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- Tasks: Lead the design and development of AI systems that transform finance management.
- Company: Fast-growing AI startup focused on building trustworthy financial tools.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, hybrid work model, and a chance to shape the future.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by creating reliable AI tools for businesses.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in backend engineering with AI experience; strong communication skills.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and collaborate closely with founders.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
Location: London (Hybrid – 2-3 days/week in-office)
Compensation: Competitive salary + meaningful equity
Visa sponsorship: Not available
A fast-growing AI startup is on a mission to reinvent how companies manage their finances building AI tools that finance teams can actually trust, control, and use at scale.
Why This Role Is Special
Real Ownership: As a founding engineer, you\’ll lead the design and development of production AI systems – shaping architecture, tooling, and user experience.
Built on Solid Foundations: The platform already integrates with major accounting systems and serves thousands of users. You\\\’ll be building on something proven – not starting from scratch.
Meaningful Impact: Your work won\\\’t be an internal experiment. It\\\’ll directly affect how real businesses understand and manage their finances.
AI With Purpose: This isn\\\’t about flashy demos – it\\\’s about building intelligent tools that are safe, explainable, and reliable in production.
What You\\\’ll Be Doing
- Design & Build Production AI Systems: Architect scalable LLM-based features and infrastructure that power intelligent agents and copilots for finance teams.
- Measure What Matters: Build robust evaluation systems using curated test sets, automated checks, and CI-integrated safeguards.
- Safety & Compliance First: Implement schema validation, content filtering, authorisation controls, and circuit breakers to ensure user trust and regulatory safety.
- Optimise Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): Improve document chunking, indexing, and search pipelines – with a focus on latency, precision, and cost-efficiency.
What You Bring
- A deep interest in building with AI and LLMs in real-world environments.
- A strong backend engineering foundation (4+ years), ideally with experience in TypeScript, Python, or Kotlin.
- Hands-on experience shipping LLM applications or AI agents, using tools like LangSmith, Promptfoo, TruLens, DeepEval, or Phoenix.
- Solid understanding of prompt engineering, function calling, structured outputs, and evaluation techniques.
- Experience with RAG systems, including embeddings, vector databases, and retrieval strategies.
- A strong product mindset, clear communication skills, and comfort with the pace and ambiguity of early-stage startups.
- Bonus: Experience working with sensitive business or financial data, especially with attention to security, observability, and compliance.
You\\\’ll Thrive If You…
- Are excited by autonomy, impact, and the chance to build a product from 0 to 1
- Want to work closely with founders and have a voice in company strategy
- Prefer thoughtful, production-grade AI over quick hacks and demos
- Care about transparency, safety, and trust in AI systems
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Founding Engineer AI employer: W Talent
Contact Detail:
W Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer AI
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the AI and finance sectors on LinkedIn or at meetups. We can’t stress enough how personal connections can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your AI projects, especially those involving LLMs. We love seeing real-world applications, so make sure to highlight your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to AI systems. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the format.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate candidates who want to make a real impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer AI
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and LLMs shine through. We want to see that you’re not just skilled, but genuinely excited about building intelligent tools that make a difference in the finance world.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in backend engineering and any hands-on work with LLM applications. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission, so don’t hold back on those details!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for the role. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application 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 shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at W Talent
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AI and LLMs. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with shipping LLM applications or AI agents, and how you've tackled real-world challenges in this space.
✨Showcase Your Engineering Skills
Prepare to talk about your backend engineering experience, especially with TypeScript, Python, or Kotlin. Have examples ready that demonstrate your ability to architect scalable systems and implement safety measures.
✨Understand the Product Mindset
This role is all about building something meaningful. Be prepared to discuss how you approach product development, especially in early-stage startups. Highlight your ability to communicate clearly and work in ambiguous environments.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's vision, the team dynamics, and how they measure success. This shows your genuine interest and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
