🚀 AI & LLM Tech Lead – Founding Engineer, CTO Path

We are building a venture studio focused on launching and scaling LLM native and AI first startups at speed. We are looking for a senior, hands on full stack AI and LLM engineer who builds with strong ownership and wants a clear path to CTO within a centralised venture studio tech team. This role sits within a centralised venture studio tech team and is designed for someone who will be involved in any component where AI or LLMs are required, building real production grade AI systems rather than isolated wrappers or demos. You will be responsible for designing, building, and shipping LLM driven products from day zero, starting with fast MVP delivery using LLM APIs and then transitioning into fine tuning and deploying open source models for privacy, control, and performance. This includes agent based systems, AI workflows, and scalable backend infrastructure that can support real users and revenue. A core expectation of this role is that AI is not just a feature but the development engine itself. Our goal is to have at least 60 percent of development AI assisted from day one, with a clear roadmap to push this to 90 to 95 percent through agents, orchestration, and automation. **Tech stack and focus areas** ***You must be comfortable owning the stack end to end, with a strong LLM and AI core.*** * LLMs and AI systems * LLM integration using OpenAI, Anthropic, or open source models * Prompt engineering, structured outputs, function calling * Agent based architectures and orchestration * Retrieval augmented generation (RAG) * Model evaluation, cost optimisation, and latency control **Backend** * Node.js with TypeScript or Python * FastAPI, Express, or NestJS * REST and GraphQL APIs * PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or vector databases * Background jobs, queues, and event driven systems **Frontend** * Flutter for mobile apps, Android and iOS * React.js or similar for web dashboards * Real time AI driven UX and secure API integration **AI infrastructure** * Vector databases and embeddings * Model routing, observability, and monitoring * Guardrails, safety, and reliability patterns * Cost tracking and optimisation * Infrastructure * Cloud deployment on AWS, GCP, or similar * CI CD pipelines, containerisation, monitoring * Security and data privacy best practices **What you will do** * Act as the go to AI and LLM engineer across the venture studio for any product or component that requires AI * Rapidly deliver MVPs using commercial LLM APIs * Integrate LLM APIs into secure, scalable backend systems * Design and build Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines for real world use cases * Define data ingestion, embedding, and retrieval strategies * Design a clear transition path from API based models to fine tuned open source models * Fine tune and adapt models using HuggingFace, LoRA, or similar techniques * Own AI and ML architecture from MVP through to scale * Ensure privacy, cost control, performance, and reliability of AI systems * Work closely with product, engineering, and founders to embed AI where it creates real value * Progress into a CTO role for one or more ventures as they spin out from the studio * Act as a senior LLM and full stack engineer within the centralised tech team * Architect and build AI first products from scratch * Design agent based systems and AI workflows * Build scalable APIs and user facing AI driven applications * Ensure reliability, performance, and cost control of LLM systems * Set up AI driven development and automation workflows * Work directly with founders on product design and feasibility * Progress into a CTO role for one or more ventures as they spin out from the studio **What we are looking for** * Minimum 5 years of professional development experience, with strong AI or backend exposure * Hands on experience building and shipping LLM powered products * Strong full stack skills across backend, frontend, and infrastructure * Experience taking products from zero to production * Comfortable being the only developer in the room when needed * Entrepreneurial mindset with high ownership and execution focus * Interested in building long term value and technical leadership within a venture studio model **What this role is and is not** This is a centralised tech leadership role within the venture studio No salary, consulting fees, or agency engagements Real upside tied to real products and outcomes Clear path to CTO across one or more startups **No fluff, no politics, no ego** **Please do not apply if you intend to pitch or sell a software house or agency, directly or indirectly**