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- 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.
We’re 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’re 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 employer: YourPrime
Contact Detail:
YourPrime Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. The more you engage, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨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 you a chance to demonstrate your hands-on experience and problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to product development. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled ambiguity and turned ideas into shipped features — that's what they want to hear!
✨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, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our mission-led team.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with AI tooling and customer-facing applications, as these are key aspects of what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Projects: Include specific examples of projects where you've built and shipped features, especially in startup or high-ownership environments. We want to see how you've tackled product problems and improved user experiences.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We're a mission-led team, so showing your passion for building meaningful products will definitely catch our eye!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get the best chance to showcase your skills and fit for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at YourPrime
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest AI tools and technologies, especially LLMs and prompt engineering. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in real-world scenarios, as this will show your hands-on experience and understanding of the tech landscape.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled product challenges in previous roles. Highlight your ability to work in ambiguity and how you’ve turned ideas into shipped features. This will demonstrate your builder mindset and readiness for a fast-paced environment.
✨Understand User Experience
Familiarise yourself with user-centric design principles and be prepared to discuss how you’ve improved user experiences in past projects. This is crucial for a role focused on enhancing mobile-first products and intelligent workflows.
✨Engage with the Founders’ Vision
Research the company’s mission and product vision thoroughly. During the interview, express how your values align with theirs and share your thoughts on where AI can genuinely enhance customer outcomes. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and your potential to contribute meaningfully.