Tech Lead

Tech Lead Overview

Thirdfort is dedicated to combating fraud and money laundering, aiming to protect society during significant financial transactions. Having already safeguarded over three million individuals, the company addresses the rising costs of fraud and regulation, which amount to over £100 billion annually in the UK. Founded by Olly and Jack, inspired by a personal experience of fraud, Thirdfort develops innovative anti-fraud technology to streamline and secure complex transactions. Their platform enables regulated professionals such as lawyers, estate agents, and accountants to verify client identities, transfer funds, and conduct document checks securely through app-based solutions, facial recognition, and open banking integrations. Trusted by over 1,500 businesses, the company is regulated by the FCA and has raised more than $33 million from prominent fintech investors and industry founders.

About the Role

The company is seeking a Tech Lead (IC4) to join one of their product teams, providing essential technical guidance and leadership. This role is suited for someone passionate about solving complex problems, owning technical strategy within a specific domain, and mentoring other engineers through example and guidance. The Tech Lead will influence how systems are designed, built, and evolved, working closely with Product, Design, and engineering leadership. While not responsible for direct management, the Tech Lead will set technical standards, take ownership of outcomes, and ensure high-quality delivery. The role requires the ability to work in the London office at least two days per week to foster team collaboration, especially during this growth phase.

Team and Working Environment

The engineering teams are cross-functional, composed of specialists working alongside Product Managers, Designers, and stakeholders. The focus is on delivering value iteratively while maintaining high standards for security, quality, and reliability. The organization employs a blend of Scrum, Shape Up, and continuous delivery methodologies, encouraging senior engineers to influence and improve operational practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership by guiding design decisions and architectural strategies within your team and domain.
• Develop and deliver complex, secure, scalable, and maintainable features and systems.
• Take end-to-end ownership of technical outcomes, from initial discovery and design to deployment and ongoing operation.
• Lead by example in adopting AI-assisted engineering tools, leveraging AI to speed up development while maintaining strong engineering judgment.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive tasks and improve development workflows through AI-enabled practices.
• Represent the engineering function at an organizational level, collaborating with stakeholders across various departments to influence decisions and manage trade-offs.
• Mentor and support engineers’ technical growth, fostering confidence and skill development.
• Maintain high standards for code quality, testing, observability, and operational excellence.
• Work closely with Product and Design teams to shape technical solutions, challenge assumptions, and manage trade-offs effectively.
• Lead technical discussions, reviews, incident investigations, and promote continuous learning and improvement.
• Contribute to wider engineering initiatives and help establish organizational standards.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Experience actively using AI-assisted engineering tools and demonstrating their positive impact on software development.
• Significant experience in building and operating production software in modern environments.
• Proven leadership in designing and delivering complex systems or domains.
• Comfort with both backend and frontend technologies such as Go, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Python.
• Strong understanding of APIs, data modeling, testing strategies, and system design principles.
• Enjoy mentoring and influencing other engineers without relying on formal authority.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of articulating technical ideas clearly to diverse audiences.
• Experience working in regulated environments where quality and trust are essential.
• Familiarity with the company’s tech stack, including Go, TypeScript, React, React Native, Temporal, PostgreSQL, and GCP, as well as AI tools for software engineering.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of £100,000 plus share options for all UK-based employees.
• Annual leave starting at 26 days, increasing to 30 days with tenure, with options to purchase additional days.
• Uncapped budget for personal development and training.
• Flexible working hours to support work-life balance.
• Private healthcare coverage through AXA.
• Enhanced parental and sick leave policies.
• A culture committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds.
• Opportunities to work across various technologies and contribute to impactful projects.

Work Pattern

Hybrid working model, requiring presence in the London office at least two days per week.

Visa Sponsorship

We offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Additional Information

Thirdfort emphasizes a supportive environment where employees are trusted and valued. They are committed to building an inclusive culture and support reasonable adjustments during the application process. The company may utilize AI tools to assist in recruitment activities, but final hiring decisions are made by human recruiters. For more details on data processing, applicants are encouraged to contact the company directly.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

Visa Sponsorship May be