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# Founding Software Engineer

- **Company:** HartleyCo Ltd
- **Location:** Greater London, UK
- **Contract:** Internship / Graduate position
- **Skills:** Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, C++ (Programming Language), Information Engineering, Python (Programming Language), Data Pipelines
- **Published:** August 26, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.collegerecruiter.com/job/2815180578-founding-software-engineer

## About the Role

* Strong Python and production-grade data engineering experience
 * C++ or Rust is a bonus, not a requirement
 * Background in a fund, bank or risk environment (or comparable exposure to serious financial datasets)
 * A working understanding of portfolio risk, backtesting, or systematic strategy concepts, gained through real projects rather than just interest
 * C++ or Rust is a bonus, not a requirement
 * Exceptional recent graduates with strong relevant internships (e.g. at top quant funds) will also be considered
 * Comfortable with ambiguity and genuine ownership in an early-stage environment

## Description

London preferred, open to strong candidates across the UK

We're working with an early-stage fintech startup building a next-generation platform for professional investors, covering portfolio risk analytics, scenario modelling, and an AI-driven research layer that sits on top of a genuinely massive financial dataset. The company is already live with paying fund clients and closing in on a seed round.

They're hiring two Founding Engineers to join at the ground floor. This isn't a "join a team" role, it's ownership of entire systems: from the underlying math and data pipelines through to the APIs and the interfaces that traders and analysts actually use.

What you'll be doing

 * Building and owning risk models, backtesting infrastructure, and scenario/stress-testing tools
 * Working with large-scale, point-in-time financial datasets at serious volume
 * Shaping the data and strategy layer that powers an AI research assistant for professional investors
 * Making real architectural calls in a small, fast-moving team

What we're looking for

 * Strong Python and production-grade data engineering experience
 * C++ or Rust is a bonus, not a requirement
 * Background in a fund, bank or risk environment (or comparable exposure to serious financial datasets)
 * A working understanding of portfolio risk, backtesting, or systematic strategy concepts, gained through real projects rather than just interest
 * C++ or Rust is a bonus, not a requirement
 * Exceptional recent graduates with strong relevant internships (e.g. at top quant funds) will also be considered
 * Comfortable with ambiguity and genuine ownership in an early-stage environment

Process:

Python-based technical exercise focused on working with large datasets, followed by a conversation with the founders.

Get in touch if this sounds like you, or if you know someone who fits.


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