Job Description
This is a remote position.
Freelance Engineer (Initial Rolling Contract -> Lead Engineer -> CTO) at The Players Fund
Remote | Salary to be disclosed + equity - if contract extended
The Players Fund – the UK's first athlete-led VC – empowers athlete investors and backs world-changing startups. For us, technology and automation are strategic differentiators, not afterthoughts. We seek a foundational technical hire to build the intelligent infrastructure that will propel our 470% year-on-year revenue growth and redefine how VC operates at the intersection of sports and tech. You won't be just an IT cog in a large machine; instead you'll be at the cutting edge, architecting data-driven systems to unearth groundbreaking startups and talent before others, continuing our build out of agentic workflows and innovating unique digital engagement between our elite athlete community and visionary founders. Join our young, hungry, tech-focused entrepreneurial team, working alongside best-in-class athletes, seasoned VC investors (ex-Amazon, Founders Factory, Deliveroo), and a network of unicorn entrepreneurs. This journey begins with a focused monthly rolling contract: prove your ability to ship, and a full-time Engineering role with significant equity (which rewards you via a carry split on profitable exited investments) and a clear path to CTO awaits the right individual as we scale. What you will do:
- Design, build, and maintain scalable systems for founder sourcing, investor relations, deal flow management, portfolio support, and internal operations.
- Leverage code (Python, JavaScript, preferred full-stack experience) and cutting-edge AI coding tools (e.g., Cline) to accelerate development.
- Implement and manage no-code/low-code automation solutions (e.g., Zapier, n8n) for process efficiency.
- Optionally, contribute to Go-To-Market (GTM) engineering efforts, potentially utilising tools like Clay for data enrichment and workflow automation, to support our portfolio companies.
- Collaborate directly with the founding team to define the technical roadmap, with a product-centric mindset.
- Transition to a Lead Engineer role, guiding future technical hires and architectural decisions.
To Apply:
Submit your CV and a concise cover letter (0-300 words). In your cover letter, describe a technical project you have conceived and built independently, outside of any paid employment or formal academic coursework. We want to see how you think and build when you define a problem and solution yourself and execute. Include why this type of role is of interest, specifically noting the VC/investor context.
Please apply via Zoho Hires:
Requirements
We are looking for someone who is:
- A proactive problem-solver, comfortable taking ownership in a startup environment.
- Proficient as a full-stack developer with a strong understanding of modern web technologies.
- Eager to embrace and master new tools, including AI-driven development platforms and workflow automation software.
- An excellent communicator, able to articulate technical concepts to a non-technical audience. Comfortable documenting your work, leaving a clear trail of READMEs and well-commented code.
- Potentially a remote coder, comfortable with a modest starting salary but with significant financial upside as we scale. We understand this is below typical market rates in some regions but offer a unique opportunity to be a foundational and equity incentivised member of a high-impact VC firm.
- Demonstrates a "build quickly and learn" mindset.
Benefits
Why join The Players Fund?
- Impact: Play a pivotal role in building the engine of a unique VC fund at the intersection of public figure investing and technology.
- Incentive: Join a rapidly scaling business with equity incentives and a salary that will scale with fast tracked seniority at the business.
- Growth: Fast track to a leadership position and shape the future of our technical strategy.
- Network: Gain exposure to a network of elite athletes and disruptive startup founders.
- Learning: Opportunity to work with a modern, agile tech stack and continuously learn new skills.
Requirements
We are looking for someone who is: A proactive problem-solver, comfortable taking ownership in a startup environment. Proficient as a full-stack developer with a strong understanding of modern web technologies. Eager to embrace and master new tools, including AI-driven development platforms and workflow automation software. An excellent communicator, able to articulate technical concepts to a non-technical audience. Comfortable documenting your work, leaving a clear trail of READMEs and well-commented code. Potentially a remote coder, comfortable with a modest starting salary but with significant financial upside as we scale. We understand this is below typical market rates in some regions but offer a unique opportunity to be a foundational and equity incentivised member of a high-impact VC firm. Demonstrates a "build quickly and learn" mindset.