Senior Software Engineer - Retrieval Platform

Signal AI; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge AI technology company in Greater London is looking for strong generalists with experience in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and performance engineering. The role involves designing and operating custom software solutions, ideally suited for candidates with hands-on experience in big-data technologies. Enjoy a collaborative team-oriented environment that values versatility and innovative coding approaches. This is an exciting opportunity to have a significant impact on tasks and operations as part of a dynamic team.

Qualifications

• Experience building and operating microservices-based systems.
• Hands-on experience with big-data query engines such as Spark or AWS Athena.
• Proficiency in backend languages like Java or Python.

Responsibilities

• Build and operate software systems from first principles.
• Design, implement, and operate custom solutions end-to-end.
• Influence architectural decisions for the retrieval platform.

Skills

Distributed systems architecture

Big-data query engines

Multi-modal data storage

Cloud infrastructure & IaC

Strong coding skills

Tools

Spark

PostgreSQL

Elasticsearch

Terraform

Kubernetes

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

We’re on a mission to change the way businesses make decisions with our cutting‑edge AI technology. To achieve that, we’re looking for passionate people to join our open and unconventional workplace. Our inclusive environment welcomes skills and experiences from diverse backgrounds, and defines who we are.

About the role

You’ll join a small, impact‑driven team responsible for building the core of our retrieval platform – shaping and handling vast volumes of data, redesigning how information flows through the system to power our AI models, and influencing the architectural decisions that will set our direction for years to come. If you’re passionate about detail, scaling challenges, and having a real say in how things are built, this role empowers you to craft something meaningful from the ground up.

The Signal AI Way

We want you to apply for this position. We want people to enjoy a good experience at Signal AI and we appreciate your professional needs might be different to what we can offer.

• Thriving in Dynamic Environments: If you thrive on stability and predictability, you might find our dynamic environment challenging. Our team frequently adapts to changing priorities, which can be incredibly exciting and rewarding for those who enjoy a fast‑paced, ever‑evolving workplace.
• Versatile Skill Set: We value versatility and the ability to work on both back‑end and front‑end development. If you are passionate about expanding your skills across different areas, you’ll find this role enriching and fulfilling.
• Collaborative Communication: Our culture emphasises building strong communication paths with various teams and stakeholders. If you enjoy collaborative problem‑solving and sharing insights, you’ll fit right in.
• Team‑Oriented Programming: We encourage pair‑programming and team collaboration as the default working paradigm over solo work. If you find joy in teamwork and learning from peers, you’ll thrive here.
• Flexible Coding Approaches: While we respect the discipline of TDD, we also appreciate flexible and innovative approaches to coding and pragmatic testing patterns. If you’re open to experimenting with different methodologies, this role offers a great opportunity to broaden your horizons.

If these aspects align with your professional values and aspirations, we believe you’ll find a rewarding career with us at Signal AI.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for strong generalists with deep experience in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and performance engineering – people who are comfortable building software systems from first principles, not just configuring existing data tools. You should be able to design, implement, and operate custom solutions end‑to‑end, and take real ownership of the systems you build. Breadth, sound engineering judgment, and experience solving problems at scale matter more to us than expertise in any particular data technology.

Must‑have skills

• Distributed systems architecture – Experience building and operating microservices‑based systems, using HTTP/RPC patterns, message queues, or event‑streaming technologies at scale.
• Big‑data query engines – Hands‑on experience with engines such as Spark, Trino, Presto, or AWS Athena.
• Multi‑modal data storage – Practical experience with at least two of the following storage or query technologies at scale:
• Search engines (e.g. Elasticsearch)
• Relational databases (e.g. PostgreSQL)
• Columnar/analytical databases (e.g. Redshift, Snowflake)
• Object storage (e.g. S3)
• Cloud infrastructure & IaC – Proficiency with major cloud platforms (AWS or GCP) and infrastructure‑as‑code tools such as Terraform or OpenTofu.
• Strong coding skills – Proficiency in backend languages (e.g. Java, Go, Python, Clojure) with experience writing performance‑critical, concurrent production code.

Nice‑to‑have skills

• Large‑scale data pipeline engineering – Experience designing and implementing pipelines for high‑volume data processing and transformation.
• Performance engineering – Background in optimising system performance, query execution, and resource usage in data‑intensive environments.
• Kubernetes – Experience deploying and managing distributed applications using container orchestration.
• Modern data‑lake technologies – Familiarity with columnar formats (e.g. Parquet), table formats (e.g. Apache Iceberg, Hudi, Delta Lake), or data‑lake management tools (e.g. AWS Glue, Google BigLake).

Not sure you meet every requirement?

Studies show that women and other underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they check every box. At Signal AI, diverse perspectives strengthen our teams, drive innovation, and lead to better performance. So even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with each qualification, we encourage you to apply if you’re passionate about this role.

We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where every Signaller feels welcomed, valued, and heard – a place where you can truly thrive as yourself.