Founders Associate

We are a Sheffield based start-up providing expert engineering consultancy to a variety of clients and industries. We primarily focus on engineered product design, and work in a range of industries and contexts from quantum computing and biotech to heavy industry and animal welfare. We have a focus on ethical and sustainable delivery, but that means more to us than just bamboo straws and tote bags - we choose to work on projects that matter, work to deliver the best solution for our clients no matter what, and commit to doing so without compromising our values.

We're looking for a Founder's Associate to work directly with leadership on the most important and varied challenges facing a rapidly scaling deep-tech consultancy. This is not a typical graduate scheme—you'll operate as a force multiplier for the founders, taking ownership of high‑stakes projects from day one and helping to shape the company's trajectory.

About you

We value drive, culture fit, and a track‑record of exceptional achievement above all else, but the competencies, interests, and attributes below are highly desirable:

• Outstanding academic background—likely from a rigorous discipline (Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, CS, Philosophy, Economics) at a top university, with a track record that stands out.
• Charisma and strong communication skills that let you context‑switch between rallying a team, engaging with clients, and explaining complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to get hard things done: founded something, shipped a project that mattered, led a team, won a competition, or otherwise proved you don't just think about impact—you create it.
• Genuine intellectual curiosity about how the world works and how to make it better. You probably follow frontier tech development, think seriously about which problems matter most, and have opinions on how to solve them.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity—you can take an ill‑defined problem, break it down, and drive it to completion without hand‑holding.
• Startup mentality: high agency, low ego, willing to do whatever it takes. One day it's financial modeling, the next it's client strategy, the next it's helping debug a critical deliverable.

Alongside the above, the below competencies will strengthen an application:

• Quantitative fluency: confident with data analysis, modeling, and tools like Python, SQL, or advanced Excel.
• Technical literacy: you may not be an engineer, but you can hold your own in technical conversations and quickly understand complex systems.
• Commercial instinct: understanding of business fundamentals, deal structuring, or prior exposure to startups/consulting/venture.
• Writing ability: can produce sharp, persuasive prose for anything from investor updates to policy proposals.
• Track record of going deep: whether it's a research project, side venture, or competitive pursuit, you've demonstrated the ability to develop genuine expertise in something.

This role is perfect for someone who wants maximum learning velocity, direct exposure to company building, and a genuine shot at leadership responsibility in a company solving problems that matter.