At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop scalable backend systems for AI workloads with high autonomy.
- Company: Join a stealth-mode AI lab backed by top investors and led by industry experts.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, equity, 28 days holiday, and professional growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be a Founding Engineer and tackle challenging problems that impact the tech industry.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in backend development, cloud technologies, and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Experience in Machine Learning and open-source contributions is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 100000 £ per year.
Team: Backend
Location: London (Liverpool Street)
Employment Type: Full-time and Permanent
Remuneration (London; On-site): £90–120k Base Salary + Discretionary Bonus + Equity
We are a stealth-mode AI laboratory researching and developing Machine Learning models. The founding team consists of Cambridge graduates and former engineers at Microsoft, Bloomberg and Goldman Sachs. We are backed by prominent investors from the US and the UK, including institutional VC funds and C-level executives of global technology companies.
The role involves the design and development of backend infrastructure for Machine Learning workloads. You will be working closely with the Machine Learning team; however, you are not required or expected to have a background in Machine Learning. This is an applied role, and we are looking to hire a software engineer with experience in cloud computing and distributed systems.
In this role, you will:
- Design and develop highly-scalable, fault tolerant and event driven systems.
- Lead projects from inception to launch and beyond, having a high degree of autonomy and ownership over your work.
- Work closely with the founding team and contribute towards best practices, standards, and culture of the company.
- Mentor your current colleagues, raising the bar for the company.
- Co-hire your future colleagues.
Our tech stack:
- We use and leverage AWS as much as possible and manage it with Terraform.
- Services are written in C# (.NET 9) and deployed to ECS or Lambda via GitHub Actions.
- We use Postgres, SNS/SQS and Redis.
- We have good end-to-end test coverage and are confident in our deployments.
What we are looking for:
- Back-end development: 5+ years of industry experience in back-end engineering, developing reliable and scalable systems with an object-oriented programming language.
- Cloud-native technologies: Experience in architecting and deploying in cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP or Azure), an understanding of containerisation (e.g., Docker), infrastructure-as-code software (e.g., Terraform), and observability platforms (e.g., Datadog or Grafana).
- Leadership: A track record of leading complex projects.
- Problem solving: Strong analytical problem-solving skills and attention to detail. You have the ability to break down complex projects into actionable tasks.
- Collaboration and communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
We would like to acknowledge that almost no candidate checks every box – and that is perfectly fine. If you are passionate about solving complex challenges and open to learning new technologies, we would love to hear from you.
Nice to have:
- Machine Learning: Experience in generative models, LLMs, multi-modal models and Deep Learning more generally.
- Open-source: Contributions to and experience in open-source projects.
- Startup experience: Experience with a startup work environment and wider ecosystem.
Why join us?
- Work in an environment conducting cutting-edge research in AI.
- An official role title of “Founding Engineer” – make an impact on day one.
- Competitive salary, equity and benefits package.
- 28 days + public holidays allowance.
- Opportunities for professional growth and progression with your career.
- Work on challenging engineering problems that have a real impact on the industry.
- Work with high-profile customers and technology partners.
Contact Detail:
Zettafleet Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer – Backend (On-site)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the tech stack mentioned in the job description. Make sure you have hands-on experience with AWS, C#, and Terraform, as well as a solid understanding of cloud-native technologies. This will not only boost your confidence but also help you speak knowledgeably during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of past projects where you led a team or initiative. Be ready to discuss how you managed challenges and drove projects from inception to launch, as this role requires a high degree of autonomy and ownership.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with professionals in the AI and software engineering fields, especially those who have experience in startups. Engaging with the community can provide insights into the company culture and may even lead to referrals, which can significantly enhance your chances of landing the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your problem-solving approach in detail. Think of specific examples where you tackled complex engineering challenges, as the interviewers will be looking for strong analytical skills and attention to detail. Being able to articulate your thought process will set you apart.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer – Backend (On-site)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your back-end development experience, particularly with cloud-native technologies and object-oriented programming languages. Emphasise any leadership roles you've held and projects you've led.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for solving complex challenges and your willingness to learn new technologies. Mention specific experiences that align with the job description, especially in cloud computing and distributed systems.
Showcase Relevant Projects: If you have worked on relevant projects, especially those involving AWS, Terraform, or open-source contributions, 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 back-end development, cloud architecture, and problem-solving scenarios. Be ready to discuss your thought process and how you approach complex engineering problems.
How to prepare for a job interview at Zettafleet
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with back-end development, particularly in C# and cloud technologies like AWS. Bring examples of past projects where you designed scalable systems, as this will demonstrate your technical expertise.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Since the role involves leading projects, share specific instances where you've taken charge of a project from inception to launch. Highlight your ability to mentor others and how you've contributed to team culture in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face analytical problem-solving scenarios during the interview. Practice breaking down complex problems into manageable tasks, as this will showcase your critical thinking skills and attention to detail.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication skills are essential for this role. Be ready to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Practise articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely to make a positive impression.