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- Tasks: Lead the design and development of an AI-driven security platform.
- Company: Join a mission-driven team focused on cybersecurity and AI innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, hybrid work, and a generous equipment budget.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building systems that protect against digital threats.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software engineering with expertise in Python, Go, or JavaScript.
- Other info: Collaborate with elite engineers and shape the future of secure technology.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 95000 £ per year.
Location: Belfast (1 day a week)
Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Industry: Security
Salary: £80,000 - £95,000
Level: Lead | Hands-on | Technical Mentor
Lead Engineering on a Mission-Driven, AI-Powered Security Platform
Are you a Staff Engineer who thrives on building powerful, AI-driven platforms from scratch? Do you want to work on technically ambitious challenges that have real-world consequences? ViVA have partnered with a client who is looking for a hands-on technical leader to join an elite product-engineering team working at the intersection of cybersecurity, intelligence, and AI.
This is your opportunity to define the core architecture of a greenfield platform, shape product vision alongside executives, and mentor top-tier engineers. If you love building fast, mentoring others, and obsessing over system performance, keep reading.
Why This Role?
- High Impact: You’ll be building foundational infrastructure that helps global enterprises manage and mitigate human-driven digital threats.
- Greenfield Opportunity: Work on a brand-new platform and set the tone for architecture, standards, and scalability.
- Technical Challenge: Expect high-scale, high-performance, secure systems involving real-time messaging, distributed data, and AI-enhanced workflows.
- Elite Peers: Collaborate directly with a team of seasoned engineers, former founders, and global security experts.
- Work-Life Harmony: Belfast-based team, very flexible hybrid setup, Mac-first tooling, and thoughtful remote culture.
What You’ll Do
- Design and build features end-to-end, from database to front-end.
- Define and evolve a microservice-oriented architecture.
- Drive system performance improvements and reduce latency at scale.
- Lead best practices across testing, code quality, and secure development.
- Collaborate on product roadmap with engineering and executive leadership.
- Mentor other engineers and set technical direction for the team.
Key Skills We Value:
- Deep experience in at least two of: Python, Go, Rust, JavaScript (Node/React).
- Expert with cloud-native architectures (GCP ideally or AWS/Azure).
- Advanced database design (PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB).
- Experience with container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Real-time systems (gRPC, WebSockets, message queues like RabbitMQ or SQS).
- DevOps & IaC (Terraform, CloudFormation, Helm).
- Front-end fluency (React, Next.js, state management).
Experience
- 8+ years of experience delivering production software at scale.
- Experience in startup or hypergrowth environments.
- Technical blog posts or open-source contributions a big plus.
- Strong communication and mentoring skills.
What You Get
- £80,000 - £95,000.
- Generous equipment budget (MacBook Pro, 4K monitors, noise-cancelling headphones).
- Very Flexible hours and hybrid working model.
- Excellent well-being package.
- A mission you can believe in - keeping people and businesses safe from digital threats.
Ready to shape next-gen platforms that solve real-world problems at scale? Contact Orla at orla@vivatechtalent.com or apply directly via LinkedIn – this is one you don’t want to miss.
Staff Software Engineer employer: ViVA Tech Talent
Contact Detail:
ViVA Tech Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in AI-driven security platforms. Understanding the current landscape will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the industry.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the cybersecurity and AI fields. Attend relevant meetups or webinars to connect with potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the company culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your hands-on experience with microservice-oriented architectures and cloud-native technologies. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled performance challenges in past projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your mentoring skills by thinking of ways you've helped others grow in their technical abilities. This is crucial for a Staff Engineer role, so have anecdotes ready that highlight your leadership and coaching experiences.
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software engineering, particularly with AI-driven platforms and the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Python, Go, or cloud-native architectures.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only showcases your technical skills but also your passion for cybersecurity and mentoring. Mention how your previous experiences align with the mission of the company and the role.
Showcase Your Projects: If you have worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving real-time systems or microservice architectures, be sure to include them in your application. Highlight your role and the impact of these projects.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to system performance, database design, and cloud-native architectures. Be ready to discuss your problem-solving approach and any relevant experiences during potential interviews.
How to prepare for a job interview at ViVA Tech Talent
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with the key technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Python, Go, and cloud-native architectures. Highlight specific projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Staff Engineer, you'll be expected to mentor others and lead technical direction. Share examples of how you've guided teams in the past, focusing on your approach to mentoring and fostering collaboration.
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Expect to tackle questions related to system architecture and performance optimisation. Brush up on microservice-oriented architecture and be ready to discuss how you would design scalable systems that handle real-time data.
✨Express Your Passion for Cybersecurity
Since this role is focused on building an AI-driven security platform, convey your enthusiasm for cybersecurity. Discuss any relevant experiences or projects that demonstrate your commitment to keeping digital environments safe.
