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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of an AI-driven product and enhance user experience.
- Company: Early-stage, mission-led software business with a strong market presence.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, equity opportunities, and direct access to founders.
- Other info: Fast-paced, dynamic role with significant impact on product development.
- Why this job: Join at a pivotal moment and shape the future of innovative technology.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering background and experience in startup environments.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Founding Engineer Manchester (Hybrid) AI Product / Mobile / SaaS
The Opportunity
We are working with an early-stage, mission-led software business looking to hire a Founding Engineer to play a key role in the next evolution of their product. The business already has a live platform and strong market relevance; the next phase is about rebuilding and improving the product for the AI era, with a particular focus on user experience, intelligent workflows, and mobile-first product thinking. This is a rare opportunity to join at a genuinely influential stage, working directly with the founders to help shape what gets built, how it gets built, and where the product goes next. If you are the kind of engineer who enjoys owning product problems, building in ambiguity, and turning ideas into shipped features, this is a very interesting role.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Taking a hands-on role in the evolution of the core product and mobile experience
- Building and shipping features using modern AI tooling, including LLMs, prompt engineering, and agent-based workflows
- Improving and shaping the user experience through better product thinking, architecture, and delivery
- Working closely with the founders to turn product ideas into scalable, high-quality software
- Identifying where AI can genuinely improve customer outcomes, not just where it looks good on a roadmap
- Making practical decisions around architecture, integrations, tooling, and technical direction
- Helping establish the foundations for the future engineering roadmap and team
What We’re Looking For
- Strong hands-on software engineering background
- Experience building and shipping real product in startup, scale-up, or high-ownership environments
- Experience working on customer-facing applications, ideally with some exposure to mobile/app-led products
- Practical experience using AI in production, including areas like: LLMs, prompt engineering, AI-assisted workflows, agent-based functionality
- Comfortable working across product, engineering, and technical problem-solving
- A strong builder mindset; someone who enjoys getting things live, improving products, and solving meaningful user problems
- Comfortable in a fast-moving, founder-led environment
Nice to Have
- Experience with consumer products, engagement-led products, or behaviour-driven applications
- Exposure to open banking, fintech, or data-led products
- Experience working as an early technical hire or in a Founding Engineer/first product engineer type role
- Interest in helping shape technical direction as the business grows
Why Join
- Founding-level opportunity with genuine ownership
- Direct access to founders and product direction
- Opportunity to help shape an AI-native product in a meaningful way
- High-impact role where you can influence both what gets built and how it gets built
- Hybrid working in Manchester
- Equity opportunity as part of the package
Lead Software Engineer in Bolton employer: Your Prime Recruitment Ltd
Contact Detail:
Your Prime Recruitment Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Bolton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can lead to insider info and even referrals that could get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those involving AI and mobile applications. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and how you think.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to product development and engineering challenges. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to boost your confidence.
✨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 Lead Software Engineer in Bolton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI: When you're writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for AI and how it can transform user experiences. Share any relevant projects or experiences that highlight your hands-on work with AI tools, as this will resonate with our mission-led approach.
Highlight Your Builder Mindset: We love engineers who take ownership of their work! In your application, make sure to showcase examples where you've turned ideas into shipped features. Talk about the challenges you faced and how you tackled them, as this reflects the kind of environment we thrive in.
Tailor Your Experience to Our Needs: Take a moment to align your skills and experiences with what we're looking for. If you've worked on customer-facing applications or have experience in startup environments, make that clear! We want to see how your background fits into our vision for the future.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re keen to be part of our journey from the get-go!
How to prepare for a job interview at Your Prime Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest AI tools and technologies, especially LLMs and prompt engineering. Brush up on your hands-on software engineering skills and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in real-world scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled product problems in previous roles. Think about times when you had to build in ambiguity or make practical decisions around architecture and integrations. This will demonstrate your builder mindset.
✨Understand User Experience
Since this role focuses heavily on user experience, come prepared with insights on how to improve it. Be ready to discuss your approach to creating intelligent workflows and mobile-first products, and how you've done this in past projects.
✨Engage with the Founders' Vision
Research the company’s mission and values, and think about how you can contribute to their vision. Be ready to discuss how you can help shape the product direction and what unique perspectives you bring to the table as a founding engineer.