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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
138
Salary range
£30k – £108k
Hiring companies
61
View 138 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

£30k – £108k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 400 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility
32% of listings advertise a salary — up from 0% the year before.
By seniority
£k base
Junior
30
77
5 jobs
Mid
45
100
68 jobs
Senior
60
130
67 jobs
Lead
60
149
24 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 155 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

Python
74%
RAG
35%
Machine Learning
30%
AWS
30%
Azure
30%
LangChain
27%
CI/CD
26%
Prompt Engineering
25%
Generative AI
21%
LLMs
21%
SQL
20%
LLM
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

138 live roles

See all 138 roles →

Principal AI Engineer

Lead the technical direction of AI systems in high-stakes environments, focusing on computer vision, edge AI, and AI assurance. Work with multi-modal sensors and NVIDIA Jetson platforms to develop robust real-time tracking solutions. Contribute to research, prototyping, and best practices across the AI engineering lifecycle while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Synoptix Stoke Gifford, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom £65,000 – £85,000 pa

Junior AI Engineer

This role involves supporting the development and deployment of AI-driven automation solutions, including chatbots and virtual assistants, using tools like Microsoft Copilot Studio. The engineer will collaborate across teams to identify AI opportunities, test emerging technologies, and help implement practical AI applications. It is a hands-on position focused on learning, experimentation, and applying AI to real-world business processes.

WEG Tech Coventry, West Midlands (county), United Kingdom £31,236 – £34,610 pa

Lead AI Engineer (Leeds / Edinburgh)

Lead the design and implementation of AI systems within a regulatory technology environment, focusing on LLM-enabled architectures, reusable solution patterns, and end-to-end technical delivery. Drive standards for prompt engineering, evaluation, and AI observability while collaborating with senior stakeholders across key regulatory domains. Work in a hybrid model with a strong emphasis on secure, scalable, and compliant AI deployment.

Hays Technology Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom £70,000 – £108,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

Senior AI Engineer (Gen AI & RAG)

Design and implement production-grade generative AI systems with a focus on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and agentic workflows. Develop scalable, reliable AI pipelines using domain-specific data and contribute to evaluation frameworks that ensure correctness and business alignment. Collaborate closely with platform and product teams to bring AI capabilities from experimentation to deployment.

The Portfolio Group Manchester, United Kingdom £80,000 – £100,000 pa
Multiverse logo

Staff AI Engineer - AI Transformation

This role involves designing and building a production-grade agentic operating system to transform how Multiverse functions internally. You'll architect multi-agent coordination, tool integrations, evaluation frameworks, and cost-efficient AI systems that serve as a blueprint for AI-first operations. The position emphasizes full-stack delivery, technical mentorship, and close collaboration across engineering and product teams to ship high-impact AI systems that redefine organizational workflows.

Multiverse London, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required
Multiverse logo

Staff AI Engineer , Edinburgh

This role involves designing and building a production-grade internal agentic operating system to transform how Multiverse functions as an AI-first organisation. You'll architect multi-agent coordination, evaluation frameworks, cost-efficient systems, and integrations across existing platforms, while setting technical standards and mentoring engineers. The work directly shapes both internal transformation and the broader blueprint for AI adoption in workforce development.

Multiverse Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

Senior AI Engineer - Manchester

Lead the design and deployment of AI solutions including automation, RAG, and LLM-based workflows, working closely with stakeholders to deliver strategic initiatives. Mentor junior engineers and guide technical architecture while ensuring systems are secure, scalable, and compliant. Focus on hands-on development and continuous optimisation of AI systems to drive measurable business impact.

Circle Recruitment Manchester, United Kingdom £60,000 – £80,000 pa

Senior AI Engineer

This role involves designing and building multimodal AI systems that process text, audio, and video data to enhance customer experience across multiple channels. The engineer will lead development of AI-driven features such as automated content summarisation and AI-generated avatars, working closely with stakeholders and a multidisciplinary data team. The position emphasizes production deployment and technical leadership within a mature AI environment.

Harnham - Data and Analytics Recruitment London, United Kingdom £100,000 – £140,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent
See all 138 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
49 open

Manchester

Location
8 open

Cambridge

Location
3 open

Edinburgh

Location
2 open

Bristol

Location
2 open

Preston

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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