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Durlston Partners
Lead Software Engineer

Lead Software Engineer

On site

London, United kingdom

£ 150,000 /year

Full Time

25-04-2025

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Expired

Job Specifications

Lead Software Engineer - AI Start Up - £150k+

An institutionally backed AI start-up is hiring a Lead Software Engineer to help build the core software infrastructure for real-world autonomous systems. This is a high-impact role shaping architecture, engineering culture, and product direction from day one.

You will lead the development of platforms that allow operators to coordinate fleets of autonomous agents – including drones, vehicles, and distributed sensors – in live field environments. The software supports real-time decision-making, robust API integrations, and intuitive user interfaces designed for mission-critical deployment.

This is an opportunity to join an elite engineering team from leading AI and defence organisations. You’ll collaborate closely with end users and deploy into real-world scenarios, with substantial ownership and technical autonomy.

Responsibilities
Architect and build core infrastructure for autonomous system coordination
Lead development of robust interfaces and scalable APIs
Guide engineering best practices and help shape team culture
Collaborate with users and field teams to deliver and iterate on live deployments

Requirements
5+ years’ experience building production-grade software
Expertise in backend development using C++, Rust, Java, or Python
Strong experience with front-end frameworks (React, Angular, or equivalent)
Proven ability to work across distributed systems and real-time applications
Comfortable working in an early-stage, high-trust environment

Nice-to-Have
Experience with embedded or resource-constrained systems
Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and PostgreSQL
Exposure to ML or autonomy platforms

What’s Offered
Competitive salary
Significant equity (EMI scheme)
Private medical and dental cover
7% employer pension contribution
Free daily meals and wellness initiatives
Relocation support for eligible candidates
Full access to tools, equipment, and budget to support world-class engineering

About the Company

Durlston Partners began recruiting for the world's best Hedge Funds in 2010 and we have grown our business to deliver best-in-class talent to companies in Tech, Quant Finance, Portfolio Management, Data Science & Digital Assets. Our team operates from our offices in London, New York and Dubai. Led by 5 Partners, we have achieved organic growth and self-funded success without external investment. Our clients include leading hedge funds, banks, family offices, and AI / Machine Learning firms across global financial hubs such... Know more