At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop AI solutions and work on innovative projects that impact real customer experiences.
- Company: Join a fast-growing fintech redefining consumer lending in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, 25 days holiday, gym membership, and wellness budget.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with exceptional growth and promotion opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of credit with cutting-edge AI technologies and make a real difference.
- Qualifications: Recent STEM graduate with Python skills and a passion for Generative AI.
About Abound
We’re redefining consumer lending in the UK, and beyond. Using advanced AI and Open Banking data, we make fair, affordable personal finance available to more people. While traditional lenders rely almost entirely on credit scores, we look at the full financial picture - how much you spend, and what you can afford to repay to build a deeper, more accurate understanding of each customer's unique financial situation.
And we've shown it works at scale. We’ve issued over £1.3bn in loans directly to customers while delivering market-leading credit performance - for every 10 defaults the industry expects, we see only 3. We also reached profitability just 2.5 years after launch.
Backed by £2bn+ of funding from top-tier investors including Citi, GSR Ventures, and Deutsche Bank, we’re recognised as one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintechs (Sifted, CNBC). Now, we’re expanding into new markets and product lines - and we’re looking for ambitious people who want to learn fast, take ownership, and grow with us.
Your Graduate Scheme (AI Engineering Route)
- There will be opportunities to work on projects ranging from our core AI-powered customer operations to new agentic workflows and automation products that we're just getting off the ground.
- You'll work cross-functionally with our UK and Shenzhen engineering teams, as well as risk, compliance, and customer operations teams.
- You'll start shipping code from week one, and learn by doing.
- You will join our AI Engineering team and might be contributing by:
- Building Generative AI and AI agent solutions for customer operations, internal automation, and lending operations.
- Designing prompts, workflows, and evaluation processes to make AI systems more reliable and useful.
- Integrating LLMs with internal tools, APIs, databases, and business systems.
- Writing clean, scalable, and maintainable Python code for real production use cases.
- Mentorship Program: pair with senior engineers throughout the scheme.
- Bi-annual technical reviews and career progression planning.
- Real Impact: See your AI systems go live and directly improve customer operations, risk workflows, and lending decisions for thousands of customers.
Who You Are
- You believe that learning is the most important thing to optimise for as you start your career, and want to learn by doing at the fastest growing fintech in London.
- You like using AI to solve complex, real-world problems, not just build demos.
- You thrive when given ownership, and autonomy.
- You also want to learn about the commercial impact of any technical changes you make.
- A recent (or soon-to-be) graduate with a degree in a technical or quantitative field (e.g. Computer Science, AI/Machine Learning, Statistics, Engineering or Mathematics - STEM field).
- Programming: Proficiency in Python or similar languages or a good understanding of computer science and eagerness to learn and perform in Python based technologies.
- Understanding and genuine interest in Generative AI concepts, including LLMs, embeddings, RAG, prompt engineering, structured outputs, and model limitations.
Why Join Us
- Learn from experienced AI Engineers, and product leaders in a flat, fast-paced team.
- A chance to shape the future of credit using the latest Generative AI and agentic technologies.
- A collaborative, diverse, flexible culture that values growth, ownership, and keeping our customers first in all of our engineering.
- Position yourself at the forefront of the AI and financial services revolution.
- Exceptional promotion opportunities from rapid company growth.
What We Offer
- Hybrid with 3 days a week in the office.
- 25 days' holiday a year, plus 8 bank holidays.
- 2 paid volunteering days per year.
- One month paid sabbatical after 4 years.
- Free gym membership.
- Team wellness budget to be active together - set up a yoga class, a tennis lesson or go bouldering.
The Interview Process:
- Take Home Test (20-30 mins).
- Remote (video call) Technical Interview (1 hour).
- In-person interview day where you'll meet 3-4 people across Engineering and Senior Leadership (1.5 hours).
Scheme details:
- Our graduate scheme runs for one year, with the opportunity to convert to a permanent role based on performance.
- Start date: Late September – Early October 2026 (TBC).
Please note: we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
AI Scientist in London employer: Abound
Abound is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly in the dynamic field of Generative AI. With a hybrid work model based in London, employees benefit from competitive perks such as equity options and generous paid holidays, while also having the opportunity to work on impactful projects that shape the future of consumer lending. The company prioritises employee growth and encourages curiosity and problem-solving, making it a rewarding place for those looking to make a real-world impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI Scientist in London
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Abound!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like AI Scientist at Abound.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Abound.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like AI Scientist at Abound, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace AI Scientist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Abound, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Abound. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Abound
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Abound!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.