Lead AI & Data Science

Dar
London
3 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior AI Data Scientist - NLP & Analytics Leader (Remote)

Senior AI & Data Science Lead - Generative AI

AI & Data Science Lead: Gen AI & Analytics

Data Science Manager — Lead AI/ML for Audit Innovation

Associate Director, Data Science/Gen AI Lead - ER&I

Associate Director, Data Science/Gen AI Lead - ER&I

Company Overview:

Dar, the founding member of the Sidara group, is an international multidisciplinary consulting organization specializing in engineering, architecture, planning, environment, project management, facilities management, and economics. Sidara operates in 60 countries with 20,500 professionals, Dar connects people, places, and communities through innovative solutions to the world's most complex challenges. We deliver projects from inception through completion, embracing challenges to empower communities worldwide. Learn more at .

Our Vision and Values:

We aspire to be the chosen home of those with a gift for crafting solutions that empower people and an unwavering passion for learning and innovation. Our core values shape our culture and guide our decision-making. We are committed to:

  • Excellence
  • Responsibility
  • Empowerment
  • Connectivity
  • Courage

Role Overview

We are seeking a seasoned and visionary Lead, AI & Data Science to drive the strategy, development, and deployment of advanced AI solutions across our Digital Solutions department. This role is leadership and technically grounded, you will define and guide our AI roadmap, mentor a team of experts, and ensure delivery of world-class solutions. While you will not be coding daily, you must possess deep technical knowledge across the AI/ML spectrum and the ability to review, advise, and step in when critical decisions or mentorship are needed.

You will play a pivotal role in building and scaling the AI & Data Science team, shaping career paths, and representing the department in global events, partnerships, and thought leadership platforms.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Technical Leadership

  • Define and lead the AI & Data Science vision and roadmap , aligned with business priorities.
  • Provide technical oversight for AI initiatives across domains:
  • Generative AI & LLMs (fine-tuning, RAG pipelines, multi-agent systems).
  • Predictive Analytics & Time-Series Modeling .
  • Computer Vision & Multimodal AI .
  • Reinforcement Learning & Optimization .
  • Knowledge Engineering & Semantic Search .
  • Edge AI & Real-Time AI Deployments .
  • Act as the architect and reviewer of AI systems, ensuring scalability, robustness, and compliance.
  • Guide the adoption of MLOps best practices (CI/CD for ML, monitoring, retraining, governance).
  • Drive innovation while balancing pragmatism and production readiness .

Mentorship & Team Development

  • Build and grow a world-class AI & Data Science team , including hiring, onboarding, and performance management .
  • Mentor and coach team members to elevate technical depth and problem-solving skills.
  • Create career development plans, learning paths, and certification opportunities for the team.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and continuous improvement .

Collaboration & Representation

  • Work closely with Product Managers, Solution Architects, and Engineering Leads to embed AI across the product suite.
  • Translate business challenges into scalable, impactful AI solutions .
  • Represent the department in industry conferences, technical forums, and client engagements .

Required Qualifications

  • Significant experience in AI/ML, including experience in a technical leadership or team lead role .
  • Strong knowledge (architectural & practical) of:
  • LLMs, RAG, and AI Agents .
  • Predictive analytics & time-series forecasting .
  • Computer vision, multimodal learning, and geospatial AI .
  • Reinforcement learning and optimization techniques .
  • MLOps practices & data pipelines .
  • Ability to review code, design architectures, and guide technical teams .
  • Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD is a plus) in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, or related technical field.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with digital twins, IoT/OT data, and smart systems .
  • Familiarity with vector databases.
  • Knowledge of AI ethics, explainability, and regulatory compliance .
  • Experience representing organizations at global conferences and industry summits .

Career Development & Opportunities

  • Build and scale your own AI & Data Science team .
  • Define career plans and growth frameworks for your team members.
  • Access to continuous training, certifications, and skill development programs .
  • Opportunities to attend and present at global AI/tech events .
  • Collaborate with top-tier technology partners and thought leaders .

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.

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.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in AI Job Applications (UK Guide)

Hiring managers do not start by reading your CV line-by-line. They scan for signals. In AI roles especially, they are looking for proof that you can ship, learn fast, communicate clearly & work safely with data and systems. The best applications make those signals obvious in the first 10–20 seconds. This guide breaks down what hiring managers typically look for first in AI applications in the UK market, how to present it on your CV, LinkedIn & portfolio, and the most common reasons strong candidates get overlooked. Use it as a checklist to tighten your application before you click apply.

The Skills Gap in AI Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It is already reshaping how businesses operate, how decisions are made, and how entire industries compete. From finance and healthcare to retail, manufacturing, defence, and climate science, AI is embedded in critical systems across the UK economy. Yet despite unprecedented demand for AI talent, employers continue to report severe recruitment challenges. Vacancies remain open for months. Salaries rise year on year. Candidates with impressive academic credentials often fail technical interviews. At the heart of this disconnect lies a growing and uncomfortable truth: Universities are not fully preparing graduates for real-world AI jobs. This article explores the AI skills gap in depth—what is missing from many university programmes, why the gap persists, what employers actually want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build a successful career in artificial intelligence.