Lead Engineer (AI)

TL;DR

Lead Engineer (AI): Building and scaling operational AI MVPs within a regulated financial environment with an accent on Agentic AI, RAG, and production-grade system reliability. Focus on bridging applied research with scalable engineering solutions to drive the Group’s Data and AI technology strategy.

Location: Must be based in the UK (Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, or Manchester) with a hybrid work requirement of at least 40% in-office attendance.

Salary: £69,624 – £105,000

Company

A major innovative financial institution shaping the future of banking through technology and inclusive practices.

What you will do

• Lead the development of operational AI MVPs for business platforms.
• Evaluate AI methods and technologies through experimentation and proof-of-concepts.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify and solve critical AI business challenges.
• Support the delivery of scalable AI solutions into production environments.
• Mentor team members and provide technical direction within the Data & AI unit.
• Ensure AI solutions meet high standards for reliability, security, and explainability.

Requirements

• Proven experience engineering technology solutions in complex production environments.
• Applied AI/ML and GenAI experience including RAG, tool use, and guardrails.
• Strong understanding of operational and AI risk management in regulated environments.
• Experience working in agile teams with modern SDLC tooling.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and engage stakeholders on technical strategy.
• Must be eligible to work in the UK and able to attend the office at least 40% of the time.

Nice to have

• Experience delivering technology solutions in regulated industries, preferably financial services.
• Background in research, either in industry or through an advanced degree.
• Experience developing customer-facing platforms at scale.
• Experience partnering with Enterprise Architecture functions.

Culture & Benefits

• Generous pension contribution of up to 15%.
• Annual performance-related bonus and share schemes.
• 30 days of holiday plus bank holidays.
• Comprehensive wellbeing initiatives and parental leave policies.
• Inclusive work environment with a focus on diversity and belonging.