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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
152
Salary range
£28k – £300k
Hiring companies
51
View 152 live roles → Get an alert

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

£28k – £300k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 297 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

By seniority
£k base
Entry
35
55
2 jobs
Junior
45
95
1 job
Mid
28
130
48 jobs
Senior
40
300
38 jobs
Lead
60
150
10 jobs
Director
120
209
3 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 140 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

Python
74%
AWS
34%
Azure
34%
AI
28%
LangChain
26%
Machine Learning
26%
CI/CD
25%
RAG
23%
LLMs
22%
Kubernetes
21%
Generative AI
20%
GCP
19%
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

152 live roles

See all 152 roles →

AI Engineer - Financial Service Consulting

This role involves building production-grade AI solutions and intelligent workflows for financial services, working with LLMs, RAG pipelines, and scalable backend services. You will collaborate with engineering, architecture, and business teams to deploy and govern AI systems in a regulated environment.

Datatech Queen Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent

AI Engineer - Cititec Talent Ltd

The Senior AI Engineer will work on a large-scale data and platform transformation, focusing on migrating a complex data estate from Oracle to a Microsoft-centric architecture. Key responsibilities include applying AI and GenAI to enhance developer productivity, engineering throughput, and modern engineering practices, particularly in data migration, code generation, and developer tooling.

eFinancialCareers London, United Kingdom
Hybrid Contract

AI Engineer - McGregor Boyall

Design and deploy production-grade AI solutions on Microsoft Azure, focusing on LLM-powered applications for document intelligence, enterprise search, and knowledge management. Build scalable AI pipelines using LangChain, LangGraph, and MLOps/LLMOps practices in a hybrid environment. Collaborate with data and platform engineers to deliver secure, enterprise-level AI services.

eFinancialCareers London, United Kingdom £85,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent
Bodyswaps logo

Senior AI Engineer

This role involves leading a two-year R&D project to develop emotionally responsive virtual humans for soft-skills training. Responsibilities include setting technical direction, building AI systems that perceive and respond naturally, and collaborating across multiple disciplines to turn research into a reliable product.

Bodyswaps London, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent
PhysicsX logo

Senior AI Engineer - Applied

About us PhysicsX is a deep-tech company with roots in numerical physics and Formula One, dedicated to accelerating hardware innovation at the speed of software. We are building an AI-driven simulation software stack for engineering and manufacturing across advanced industries....

PhysicsX London, United Kingdom
PhysicsX logo

Senior AI Engineer - Platform

About us PhysicsX is a deep-tech company with roots in numerical physics and Formula One, dedicated to accelerating hardware innovation at the speed of software. We are building an AI-driven simulation software stack for engineering and manufacturing across advanced industries....

PhysicsX London, United Kingdom

Agentic AI Engineer

Design and implement agentic AI systems using LLM frameworks within a regulated MedTech environment. Develop and deploy generative AI solutions into production, leveraging Python and PySpark for scalable data processing. Integrate LLM-driven workflows like Claude Code to enable real-time decision-making across intelligent systems.

Opus Recruitment Solutions London, United Kingdom £500 – £600 pd
Remote Contract Clearance Required

Senior AI Engineer

As a Senior AI Engineer, you will lead the design, development, and deployment of enterprise-grade AI solutions, leveraging advanced technologies like LLMs, RAG, and Azure AI services. You will provide technical leadership, establish best practices, and mentor team members while ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.

Adria Solutions Manchester, United Kingdom £75,000 – £110,000 pa
On-site Permanent
See all 152 roles →
Top hirers

Companies hiring ai engineers

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Hiring locations

Where this role is hiring

The locations with the most live listings for this role today.

London

Location
46 open

Manchester

Location
7 open

Edinburgh

Location
3 open

Cambridge

Location
3 open

Birmingham

Location
2 open

Cardiff

Location
2 open
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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