Engineering Lead

Dataworks; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A stealth ERP startup is seeking a Founding Engineering Lead to own the core platform architecture and design an AI-native ERP system for mid-market clients. Ideal candidates have experience building complex data-heavy platforms and a passion for clarity and transparency in technology. You will work directly with the founder, shaping the technical foundations of an innovative product backed by an established consulting firm.

Qualifications

• Experience building complex, data-heavy platforms or systems of record.
• Interest in architecture and foundational systems.
• Desire for clarity, transparency, and explainability in software.

Responsibilities

• Own the core platform architecture from day one.
• Design flexible, auditable data models and workflow-first systems.
• Define how AI is embedded in a structured, governed way.
• Lead the build from the first line of code through MVP and beyond.

Skills

Building complex data-heavy platforms

Thinking in architecture

Working from first principles

Comfortable with ambiguity

Caring about clarity and transparency

Job description

Founding Engineering Lead | Stealth ERP Startup

Hybrid - London

Salary, plus bonus, plus extensive benefits AND equity on offer

Backed and incubated by a 150-person international consulting firm with deep finance and ERP implementation experience

I’m partnering with a stealth-stage startup tackling one of the hardest problems in enterprise software: rebuilding ERP from first principles.

The mission: build an AI-native, extensible ERP platform for the mid-market, where workflows are explicit, data models evolve, and logic is transparent rather than hidden in black boxes.

The role

This is a founding engineering role, not a “join later and optimise” hire.

• Own the core platform architecture from day one
• Design flexible, auditable data models and workflow-first systems
• Define how AI is embedded in a structured, governed way
• Turn a clear product vision into a real, scalable system
• Lead the build from the first line of code through MVP and beyond
• You’ll work directly with the founder and shape the technical foundations on which everything else depends.

Who this suits

You’re likely someone who:

• Has built complex, data-heavy platforms or systems of record
• Thinks in architecture, not just features
• Enjoys working from first principles
• Is comfortable with ambiguity and early-stage ownership
• Cares deeply about clarity, transparency, and explainability
• Experience in ERP, finance, payments, or regulated domains is a plus, not a requirement.

Why is this interesting?

• This is not a CRUD app or thin SaaS wrapper
• The product vision is unusually well-defined for this stage
• You’re building something foundational, not incremental
• Backed by an established consulting organisation with a strong network, deep domain knowledge, and immediate access to early customers

If you’ve ever wanted to build the ERP you wish existed, this is that opportunity.

Apply here if you’d like to learn more.