Staff Software Engineer (Platform Capabilities)

Fundingcircle; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Funding Circle in London is seeking an experienced Staff Engineer to drive platform capabilities and set technical direction for core services used by product teams. You will own high‑level design and architecture, and mentor engineers in a fast‑moving SaaS environment.

This hybrid role requires 2 days in the office and offers a competitive salary and benefits. You will collaborate with product groups to shape roadmaps, translate them into tangible milestones, and apply Generative AI to

Qualifications

• Experience leading platform engineering for internal teams or SaaS products.
• Technical lead for a platform domain, staff-equivalent or SaaS founding/lead engineer.
• Understanding internal platforms, centralisation vs bespoke adoption.
• Experience with at least one major programming language (Python, Ruby, Java).

Responsibilities

• Own high-level solution design, standards, engineering performance and technology decisions within your Group.
• Articulate how our platform drives customer and commercial outcomes.
• Identify and leverage Generative AI tools to drive innovation and transform engineering processes.
• Collaborate with product teams to build an informed roadmap and translate it into architecture with milestones.
• Perform hands-on troubleshooting when needed while enabling teams to self-solve future issues.
• Present technology solutions, risks and tradeoffs to stakeholders across Funding Circle.
• Represent Funding Circle externally to share industry trends and attract talent.

Skills

Python

Ruby

Java

Generative AI

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Job description

We’re on a mission to back the UK’s small businesses like no one else

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and we’re here to help them win. We’ve built a platform that uses clever data to get them the funding they need in minutes, not weeks.

At Funding Circle, we have the restless energy of a fintech start-up with the stability of a public company. It’s a unique mix that gives Circlers the autonomy to take ownership and the scale to make an impact that truly counts.

We’re a high-performing team that chooses to lift each other up. We challenge, we champion, and we have each other’s backs - because we know that when we stand together, we move faster and build better.

The impact is real: Last year alone, the businesses on our platform generated £7.2bn for the UK economy Come and join a mission that matters!

[Read our Impact Report] | [See our Trustpilot]

The role

London (Hybrid) | 2 days in the office | Competitive Salary + Benefits

We are looking for an experienced Staff Engineer with an excellent track record of building successful platforms for internal teams or within a SaaS company.

The role sits within our Platform Capabilities Engineering Group, providing technical leadership for the core platforms that enable our product teams to build business functionality fast & predictably. Staff Engineers are amongst the most senior leaders we have within our Technology function and as such are responsible for raising the bar and enabling us to achieve the incredible.

• You take accountability for high-level solution design, standards, engineering performance, and technology decisions within your Group.

• You will have sound commercial acumen and a solid understanding of how tech drives the top and bottom line. You understand and can articulate how our platform drives customer and commercial outcomes.

• You proactively identify and leverage the latest Generative AI tools and techniques to drive innovation and transform our engineering processes, helping the organisation become fully "AI Native."

• You understand collaboration with customer facing product teams is vital for a successful platform. Building an informed roadmap and shaping the technical direction to deliver on it. You translate this into a target system and data architecture with clear milestones to iterate towards it.

• You are able to perform deep-dives and troubleshoot issues in a hands-on capacity, but you seek to enable the teams rather than becoming a dependency for future issues.

• You have excellent stakeholder-management skills and can present technology solutions, risks and tradeoffs to any audience across Funding Circle, demonstrating the ability to influence without requiring reporting authority to do so.

• You represent Funding Circle externally at events, leveraging your network to share industry trends and insight, as well as attracting talent to Funding Circle.

What we’re looking for

We value deep expertise, but a growth mindset and good energy are what really make our team click. We’re a group that chooses to lift each other up and think smart every day.

• An engineering leader who can lead on solving high-level problems, whilst also deep-diving into technical challenges in a hands-on capacity.

• Experience operating as the technical lead for a platform domain, either as a staff equivalent or a SaaS founding/lead engineer.

• Understanding of the importance and limitations of internal platforms, experienced with deciding when to invest in centralisation vs bespoke, and in driving adoption.

• Experience in at least one major Programming language (e.g. Python, Ruby, Java).

• True advocate for an empowered engineering team over 10x engineers, with a passion for coaching, mentoring, and sponsoring.

• A strong passion for and proven experience in adopting and applying emerging technologies, particularly Generative AI, to solve complex engineering challenges and drive transformational change across an organisation.

We’re building a place where everyone truly feels they belong. Even if your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you.

Why join us?

We back you to build an incredible career and by joining us, you'll be part of one of The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2026! As a flexible-first employer, we use a "best of both" approach. We’ll see you in our London office to collaborate – with barista coffee and subsidised Just Eat lunches on us!

Our Circler Proposition focuses on five areas:

• Flexibility: We provide a benefit allowance you can tailor to your own life and family.

• Health: This includes private medical and dental, health assessments, and access to a digital GP.

• Wealth: We offer life assurance, share schemes, and financial coaching.

• Development: You get a dedicated annual learning allowance to help you level up.

• Lifestyle: We have electric car and cycle-to-work schemes, plus season ticket loans.

We also have award-winning parental leave policies. We're here to support you through the big life moments, from fertility treatments to new additions to the family.