Lead Technologist

Sustain Recruit
Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Today
£75,000 – £85,000 pa

Salary

£75,000 – £85,000 pa

Seniority
Lead
Posted
23 Sep 2026 (Today)

Lead Technologist | AI, Data & Innovation

I'm working with a major UK aviation organisation looking for a Lead Technologist to shape an ambitious portfolio of AI, data and operational intelligence products.

This isn't a traditional engineering role. You'll have the opportunity to identify problems, explore new technology, build POCs and take the right ideas into production - with your work having a tangible impact on a live operational environment.

The opportunity

You'll own the technical direction across innovative products, working closely with operations, data science, commercial and technology teams.

You'll:

  • Shape architecture across real-time data, AI/ML and intelligent operational systems.
  • Take AI/ML concepts from POC through to production.
  • Lead integrations across complex operational and enterprise systems.
  • Translate business problems into practical technical solutions.
  • Develop technical proposals balancing innovation, risk, speed and value.
  • Coach and mentor technical colleagues while raising engineering standards.
  • Work directly with senior operational and commercial stakeholders.

Technology

We're looking for strong experience across a meaningful subset of:

TypeScript | Python | SQL | Azure | React | Next.js | Pulumi / IaC | APIs | REST | GraphQL | CI/CD | Event-driven architecture | Real-time data | ML/AI

Who are we looking for?

You could be a Lead Engineer, Technical Lead, Principal Engineer, Lead Technologist or Solutions Architect ready to take a broader technical leadership role.

You'll ideally have experience:

  • Delivering production AI/data systems.
  • Working in complex, operational or regulated environments.
  • Integrating systems and managing complex data flows.
  • Communicating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Balancing speed, risk, quality and commercial value.
  • Leading, coaching and influencing others.

Related Jobs

View all jobs
Spotlight

Programme Manager (Forward Deployed)

M-1 Intelligence London, United Kingdom
£60,000 – £75,000 pa Remote
Spotlight

AI Compiler Engineer

IC Resources Bristol, Eng, United Kingdom
£80,000 pa Hybrid

Lead /Principal Full stack Developer React AI Engineer

Infused Solutions London, United Kingdom
£120,000 – £160,000 pa

Lead AI / ML Engineer

Michael Page Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
£80,000 – £95,000 pa

Lead Software Engineer

Saab Fareham, United Kingdom
On-site Clearance Required

Lead Software Engineer

Broadband (UK) Limited Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB, United Kingdom

Technical Lead (Core Services)

Aveni United Kingdom
Remote

AI & Data Enablement Lead

Michael Page London, City And County Of the City Of London, United Kingdom
£80,000 – £95,000 pa

Industry Insights

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

What Is an AI Forward Deployed Engineer? The Fastest-Growing Job in AI for 2026

If you have been watching AI job boards over the past year, one title keeps surfacing again and again: the forward deployed engineer, or FDE. It has gone from a niche term known mainly to Palantir alumni to arguably the hottest role in the entire AI hiring market. Job postings for forward deployed engineers have exploded, salaries have climbed past levels most software engineers will ever see, and the biggest names in AI — OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Salesforce, Databricks and Palantir — are all competing for the same small pool of talent. So what exactly is an AI forward deployed engineer, why has demand surged so dramatically, and how do you position yourself to land one of these roles? This guide breaks it all down for AI engineers, software engineers and data scientists looking at their next move.