Lead AI Engineer

Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment
London, United Kingdom
Today
£85,000 pa

Salary

£85,000 pa

Job Type
Permanent
Work Pattern
Full-time
Work Location
Hybrid
Seniority
Lead
Education
Degree
Visa Sponsorship
Available
Posted
30 Apr 2026 (Today)

Benefits

10% annual bonus Up to 8% matched pension 25 days annual leave Healthcare support Life insurance Enhanced parental leave

Lead AI Engineer

London (Hybrid) | £85,000 + 10% bonus

This is a genuinely hands on lead AI engineering role where you will help shape how AI is designed, built and used across a large, established organisation. You will work closely with a newly formed AI leadership team, bringing structure, best practice and technical depth to an internal AI function that is still early in its maturity.

The Company

They are part of a large international media and advertising group operating across multiple markets. Their focus is on combining technology, data and creativity to deliver impactful advertising solutions across physical and digital environments. Technology and AI are becoming increasingly central to how the business operates internally, with strong backing to build scalable, responsible AI capabilities.

The Role

You will sit within an AI Enablement team, working as a senior technical contributor and trusted partner to the Head of AI and Product. This is not a research role. You will be building, deploying and owning production grade AI systems used by teams across the business.

Responsibilities include:

  • Leading hands on development of internal AI tools and chatbots that automate and improve business processes.
  • Defining and evolving the LLM architecture and tooling, including the use of cloud based AI services and modern LLM frameworks.
  • Turning ambiguous business problems into clear, scalable technical solutions.
  • Building APIs, backend services, automation workflows and data pipelines that support AI capabilities.
  • Deploying, monitoring and iterating on AI solutions in live environments.
  • Setting engineering best practice and mentoring other AI engineers within the team.
  • Working closely with product and non technical stakeholders to ensure solutions deliver measurable business value.

Your Skills & Experience

  • Strong commercial experience as a software or AI engineer, with a focus on backend development.
  • Hands on experience building and integrating AI or LLM powered solutions into production systems.
  • Strong Python skills and experience working in cloud environments, ideally Azure.
  • Solid understanding of software engineering fundamentals including APIs, distributed systems and secure system design.
  • Experience with DevOps or MLOps practices such as CI CD, containerisation and monitoring.
  • The confidence and gravitas to influence technical direction and guide a less mature AI function.
  • A practical, delivery focused mindset with the ability to engage and bring others along the journey.
  • UK experience is preferred, with sponsorship available if required.

What They Offer

  • Base salary of £85,000
  • 10% annual bonus.
  • Up to 8% matched pension.
  • Hybrid working with regular office presence.
  • 25 days annual leave plus additional benefits including healthcare support, life insurance and enhanced parental leave.
  • The opportunity to play a key role in shaping how AI is adopted and scaled across the organisation.

How to Apply

If this sounds like the role for you, apply below or email me at

Related Jobs

View all jobs

AI Software Engineer

Matched Group Warrington, United Kingdom
£55,000 – £80,000 pa Hybrid

AI Senior Software Engineer

Matched Group Warrington, United Kingdom
£55,000 – £80,000 pa Hybrid

AI Software Developer

Matched Group Warrington, United Kingdom
£55,000 – £80,000 pa Hybrid

AI Senior Software Developer

Matched Group Warrington, United Kingdom
£55,000 – £80,000 pa Hybrid

Data Scientist / AI Engineer

Searchability NS&D Cheltenham, United Kingdom
£45,000 – £95,000 pa On-site Clearance Required

AI Engineer - Cardiff

Circle Recruitment Cardiff, Cymru / Wales, CF10 2AF, United Kingdom
£40,000 – £55,000 pa Hybrid

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Where to Advertise AI Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Advertising AI jobs in the UK requires a different approach to most technical hiring. The candidate pool is small, highly informed and in demand across multiple sectors simultaneously. General job boards reach a broad audience but lack the specificity that AI professionals expect — and the filtering mechanisms they rely on. Specialist platforms, direct outreach and academic channels each serve a different part of the market. This guide, published by ArtificialIntelligenceJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise AI roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about time-to-hire across different role types.

New AI Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and Global Companies Reshaping AI Careers

The artificial intelligence job market in the UK is evolving at an extraordinary pace. With record-breaking investment, government backing, and a surge in enterprise adoption, the landscape of AI employers is shifting rapidly. For candidates exploring opportunities on ArtificialIntelligenceJobs.co.uk, understanding who is hiring next is just as important as understanding what skills are in demand. In this article, we explore the new and emerging AI employers to watch in 2026, focusing on organisations that have recently secured funding, won major contracts, or expanded their UK footprint. From cutting-edge startups to global giants doubling down on Britain, these companies represent the next wave of AI career opportunities.

How Many AI Tools Do You Need to Know to Get an AI Job?

If you are job hunting in AI right now it can feel like you are drowning in tools. Every week there is a new framework, a new “must-learn” platform or a new productivity app that everyone on LinkedIn seems to be using. The result is predictable: job seekers panic-learn a long list of tools without actually getting better at delivering outcomes. Here is the truth most hiring managers will quietly agree with. They do not hire you because you know 27 tools. They hire you because you can solve a problem, communicate trade-offs, ship something reliable and improve it with feedback. Tools matter, but only in service of outcomes. So how many AI tools do you actually need to know? For most AI job seekers: fewer than you think. You need a tight core toolkit plus a role-specific layer. Everything else is optional. This guide breaks it down clearly, gives you a simple framework to choose what to learn and shows you how to present your toolset on your CV, portfolio and interviews.