Software Engineer - Data (Founding Engineer)

Software Engineer - Data (Founding Engineer)

Full-Time 75000 - 85000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Zygo People

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Be the first engineer to shape a live fintech platform and drive its evolution.
  • Company: Join an innovative fintech startup with a dynamic and collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus potential, 28 days holiday, and private medical insurance.
  • Other info: Clear path to senior leadership in an early-stage environment with a live product.
  • Why this job: Take full ownership of product and tech while making a real impact on customer finance access.
  • Qualifications: Strong full-stack engineering skills and experience with APIs and data infrastructure.

The predicted salary is between 75000 - 85000 £ per year.

London (Hybrid – 2 days per week in the office) £75,000 – £85,000 (potential to go to £95,000) + Bonus up to 50% of salary (paid twice yearly)

Benefits: 28 days holiday + bank holidays, 5% pension match, private medical insurance, employee assistance programme & ClassPass gym access.

Be the first engineer owning both product and technology in a live fintech platform, shaping what gets built and how it scales. Most engineering roles narrow over time. The decisions are made elsewhere, the architecture is already set, and the work becomes incremental. This isn’t that. You’ll step into a working product that’s already live, but still early. There’s space to take a step back, rethink how things are built, and decide what the right approach actually looks like across frontend, data, integrations, and everything in between.

The role is hands‑on, but it goes beyond just writing code. You’ll shape the roadmap, make architectural calls, take ownership of how the platform evolves as the business scales and eventually hire some people into your team. The founders are open on tooling and approach. What matters is solving the problem properly and building something that works.

Why You’ll Love It Here:

  • First in‑house engineer with full ownership across product and tech
  • Direct input into architecture, tooling, and roadmap decisions
  • Broad scope across frontend, backend, data, and integrations
  • Clear path to senior leadership (CTO) as the business grows
  • Early‑stage environment with real product already live in market

You’ll take ownership of the full technology stack across a live motor finance platform, reviewing what’s been built, improving it, and deciding what comes next. That includes reworking the frontend and customer journeys, building out integrations with external platforms, and refining the ETL pipeline that underpins the data layer. You’ll work closely with founders to translate business goals into technical delivery, while coordinating contractors and external partners to get things built properly. The work matters because this platform is already being used and your decisions directly impact how customers access finance and how the product scales from here.

What You’ll Need:

  • Strong full‑stack engineering capability across frontend and backend
  • Experience working with APIs, integrations, and data infrastructure
  • Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform and tools like BigQuery
  • Product mindset with the ability to translate business needs into solutions
  • Comfortable operating in early‑stage environments with high ownership

Apply now and reach out to Leigh at leigh@zygopeople.com for a confidential chat. CVs do not need to be up to date to start a conversation.

Software Engineer - Data (Founding Engineer) employer: Zygo People

Join a pioneering fintech company in London as a Software Engineer - Data, where you'll be the first in-house engineer with full ownership over both product and technology. Enjoy a dynamic work culture that encourages innovation and direct input into architectural decisions, alongside competitive benefits including a generous bonus structure, private medical insurance, and a clear path to senior leadership roles. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape a live product while working in a supportive environment that values your contributions and fosters professional growth.

Zygo People

Contact Details:

Zygo People Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Software Engineer - Data (Founding Engineer)

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fintech space, especially those who work at companies you admire. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects. This is your chance to demonstrate your full-stack capabilities and problem-solving mindset in action.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by understanding the company’s product and tech stack. Be ready to discuss how you’d approach their challenges and contribute to their roadmap. We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and making an impact from day one.

We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer - Data (Founding Engineer)

Full-Stack Engineering
Frontend Development
Backend Development
API Integration
Data Infrastructure
Google Cloud Platform
BigQuery

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Problem-Solving:When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for tackling challenges. Share examples of how you've approached complex problems in the past and what solutions you came up with. We love candidates who think outside the box!

Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV highlights the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the Software Engineer position. Focus on your full-stack capabilities, experience with APIs, and any work you've done in early-stage environments. We want to see how you fit into our vision!

Be Authentic and Personal:Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your application. We appreciate authenticity and want to know what makes you tick. Share your journey, your motivations, and why you’re excited about joining us at StudySmarter.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you're keen on being part of our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Zygo People

Know Your Tech Stack

Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially full-stack engineering and Google Cloud Platform. Brush up on your experience with APIs and data infrastructure, as these will likely come up during the interview.

Show Your Problem-Solving Skills

Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've tackled complex problems in previous roles. Think about how you can translate business needs into technical solutions, as this is crucial for the role. Be ready to explain your thought process and the impact of your decisions.

Understand the Company’s Vision

Research the company and its product thoroughly. Understand their market position and what makes their fintech platform unique. This will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their success.

Be Ready to Discuss Ownership

Since this role involves a high level of ownership, be prepared to talk about your experiences in similar environments. Share how you’ve taken initiative in past projects and how you plan to approach ownership in this new role, especially in shaping the technology stack and roadmap.