Who we are
Jumpstart
is a startup hiring platform partnering with a small, curated group of ambitious VC-backed startups in the UK. Our job is not to sell you roles, it’s to make sure that when you do move, it’s into a place where you’ll actually get to build, learn, and have real impact.
About the role
You will join a Seed/Series A VC-backed startup as one of the first backend engineering hires, with significant ownership over core systems, data models, and backend architecture. You’ll work closely with founders, frontend, and product to design and build the foundations the company will scale on and help define the technical standards and engineering culture that future hires will inherit.
What you’ll work on
Most backend roles today are about maintaining systems someone else designed.
This one is different.
At our partner startups, you’ll be trusted as a high-agency backend engineer to build and evolve core systems from day one. You’ll own the hardest problems early: data, performance, reliability, and scale; and help shape the long-term technical direction of the product.
You will:
Design, build, and scale backend systems used by thousands or millions of users
Own core services end-to-end, from data modeling and APIs to production reliability
Make architectural decisions around databases, infrastructure, and system boundaries
Work directly with founders, frontend engineers, and PMs. No layers, no handoffs
Ship quickly, iterate relentlessly, and see immediate real-world impact
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for engineers who are:
Strong backend builders with solid fundamentals in systems and data
Comfortable with modern backend tooling (e.g. TypeScript/Node, Python, or similar)
Thoughtful about tradeoffs around performance, reliability, and maintainability
Product-minded: you care about outcomes, not just elegant abstractions
Autonomous, pragmatic, and excited by early-stage or fast-moving environments
Clear communicators who enjoy collaborating beyond engineering
We care far more about your ability to reason, design, and own problems than about any specific language, framework, or cloud provider.
How our process works
01: Apply to Jumpstart
Apply in \~2 minutes
HERE
with your CV and anything you’ve built (GitHub, side projects, startups). If it looks like a fit, you’ll have a short call with our in‑house CTO. No live coding. No take‑homes. Just a chat to understand how you think as an engineer.
02: Join the platform
Once accepted, you’ll create a profile and get access to a curated set of early‑stage engineering roles, all from vetted VC‑backed startups.
03: CTOs pitch to you
We share your profile with 100+ CTOs in our network. Strong candidates often receive multiple direct messages from CTOs pitching their role, team, and product.
04: Get support landing your role
You’ll get access to a hotline with our in-house CTO
Patrick
, with 1-1 support on everything from initial interview support, to case study feedback, all the way through to final offer negotiation \& support.
What makes this different
Unparalleled access:
CTOs pitch to you and your profile is shared with 100s of startups
Curated matching:
We filter hard on both sides
Signal over noise:
No mass applications or recruiter spam
Real ownership:
Roles where engineers shape the product and culture
UK-focused:
Leading UK startups, remote-friendly or London-based
What you get
Access to roles that aren’t publicly advertised
Optional 1:1 prep with experienced engineers, founders, or CTOs
A long-term community of builders, potential collaborators \& co-founders