Manager - Lead AI Engineer in London

Manager - Lead AI Engineer in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead AI projects, develop production-grade systems, and mentor junior engineers.
  • Company: Join a Big 4 professional services firm at the forefront of AI innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hybrid working, and exciting career growth opportunities.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of audit delivery with cutting-edge AI technology.
  • Qualifications: Strong Python skills and experience in AI engineering required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

A high-impact engineering leadership role at one of the world's most respected professional services firms, building production-grade AI systems that are reshaping the future of audit delivery.

Location: London / Manchester / Leeds / Glasgow (hybrid, flexible working available)

Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

Sector: Technology / AI Engineering / Professional Services

About the Company

Our client is a Big 4 professional services firm whose Audit Technology team is at the forefront of innovation combining Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering, Analytics and Software Development to transform how audit is delivered. Backed by a global network and significant investment in technology capability, the team has seen rapid growth in recent years and is building some genuinely exciting products at scale.

The Role

As Lead AI Engineer you will report to the AI Engineering Squad Lead and take ownership of the technical delivery of AI projects within your squad. From proof-of-concept through to enterprise-grade production deployment, you will apply expertise in AI engineering, cloud platforms and generative AI to embed intelligence into critical audit workflows. You will also mentor junior engineers, promote best practices, and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

  • Leading hands-on technical delivery of AI projects, contributing actively to codebases and architectural decisions
  • Developing and deploying production-grade AI systems using Azure, Databricks and Generative AI tooling
  • Owning the implementation of ML pipelines, APIs and data integration workflows
  • Enforcing MLOps best practices, coding standards, version control and performance optimisation
  • Collaborating cross-functionally with data scientists, product managers, platform engineers, QA and audit professionals
  • Mentoring junior engineers and contributing to internal capability-building and knowledge-sharing initiatives

Skills & Experience Required

  • Significant senior backend development experience with strong Python proficiency (async programming, concurrency, multithreading)
  • Expertise in RESTful API design, OpenAPI/Swagger documentation and API lifecycle best practices
  • Hands-on experience with ML libraries: PyTorch, PySpark, scikit-learn, Hugging Face Transformers
  • Proficiency in AI tooling: Azure ML, Databricks, MLflow, LangChain, LangGraph
  • Proven experience with Git, unit testing, containerisation and agile methodologies (Jira, Confluence)
  • Good knowledge of generative AI, machine learning, deep learning or NLP
  • Strong communication skills able to explain technical concepts to varied audiences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree (Master's or PhD preferred) in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Statistics, Engineering or a related technical field
  • Advanced certifications in AI, machine learning, cloud computing or data engineering highly advantageous
  • Professional accounting qualification desirable but not required

Nice to Have

  • Experience with Microsoft Graph API
  • Background in audit, financial services or regulated industry technology

What's on Offer

A competitive salary and benefits package, flexible hybrid working across 20 UK locations, and the chance to be part of a rapidly growing technology capability at one of the world's leading professional services firms. There has never been a better time to join.

Manager - Lead AI Engineer in London employer: ANSON MCCADE

Join a leading Big 4 professional services firm that champions innovation in AI and technology, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and continuous learning. With flexible hybrid working options across major UK cities, employees benefit from a competitive salary, extensive career development opportunities, and the chance to work on cutting-edge projects that are transforming the audit landscape. This is an exceptional opportunity for those looking to make a meaningful impact in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

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Contact Details:

ANSON MCCADE Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Manager - Lead AI Engineer in London

Network Like a Pro

Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even casual coffee chats. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Show Off Your Skills

Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your AI projects or contributions to open-source initiatives. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.

Ace the Interview

Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to AI engineering. Be ready to discuss your past projects in detail and how you tackled challenges. Confidence is key, so show them you’re the right fit!

Apply Through Our Website

Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance at landing that dream job! We love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions during the application process.

We think you need these skills to ace Manager - Lead AI Engineer in London

AI Engineering
Cloud Platforms (Azure)
Generative AI
Python (async programming, concurrency, multithreading)
RESTful API Design
OpenAPI/Swagger Documentation
ML Libraries (PyTorch, PySpark, scikit-learn, Hugging Face Transformers)

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your backend development experience, especially with Python and AI tooling, to show us you're the right fit for the role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about AI engineering and how your background aligns with our mission. Share specific examples of projects you've led or contributed to that demonstrate your expertise.

Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t just list your skills; provide context! Mention specific projects where you’ve used ML libraries or cloud platforms like Azure. This helps us see how you can contribute to our team from day one.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity in our Audit Technology team.

How to prepare for a job interview at ANSON MCCADE

Know Your AI Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AI engineering, especially around the tools mentioned in the job description like Azure ML and Databricks. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with ML libraries and how you've applied them in real-world projects.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Manager Lead AI Engineer, you'll be expected to mentor junior engineers and lead projects. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past, focusing on collaboration and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Master the Technical Details

Be prepared to dive deep into technical discussions about backend development, RESTful API design, and MLOps best practices. Practise explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Ask Insightful Questions

Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's AI initiatives, team dynamics, and future projects. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company is the right fit for you.