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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 →

Senior AI Engineer

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior AI Engineer (Manager) to join our IT (EA & Technology Platforms) team, based in A&O Shearman's Belfast or London office.What you will doReporting to the AI Platform Owner, this role will be...

A&O Shearman Hatfield Heath, Essex, CM22 7EA, United Kingdom

Senior AI Engineer

This role involves leading the technical strategy and implementation of AI and machine learning solutions across the firm, from model development to deployment and integration. The Senior AI Engineer will manage a team of professionals, collaborate with business stakeholders to identify use cases, and guide external vendors while ensuring scalable, secure, and best-practice-aligned AI architectures. The position plays a key leadership role in shaping the firm's AI platform and delivering measurable business value through advanced technology.

A&O Shearman Craigavon, County Armagh, United Kingdom

Lead Site Reliability Engineer (AI/ML)

Lead the end-to-end deployment and operationalization of AI/ML models, ensuring scalability, reliability, and alignment with business goals. Establish monitoring frameworks, drive MLOps best practices, and lead incident response for AI systems. Collaborate across engineering, product, and compliance teams to ensure ethical, secure, and high-performing AI deployments.

Mastercard Swords, Fingal, Ireland

Lead Site Reliability Engineer (AI/ML)

Lead the end-to-end deployment and operationalization of AI/ML models, ensuring scalability, reliability, and alignment with business objectives. Establish monitoring frameworks, drive MLOps best practices, and lead incident response for AI systems in production. Collaborate across engineering, risk, and compliance teams to ensure ethical, secure, and compliant AI deployments.

Mastercard Maynooth, Kildare County, Ireland

Software Engineer, AI Video

Develop AI-driven video processing solutions within a deep tech environment, focusing on scalable media delivery and real-time systems. Work with Python and modern cloud infrastructure, integrating AI and video technologies to enhance content delivery. Collaborate on building maintainable, tested software for immersive media platforms.

Enterprise Recruitment Sheldon Square, London, United Kingdom £60,000 – £90,000 pa
W

Senior Software Engineer (Product, AI Portal)

Build and operate cloud-based software products for internal and external users, focusing on services, APIs, integrations, and web interfaces within a high-ownership, end-to-end team. Work across microservices, frontends, and cloud infrastructure to improve reliability and customer experience while supporting production systems and partner integrations.

Wayve London, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent
W

Senior Machine Learning Engineer, AI Performance

This role involves taking machine learning models from training to production deployment, focusing on optimising model performance under strict runtime constraints such as latency, memory, and power. The engineer will apply techniques like quantisation and distillation, work closely with performance and inference teams, and ensure models meet on-vehicle deployment requirements. The position emphasizes hands-on iteration in PyTorch and cross-functional collaboration in a high-ownership environment.

Wayve London, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent

Associate Professor or DTU Tenure Track Assistant Professor in AI-Driven Synthetic Biology and Biochemical Engineering

This role involves leading an independent research program at the intersection of synthetic biology, biochemical engineering, and AI. The candidate will integrate machine learning with experimental methods to engineer biological systems for applications in biotechnology, sustainability, and therapeutics. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary collaboration, securing external funding, and contributing to teaching and PhD supervision at DTU.

Technical University of Denmark Lyngby - Denmark, Europe, United Kingdom
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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