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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: Founding-level opportunity, equity options, hybrid working, and direct access to founders.
- Other info: Fast-paced, dynamic role with significant career growth potential.
- Why this job: Shape an innovative AI-native product and make a real impact.
- 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 in Manchester employer: YourPrime
Contact Detail:
YourPrime Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Manchester
✨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 people you know, the better your chances of landing that Lead Software Engineer 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 will give you an edge and demonstrate your hands-on experience to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to product development and AI tooling. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the process.
✨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 Manchester
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, mobile products, and any relevant projects that showcase your hands-on engineering skills. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, share examples of how you've tackled product challenges in the past. We love engineers who can turn ambiguity into actionable solutions, so don’t hold back on those stories that demonstrate your builder mindset!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your written application. We’re looking for someone who fits well in our fast-paced, founder-led environment, so don’t be afraid to show us what makes you unique and passionate about this opportunity.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
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 used these in past projects and how they can enhance user experience in the role.
✨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, as this is crucial for a founding engineer.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Research the company’s mission and current product offerings. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their goals, particularly in shaping an AI-native product that genuinely improves customer outcomes.
✨Be Ready for Technical Discussions
Expect deep dives into technical topics during the interview. Brush up on your software engineering principles and be prepared to discuss architecture decisions and integrations, as well as your experience with customer-facing applications.