Head of Engineering (Hands-on 50%+ coding)

algo1; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering stealth startup that's redefining retail through advanced AI technologies. As the Head of Engineering, you'll lead the technical vision while actively coding and developing innovative solutions. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of retail, leveraging cutting-edge machine learning and backend technologies. If you're an experienced engineer ready to make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment, this is your chance to be a founding member of a groundbreaking company with a collaborative culture and a commitment to innovation.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Significant equity

Dynamic work environment

Collaborative culture

Cutting-edge technologies

Qualifications

• Deep backend expertise with a passion for coding and hands-on development.
• Proven experience in modular, API-first development and database optimization.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable web applications and B2C Android apps.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams.

Skills

Backend Development

Machine Learning

Technical Leadership

API Development

Database Design

Cloud Platforms

Authentication Mechanisms

Tools

TypeScript

Node.js

Python

FastAPI

Java

Spring Boot

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

DynamoDB

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

Head of Engineering (Hands-on 50%+ coding)

About the role:

Join our fast-moving, VC-backed stealth startup revolutionising retail with cutting-edge AI. We're pioneering a platform that redefines the customer experience, leveraging the power of reinforcement learning, generative AI, and advanced recommendation systems. We're seeking a hands-on Head of Engineering with deep backend expertise and a passion for coding (50%+ of your time will be dedicated to development) to lead the technical vision and execution of our platform. We embrace a "best idea wins" culture, operate with zero legacy technical debt, and are committed to using the latest technologies.

As Head of Engineering, you will be both a technical leader and a key contributor, shaping the architecture and development of our core platform. This role offers a unique opportunity to directly impact the future of retail while remaining deeply involved in the coding process.

Responsibilities:

• Architect & Build: Design, develop, and implement highly scalable, reliable, secure, and performant web applications capable of handling low-latency, high-volume data streams, as well as B2C Android applications. This includes hands-on coding and demonstrating expertise in backend technologies. You will own the technical roadmap and drive its execution, focusing on building systems that can efficiently process and leverage large datasets for machine learning applications.
• Technical Leadership: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers as the team grows, fostering a culture of innovation and high-quality code.
• Drive Innovation: Translate cutting-edge machine learning research into impactful products and solutions, leading the development process from concept to production. Collaborate closely with the data science team to bring AI-powered features to life.
• Technology Selection & Evaluation: Continuously evaluate and select the best technologies and tools to support our platform’s growth and evolution. Champion best practices for software development and ensure code quality.
• Deep expertise in at least one backend language and framework, such as TypeScript & Node.js, Python & FastAPI, or Java & Spring Boot. We are open to considering other relevant technologies.
• Proven experience with modular, API-first development.
• Strong understanding of authentication and authorisation mechanisms (OAuth, SSO, JWT).
• Expertise in database design and optimisation (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, DynamoDB).
• Proficiency working with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, and/or Azure).

Bonus Points:

• Experience with microservices architecture.
• DevOps experience, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure management.
• Knowledge of RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs.
• Familiarity with reinforcement learning and/or generative AI concepts.
• Experience of front-end development using Kotlin.

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to be a founding member of a groundbreaking startup.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment.
• A chance to work with cutting-edge technologies and solve challenging problems.
• Competitive compensation.
• Significant equity in a rapidly growing company.

If you're a passionate and experienced engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and wants to make a real impact on the future of retail, we encourage you to apply.

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Engineering and Information Technology

Industries: Technology, Information and Media