Lead Data Engineer
Summary
Lead Data Engineer at an early-stage, venture-backed AI startup in London: own the data architecture powering real-time AI systems — building batch and real-time pipelines and data systems for analytics, ML workflows, and vector search — while setting standards for the company's data engineering function. Core stack: Python and distributed data systems.
Build the data backbone of a category‑defining AI platform.
We’re partnered with an early‑stage, venture‑backed AI startup transforming a large, traditional industry through automation. Their AI assistant is already live with real customers, managing tens of thousands of units, and they're now scaling fast toward revenue.
This is a rare opportunity to join early as the Lead Data Engineer and own the data architecture that powers real‑time AI systems at scale.
What you’ll do
- Design and build scalable batch and real‑time data pipelines
- Architect data systems for analytics, ML workflows, and vector search
- Own data reliability, performance, and governance end‑to‑end
- Work closely with AI, backend, and product teams
- Set standards and help build the future data engineering function
What we’re looking for
- 7+ years in data or backend engineering
- Strong Python and experience with distributed data systems
- Hands‑on experience with modern AI data stacks (e.g. vector databases)
- Startup mindset: ownership, speed, and architectural thinking
- Define the data foundations of a high‑growth AI company
- Huge ownership and influence from day one
- Competitive salary + meaningful equity
- Work directly with founders on a genuinely hard, high‑impact problem