Lead Software Engineer

We are working with an early-stage business that is looking to appoint a Founding Engineer to take a leading role in building and shaping its technology platform.

This is not simply a role focused on delivering a predefined roadmap. You will have genuine ownership of the product, architecture and technical direction, working closely with the founder to turn the company’s vision into a scalable and commercially successful platform.

The business is currently nearing completion of an investment raise, based on an initial multimillion-pound valuation. This creates an opportunity to join at a particularly influential stage, with meaningful equity and the scope to play a major role in the future value of the company.

The opportunity may initially be structured on a flexible or part-time basis and could be undertaken alongside other professional commitments. As the business grows and the investment round completes, there is the potential for the position to develop into a broader and more substantial long-term role.

As the earliest technical hire, you will have significant influence over how the product is built, how the engineering function develops and which technical decisions are prioritised.

The likely technology stack will include:

• Type Script
• React
• AWS
• Modern cloud-native architecture
• APIs and scalable backend services

The exact stack is not fixed. The priority is finding an experienced, product-minded engineer who can make pragmatic technical decisions and build effectively in an early-stage environment.

What you will be doing:

• Taking ownership of the technical architecture and product development
• Building and evolving the initial platform
• Working directly with the founder on product priorities and strategy
• Making decisions around infrastructure, tooling and engineering standards
• Balancing speed of delivery with scalability and long-term technical quality
• Helping shape the future engineering team and development culture
• Contributing to both hands-on development and wider business decisions
• Supporting the company through its next stage of investment and growth

We would be interested in speaking with engineers who have:

• Strong experience with Type Script and React
• Experience building and deploying products using AWS
• A track record of developing scalable web applications or SaaS platforms
• The ability to work across the full software development lifecycle
• Strong product judgement and commercial awareness
• Experience operating with autonomy and limited structure
• An interest in joining an early-stage business where priorities may evolve quickly
• The capacity to commit on a flexible basis during the initial phase

Previous experience as a Founding Engineer is not essential. This opportunity could suit a Senior, Lead or Principal Engineer who wants greater ownership and the opportunity to build something from the ground up.

• Meaningful equity in a business with an initial multimillion-pound valuation
• Genuine ownership of the product and technical direction
• The flexibility to begin alongside existing professional commitments
• Direct access to the founder and involvement in key decisions
• The opportunity to build the engineering function from an early stage
• Significant scope for the role to develop as the business grows and secures investment

This role will suit someone who wants more than a conventional engineering position. You will be joining at a stage where your decisions, code and leadership will have a direct impact on the future of the company.

Recann is acting as an employment agency in relation to this permanent opportunity.