startup revolutionising AI for production engineering.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, 30 days leave, and health insurance.
- Other info: Enjoy team dinners, offsites, and a dynamic work culture.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI innovation and make a real impact in tech.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software engineering with strong backend and systems experience.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 130000 £ per year.
About Us
Tracer is an early-stage, venture-backed startup building the open source AI SRE agent for production engineering. We are backed by experienced operators and investors who believe AI for production systems will be one of the defining enterprise software categories of the next decade. Our team is small, senior, and highly execution-focused.
About the Role
Tracer is building an open source AI SRE agent that automatically investigates production incidents across the entire production stack. We are hiring a Lead AI Software Engineer in London to own the core architecture and ship an agent that produces grounded RCAs and fix suggestions across production infrastructure. Humans stay in control of production decisions, the agent does the heavy lifting. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role at the center of the product.
Tech Stack
- Python + LangGraph (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)
What You’ll Do
You will own the core systems that turn an alert into a defensible investigation and RCA. In practice, you will:
- 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
What We’re 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 & Benefits
Total Compensation Range: £70,000 – £130,000+ (salary and equity value)
We Structure Compensation As Follows
- Competitive base salary
- Meaningful equity ownership with real upside
- Final package depends on experience, impact, and seniority
What’s Included
- Salary + equity (equity typically ~0.3% – 2%+)
- 30 days annual leave
- Employee health insurance
- Visa sponsorship
- Weekly team dinners and socials
- Regular team offsites and trips (our most recent was Kenya)
- The satisfaction of building a world-class AI-powered product with an exceptional team
Application Requirements
We are intentionally selective. Please answer all of the following in your application. Applications that do not include these will not be reviewed.
- Why do you consider yourself an exceptional engineer? (Be specific, we are interested in evidence, not adjectives.)
- Why Tracer? What about this problem, product, or moment resonates with you?
- Links we should see: GitHub, Portfolio, blog posts, talks, or anything else that shows how you think and build
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
Lead AI Software Engineer in London employer: Tracer
Contact Detail:
Tracer Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead AI Software Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A personal connection can often get your foot in the door faster than a CV.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repo showcasing your projects, especially those relevant to AI and software engineering. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to production systems. We want to see how you think and solve problems, so be ready to demonstrate your expertise!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Tracer.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead AI Software Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Engineering Skills: When you’re telling us why you’re an exceptional engineer, be specific! Share examples of projects you've worked on, challenges you've overcome, and the impact your work has had. We want to see the real you in action!
Connect with Our Mission: In your application, let us know why Tracer excites you. What about our open source AI SRE agent resonates with you? Show us that you understand the problem we’re solving and how you can contribute to our vision.
Share Your Work: Don’t forget to include links to your GitHub, portfolio, or any other relevant work. We love seeing how you think and build, so make sure to showcase your best stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tracer
✨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 in past projects. This shows you’re not just a fit for the role but also genuinely interested in their tech.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've tackled complex problems, particularly in production environments. Highlight your approach to root cause analysis and how you’ve implemented solutions that improved system reliability or performance.
✨Demonstrate High Ownership
Tracer values high ownership, so be prepared to share instances where you took charge of a project or initiative. Discuss how you prioritised tasks, made decisions, and drove results, showcasing your ability to build what matters.
✨Engage with Their Mission
Research Tracer’s mission and the significance of AI in production systems. Be ready to articulate why this resonates with you and how your background aligns with their goals. This will show your enthusiasm and commitment to contributing to their vision.