Full Stack Software Engineer

About Chat University

Join Chat University as our first full-time software engineer and help transform how students access UK higher education. We're an AI-powered EdTech startup that has already helped over 40,000 students (1 in 10 UK university applicants) navigate their university applications. Operating in a £7.2 billion EdTech market that's growing at 32% annually, we are positioned at the forefront of educational technology innovation. This is a unique ground-floor opportunity to build the foundation of our engineering team while directly impacting thousands of students' futures.

The Opportunity

As our founding engineer, you'll work directly with our experienced leadership team and technical advisors to build scalable solutions for our rapidly growing user base. This role offers exceptional growth potential with clear pathways to technical leadership as we scale our team.

What You'll Build

Your primary focus will be developing our integrated university application dashboard—a comprehensive platform that guides students through every step of their UK university journey.

You'll be responsible for:

Frontend Development: Building responsive, intuitive React/TypeScript interfaces that make complex application processes simple and engaging.

Backend Systems: Developing robust Python APIs that handle user data, application tracking, and AI-powered recommendations

Feature Ownership: Taking complete ownership of features from conception through deployment, with guidance from our technical advisory board.

System Architecture: Making key technical decisions about our infrastructure and development practices.

Code Quality: Establishing best practices and technical standards for our growing engineering team.

Your Technical Stack

Required Expertise:

• React & TypeScript: For building modern, maintainable frontend applications.
• Python: For developing scalable backend services and APIs.
• 2+ years of professional experience (quality over quantity—exceptional self-taught developers are encouraged to apply).

Technologies You'll Work With:

• FastAPI
• LangChain
• Supabase
• Tailwind CSS
• XState v5
• Rust (growth opportunity for performance-critical components)

What We're Looking For

Technical Excellence:

• Proven experience building production applications with React/TypeScript and Python.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to architect scalable solutions.
• Experience with modern development practices (CI/CD, testing, code review).
• Comfort learning new technologies and adapting to evolving requirements.

Autonomous Work Capabilities:

• Self-motivated with a demonstrated ability to work independently.
• An ownership mindset—you take responsibility for outcomes and drive projects forward.
• Proactive communication—you keep teammates informed and ask questions when needed.
• Strong time management—you deliver quality work consistently and meet commitments.

Cultural Fit:

• A passion for education and making a positive impact on students' lives.
• A collaborative spirit—despite working independently, you value team input and mentorship.
• A growth mindset—eager to learn, receive feedback, and develop professionally.
• A long-term vision—interested in growing with the company over multiple years.

Why Join Chat University?

Professional Growth Opportunities: As the first engineering hire, you'll have direct access to founders and technical advisors, shape our engineering culture from the ground up, and have rapid advancement opportunities.

Competitive Compensation & Benefits: We offer a competitive salary based on experience, flexible working hours, and international exposure collaborating with team members across the UK, Dubai, and South Asia.

Impact & Mission: Transform education access for thousands of students annually by building AI-powered tools that democratize university admissions guidance.

Company Growth Potential: Join a company with proven traction (40,000+ active users) in a massive market (700,000+ annual UK university applicants) with significant opportunities for expansion.