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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: As a Founding Engineer, you'll ship products from Day 1 and build end-to-end features.
- Company: Join a well-funded AI startup transforming industries like aerospace and healthcare.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, equity, and support for visa and relocation.
- Why this job: Be part of a tight-knit team with huge ambitions and real-world impact.
- Qualifications: 2+ years of engineering experience and hands-on knowledge of LLMs required.
- Other info: This is a ground floor opportunity in an exciting startup environment.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Job Description
🚀 Founding Engineer | London | AI x Real-World Impact
An early-stage (but well-funded) AI startup is on a mission to accelerate real-world innovation — think aerospace, energy, healthcare.
Backed by investors from Spotify, Reddit, Flexport, Coinbase etc., they’ve just closed a 10x oversubscribed $4.5M seed round.
Now hiring a Founding Engineer: someone who ships fast, thinks like a founder, and wants to shape how AI is used in the physical world.
🧠 You’ll need:
- 2+ years' engineering experience with a builder’s mindset
- Hands-on with LLMs — LangChain, RAG, agents, fine-tuning, etc.
- Infra knowledge (cloud, containers, relational/graph DBs)
- Bonus: startup/founder experience
🔧 You’ll be doing:
- Shipping to prod from Day 1
- Building end-to-end features
- Owning problems beyond just code — infra, hiring, customer convos
📍 Offer:
- London-based (6-day in-office vibe, visa + relocation supported)
- Up to £180k + meaningful equity
- Tight-knit team, huge ambition, ground floor opportunity
Founding Engineer employer: Understanding Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Understanding Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the AI and startup space. Attend meetups, conferences, or webinars where you can connect with people who are already in the industry. This can lead to valuable referrals and insights about the company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your hands-on experience with LLMs by contributing to open-source projects or creating your own. This not only demonstrates your technical skills but also your passion for innovation in AI, which is crucial for a Founding Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss how you've previously tackled engineering challenges beyond just coding. Be ready to share examples of how you've contributed to infrastructure decisions or engaged with customers, as this aligns with the responsibilities of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the investors backing the startup and their previous ventures. Understanding their vision and what they value can help you tailor your conversations and demonstrate that you're aligned with the company's mission and goals.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your engineering experience, especially any hands-on work with LLMs and relevant technologies. Emphasise your builder's mindset and any startup or founder experience you may have.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for AI and real-world impact. Discuss how your skills align with the company's mission and how you envision contributing to their goals from day one.
Showcase Relevant Projects: Include specific examples of projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to ship fast and solve complex problems. Highlight any end-to-end features you've built and your experience with infrastructure.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to your experience with LLMs, cloud infrastructure, and databases. Be ready to discuss your thought process and problem-solving approach in detail during interviews.
How to prepare for a job interview at Understanding Recruitment
✨Show Your Builder's Mindset
As a Founding Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to think like a founder. Be prepared to discuss past projects where you took initiative and drove results, showcasing your hands-on experience with LLMs and other technologies.
✨Understand the Company's Mission
Research the startup's mission and how they aim to impact real-world industries like aerospace and healthcare. This will help you align your answers with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their vision.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to cloud infrastructure, containers, and databases. Brush up on your knowledge of these areas and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in previous roles, especially in a fast-paced environment.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Since this role involves owning problems beyond just code, highlight your experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams. Share examples of how you've engaged with customers or contributed to hiring processes, as this will demonstrate your holistic approach to engineering.
