Lead Software Engineer Maya, tech startup Up to £85k salary + equity Bristol, hybrid working

If the chance to transform a broken part of the global automotive industry through digitalisation excites you and you want to own that journey, not just join it, then this could be the place for you.

Maya

Maya is a tech startup reinventing tyre retail from the inside out, starting with dealerships. This platform is changing how the world manages, buys and relates with car tyres, starting with car dealerships. The mission is to make tyre retail the fastest, most informed, and most convenient customer journey, anywhere in the world.

Already in live trials with a progressive UK dealer group and in active planning with other markets and Vehicle Manufacturers, this is incredible timing to join a startup like this one. You’ll work side-by-side with a founder who knows the industry, brings real clients, and has a sharp commercial focus. To take the next step, it’s time to bring development in house; which is where you come in.

The Role

This is a rare opportunity to co-create the platform from the ground up, shaping the code, the product, and the future of the company alongside the founder. So far, the platform has been outsourced to a brilliant development agency who will continue to support you as you take ownership, but the future of the technical strategy is largely down to you.

As it stands the stack includes a TypeScript serverless backend built on AWS Lambda, using Cognito for authentication and RDS for data storage, all orchestrated with the Serverless Framework. A Next.js frontend has been combined with static with server-side rendering, and Strapi CMS for content management.

The person with the right level of experience will be questioning the technical decisions that have been made so far and offer their solutions to building a scalable platform that is fit for purpose. The longer-term build stack is not set in stone and you will have creative freedom to build a stack with an architecture that works for Maya.

We’re not looking for a traditional employee. This is a role designed for someone who doesn’t need to be told what to do, and genuinely wants to build something meaningful and lasting. This is a perfect role for someone who is ready to commit to the long term, but who will also thrive in the energy and urgency of a venture that’s gaining momentum.

What You'll Be Doing

Architecting, developing and documenting Maya’s early product environment with clean, scalable code Collaborating closely with the founder on product strategy, problem-solving, and day-to-day decisions Exploring smart ways to integrate AI and data-led features that improve confidence, speed, and trust throughout Supporting live trials, gathering feedback, and iterating quickly and thoughtfully

What We're Looking For

You don’t need experience in tyres or automotive, that’s already covered. What matters is your ability to build, think critically, and care deeply about the things you create.

This role suits someone who thrives in the early stages where problems aren’t always defined, and solutions are shaped in real time. Ideally, you’ll bring:

Experience building a high performing software platform for a product driven startup Full stack or back-end development experience, with a solid understanding of infrastructure and product thinking Interest or experience in building tools powered by AI, LLMs, or real-time data A passion for simple, user-first UX—particularly chat-style or advisor-facing tools A self-starting mindset, with strong communication and collaboration habits An appreciation for the balance between technical excellence and commercial pace

We’re not hiring in the traditional sense. We’re building something. If that excites you and you can articulate why you’re the right person to do that, we want to hear from you.