Founding Software Engineer Python - Start-up

Role overview

A founding engineer role at an early-stage AI start-up whose technology is reshaping compliance and operational efficiency for the NHS and other regulated sectors. The position blends hands-on full stack engineering with genuine product influence, working alongside experienced founders to shape the technical direction and engineering culture from the ground up.

Responsibilities

- Design and build scalable, cloud-native applications spanning the full software development lifecycle, from architecture through to deployment. - Develop backend services in Python and contribute to frontend features using TypeScript and React. - Set up and maintain CI/CD pipelines and manage deployments on Azure. - Collaborate closely with the founding team to shape technical strategy, product decisions, and architecture. - Integrate large language models and agentic AI techniques to deliver innovative, real-world solutions. - Establish the engineering practices, tooling, and culture that will underpin the company's future growth.

Requirements

- Strong full stack engineering capability with Python as the primary language. - Demonstrated ability to build software from scratch and iterate quickly in unstructured, fast-moving environments. - Solid understanding of RESTful API design, ideally with hands-on FastAPI experience. - Working familiarity with TypeScript, React, HTML5, and CSS3. - Practical experience with LLMs and agentic AI workflows, coupled with a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset. - Degree educated to a minimum 2.1 BSc in Computer Science or a closely related discipline from a top-tier university; MSc or PhD welcomed. - Curious, collaborative, and a clear communicator who enjoys owning problems end to end.

Nice to have

- Exposure to cloud-native architectures on Azure. - Background working within start-up or similarly ambiguous settings.

Benefits and work setup

- Salary up to £115k plus meaningful equity in the company. - Hybrid pattern of roughly two days a week in London and one day a week in Cambridge, with travel expenses covered and flexibility to work from home the rest of the time. - High-autonomy founding role with direct influence over product, architecture, and engineering culture. - Strong career growth potential within a well-backed, ambitious start-up.