Lead Software Engineer

Lead Software Engineer Location: London, E14 5RE / Canary Wharf – Hybrid Job Type: Full-Time Skills: Lead Software Engineer, Laravel, React, Python, AWS, AI/ML, n8n, Claude Code, Cursor, Docker, Startups, DevOps We’re looking for a Lead Software Engineer with a path to CTO to join our founding team in Canary Wharf. You’ll lead technical direction across our platform, mentor a growing engineering team and build AI-powered products using Laravel, React, Python and AWS.

Connectivity matters. We’re BroadbandUK. We help millions of people each year make better broadband decisions because fast, reliable internet improves everyday life. We’ve already launched the UK’s first address-level price comparison service, built a speed test used by over a million people, and partnered with organisations like Openreach, Currys and The Telegraph. But we’re just getting started.

BroadbandUK is a high-growth, revenue-generating startup entering an exciting new phase. One of our next major challenges is improving how broadband information is represented when people move home. Connectivity is an increasingly important characteristic of a property, yet useful broadband information is often limited or notably absent from property listings. We’re working with the industry to help make broadband information a standard part of every property listing and define the data structures that will make this possible.

To achieve this, we are transitioning into an AI-first company, using large language models and automated workflows to transform how we solve connectivity challenges. This is a rare opportunity to help build a company from the ground up and become a household name that touches the lives of millions. Be part of a close-knit, ambitious team where you’ll learn quickly and work on challenges that matter, and we hope you’ll enjoy the journey as much as we do.

What you’ll do As Lead Software Engineer, you’ll play a crucial role in shaping the future of BroadbandUK. You’ll work directly with the CEO and co-founders to: * Mentor a growing team of engineers, guiding graduates and interns as they level up their skills. * Shape the architecture and technical direction of our products, balancing scalability with speed of delivery. * Design and integrate AI models and algorithms that unlock insights from national connectivity data to tackle real-world challenges.

* Leverage unique datasets from Ofcom, Openreach, independent networks and ISPs to uncover problems that directly impact how the UK connects. * Develop retrieval and agentic systems, combining LLMs with vector search and automation to push the boundaries of how AI can be applied to connectivity challenges. Our stack * Backend: PHP (Laravel), Python (for AI/ML workflows) * Frontend: React, Next.js (preferred), with flexibility for other modern frameworks * Infrastructure: AWS (including Lambda, S3, DynamoDB), DigitalOcean * Data: MySQL, Redis, NoSQL stores * Dev tools: GitHub, CI/CD, Docker * AI & Automation: LLM APIs, vector databases, agentic workflow tools, n8n, Claude Code, Cursor Who we’re looking for We’re looking for a Lead Software Engineer with a path to CTO to join our founding team and help shape the future of connectivity in the UK.

* 5+ years of software engineering experience, with a strong track record of building, shipping and scaling real-world products. * Strong leadership skills: guiding teams and setting technical direction. * An ownership mindset: you thrive in startup environments and like solving real problems and learning fast. * Proven impact: you’ve built and scaled products, led projects that made a difference, contributed to open-source, or delivered results that truly moved the needle.

* Practical AI experience: some experience building with LLMs, retrieval, agents or related technologies is strongly preferred. We know no one ticks every box, but proven experience in leading engineering teams and building and scaling real-world products is essential. Why you’ll love it here