Future Tech Jobs Future Tech Jobs

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
154
Salary range
£28k – £300k
Hiring companies
51
View 154 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

154 live roles

See all 154 roles →

Forward Deployed AI Engineer - Huxley

This role involves leading client engagements for an AI company that automates regulatory and operational reporting for financial and energy markets. Responsibilities include scoping requirements, defining delivery plans, and translating business needs into technical direction. The role is highly client-facing and requires strong AI literacy and near-native French proficiency.

eFinancialCareers London, United Kingdom
On-site Permanent

Cloud Engineer AI

This role involves operating and enhancing a cloud-based AI platform across Azure and SaaS services, ensuring reliability, security, and usability for enterprise developers and users. The engineer will manage day-to-day operations, support platform monitoring and cost optimisation, and collaborate with DevSecOps and AI Centre of Excellence teams to establish reusable patterns and secure deployment practices. It's a hands-on position focused on production-grade platform stability and operational excellence.

eFinancialCareers London, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent
Isomorphic Labs logo

Senior Security Engineer (AI Safety), London or Lausanne

This role involves securing AI-driven drug discovery systems by designing risk frameworks, protecting machine learning artifacts, and implementing security controls across AI infrastructure. The engineer will lead incident response for AI-specific threats, enforce compliance with global regulations, and develop safety protocols for autonomous agentic workflows and large language models within a high-stakes scientific environment.

Isomorphic Labs United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent
PhysicsX logo

Senior Software Engineer - AI Workbench

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
Fractile logo

PCBA Product Engineer – AI Hardware

Fractile is building silicon, systems, and software which will redefine the frontier of AI: running the world’s most advanced models at radically higher speed and lower cost. We have an exceptional team across hardware and software capable of bringing about...

Fractile United Kingdom
HAYS Specialist Recruitment logo

Senior AI/ML Engineer (LLM's / RAG Pipeline Development)

This role involves hands-on development and deployment of LLM-based applications into production environments. The Senior AI/ML Engineer will bridge the gap between advanced AI/ML and production-grade software, working in a newly formed R&D team to influence how AI capabilities are embedded into existing and new products. The role offers opportunities for leadership and growth within a fast-growing, market-leading company.

HAYS Specialist Recruitment Guildford, United Kingdom £85,000 – £125,000 pa
On-site Permanent

Senior AI/ML Engineer

This role involves designing, building, and deploying AI-driven systems using state-of-the-art large language models and agent-based systems. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to translate complex problems into scalable AI solutions, optimize system performance, and contribute to the overall AI strategy. The company is at the forefront of applied AI, focusing on automating manual workflows and enhancing decision-making processes.

Platform Recruitment London, United Kingdom £90,000 – £120,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Flexible

Senior AI Platform Engineer

This role involves designing and building an AI-driven platform that powers next-generation design systems and agentic workflows. Responsibilities include developing orchestration layers, transforming data into scalable capabilities, and creating APIs and integrations. You will work closely with product and design teams to deliver high-quality, user-focused solutions.

Harnham - Data and Analytics Recruitment Glasgow, Alba / Scotland, G2 1AL, United Kingdom £110,000 – £130,000 pa
Remote Permanent
See all 154 roles →
Top hirers

Companies hiring ai engineers

See all companies →
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.

Hiring ai engineers?

Post your role in 90 seconds and reach the specialist audience that already reads this page.

Post a job → See pricing

🍪 Basic, anonymous analytics (aggregate counts only, never shared) are always on. Accept to also enable third-party tools — Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, Mixpanel, Leadfeeder — which help us match you with relevant Artificial Intelligence roles. We never sell your data or use it for cross-site advertising. See our Cookie Policy.