AI Engineer Jobs

Developers who build and deploy AI systems, from research to production. A role that bridges the gap between theory and application, with a focus on creating intelligent software solutions.

Open roles
100
Salary range
£30k – £110k
Hiring companies
67

AI Engineers are at the forefront of technological innovation, designing and implementing AI systems that solve complex problems. They work across a range of industries, from tech giants to research-heavy startups, and their role involves both theoretical research and practical application. AI Engineers are responsible for developing algorithms, models, and systems that can learn from data, make predictions, and automate tasks. This role requires a strong foundation in computer science, mathematics, and statistics, as well as proficiency in programming languages like Python and frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch.

What the role does

Inside the role of an AI Engineer

A typical week for an AI Engineer is a mix of research, development, and collaboration. They spend time coding, testing, and refining models, while also engaging with cross-functional teams to integrate AI solutions into existing systems.

  1. 01
    Design and implement machine learning models
  2. 02
    Optimise algorithms for performance and efficiency
  3. 03
    Collaborate with data scientists and software engineers
  4. 04
    Conduct experiments and analyse results
  5. 05
    Document processes and findings
  6. 06
    Stay updated with the latest AI research and tools
Salary on the board

£30k – £110k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 418 UK listings priced in pounds in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility
34% of listings advertise a salary — up from 0% the year before.
By seniority
£k base
Mid
45
99
63 jobs
Senior
60
120
82 jobs
Lead
62
148
25 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 143 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

Python
76%
RAG
37%
AWS
30%
Azure
30%
Machine Learning
29%
LangChain
28%
CI/CD
28%
Prompt Engineering
27%
Generative AI
23%
LLMs
23%
SQL
21%
LLM
20%
Career ladder

From Junior to Principal

A typical UK progression for ai engineers. Years are guidance — strong people move faster, and many senior folks sidestep into research, product or management.

  1. Level 1

    Junior AI Engineer

    0–2 yrs

    Assist in the development and testing of AI models, with a focus on learning and gaining hands-on experience.

  2. Level 2

    AI Engineer

    2–5 yrs

    Take ownership of specific projects, from initial design to deployment, and contribute to the overall architecture of AI systems.

  3. Level 3

    Senior AI Engineer

    5–8 yrs

    Lead the development of complex AI solutions, mentor junior team members, and ensure the quality and reliability of AI systems.

  4. Level 4

    Principal AI Engineer

    8+ yrs

    Drive strategic initiatives, innovate in AI research, and guide the technical direction of the organisation.

Pathway

How to become a AI Engineer

There's no single route, but most people follow some version of these steps.

  1. 1

    Learn the Fundamentals

    Gain a strong foundation in computer science, mathematics, and statistics. Familiarise yourself with programming languages like Python and AI frameworks.

  2. 2

    Build Practical Skills

    Work on personal or open-source projects to apply your knowledge. Participate in hackathons and coding challenges to gain real-world experience.

  3. 3

    Gain Industry Experience

    Start your career as a Junior AI Engineer, working on smaller projects and learning from more experienced colleagues.

  4. 4

    Specialise in a Domain

    Choose a specific area of AI, such as computer vision or natural language processing, and deepen your expertise in that domain.

  5. 5

    Lead Projects

    Take on more responsibility by leading AI projects, managing teams, and ensuring the successful delivery of AI solutions.

  6. 6

    Innovate and Influence

    Contribute to cutting-edge research, influence the direction of AI in your organisation, and mentor the next generation of AI Engineers.

Live jobs

100 live roles

See all 100 roles →
Spotlight
College of Policing logo

PoliceAI: Senior AI Engineer

As a Senior AI Engineer at PoliceAI, you will lead the design, development, and deployment of AI-enabled products, translating policing needs into technical solutions. You will work with multidisciplinary teams to build secure, maintainable, and scalable services, and support the testing, evaluation, and validation of AI products.

College of Policing London, Eng, United Kingdom £78,000 – £85,000 pa
Remote Contract

AI Engineer

This role involves building end-to-end AI solutions, from model selection and prompt engineering to integration and deployment. You'll work closely with stakeholders to ensure solutions are accurate, governed, and aligned with business needs, while also refining and monitoring them in a fast-paced environment.

Robert Walters Bolton, United Kingdom £50,000 – £55,000 pa
On-site Permanent

AI Engineer

This role involves leading the technical delivery of AI, Machine Learning, and Algorithmic solutions for complex Defence and Security projects. You will work with multidisciplinary teams, provide technical oversight, engage with customers, and contribute to business development and technical standards.

Meritus Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom £50,000 – £90,000 pa

AI Engineer

This role involves leading the design, prototyping, and evaluation of OpenAI-powered solutions to enhance Cyber Security Operations Centre (SOC) activities. You will work closely with the AI Solution Architect and Business Analyst to develop and validate proof-of-concepts, focusing on the practical application of Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and agentic AI in real-world cyber use cases.

Damia Group United Kingdom £400 – £460 pd

AI Engineer

This role involves building and integrating AI prototypes and tools for enterprise legal applications. You will work on complex tasks using LLMs and agentic technologies, focusing on speed and quality of execution. The team values a hacker mentality and a passion for learning.

Luminance Cambridge, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent

AI Engineer

As an AI Software Engineer, you will design, develop, and implement AI-powered applications and automation solutions, working across the full development lifecycle. You will collaborate with stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI workflows, build web applications using PHP and React, and manage SQL databases, all while contributing to the company's AI innovation efforts.

Hays Technology United Kingdom £45,000 – £55,000 pa
HAYS Specialist Recruitment logo

AI Engineer

As an AI Engineer, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deploy data pipelines, machine learning models, and AI-enabled applications. Your role involves working with modern data and AI technologies to deliver scalable, production-ready solutions that drive business value through analytics, automation, and digital transformation.

HAYS Specialist Recruitment Manchester, United Kingdom
On-site Permanent Clearance Required

AI Engineer

AI EngineerSalary: Up to £85,000Location: Fully remote – UKThe RoleWe’re looking for an AI Engineer to build and deliver AI-powered features for a large-scale enterprise SaaS platform. You’ll work closely with Product, Design and Engineering to turn ideas into reliable,...

Ronald James Ne126Dx, United Kingdom £60,000 – £85,000 pa
FAQs

Common questions

  • Python is the most widely used language in AI, but knowledge of C++, Java, and R can also be beneficial.

  • Strong programming skills, a solid understanding of algorithms and data structures, and proficiency in machine learning frameworks are crucial.

  • While a PhD can be beneficial, especially for research roles, many successful AI Engineers have backgrounds in computer science or related fields without a PhD.

  • Salaries for AI Engineers can vary widely based on experience, location, and industry. For more detailed salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page.

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