At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and ship AI systems in complex environments, turning real business problems into effective AI solutions.
- Company: Join a leading technical consultancy specialising in digital transformation and AI adoption.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, hybrid work model, and opportunities for contract extensions based on performance.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic team where your contributions are visible and valued.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact in AI adoption while working closely with industry experts.
- Qualifications: Solid back-end development skills and experience with large language models and evaluation harnesses.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Who we are: Blackstone are a technical consultancy who specialise in digital transformation and complex technical deliveries. 15 years ago that meant Cloud adoption. 10 years ago it was DevOps. 5 years ago, SRE and platform engineering. We still cover all of that, but a lot of our work right now is AI adoption. And we mean actual AI adoption in production in Enterprises.
The pace and impact of each wave keeps accelerating, but we think successful adoption still comes down to two things: people and constraints. What does transformation actually look like inside the limits of an organisation, and how do we bring the people along for it?
The role: This is a hands-on contract embedded in live customer delivery. You'll build and ship AI systems in complex, high-stakes environments, not run proof-of-concepts that quietly die before they reach production. From the architecture of RAG pipelines to the evaluation harnesses that prove they work, the work is yours to own. You'll work closely with delivery managers, solution architects and client stakeholders, turning real business problems into AI that does the job. You'll bring engineering discipline to a space that often lacks it, and help shape how we deliver AI at scale.
What we're looking for:
- Solid back-end development. You write clean, production-grade code that other people can maintain, test and build on.
- Real experience building and running evaluation harnesses to measure LLM performance, output quality and regression.
- A deep, working understanding of large language models: how they behave, where they break, and how to engineer around it.
- Proven RAG experience, including chunking, embedding choices and retrieval tuning.
- Enterprise client exposure. You're comfortable in complex stakeholder environments with governance, compliance and security in the mix.
- Hands-on with Azure AI Foundry or equivalent Azure AI services, covering deployment, monitoring and integration.
- Strong context engineering, designing prompts and context windows that are robust and repeatable.
- A systematic approach to prompting. You test, iterate and document rather than guess.
Nice to have:
- Production AI agents: tool use, memory, and orchestration with the likes of LangChain, Semantic Kernel or AutoGen.
- Familiarity with agentic design patterns, including multi-step reasoning, planning loops and safe agent behaviour in regulated settings.
- Fine-tuning or model adaptation for domain-specific use cases.
The details: £competitive, Outside IR35, Hybrid, a mix of remote and on-site with the client as the engagement requires. Negotiable. 6 months to start, with extensions expected based on performance and how the project develops. Start date to be agreed, though we'd like to move quickly for the right person.
If you take engineering seriously, stay curious about AI without losing your scepticism, and like the idea of your work being visible in a small team, we'd like to hear from you.
AI Engineer - Contract - Remote (UK Based) in Bury employer: Blackstone& London
At Blackstone, we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking technical consultancy that champions digital transformation and AI adoption in real-world enterprise settings. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and growth, providing employees with the opportunity to engage in meaningful projects that have a tangible impact. With a focus on professional development and a commitment to engineering excellence, we offer a dynamic environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI Engineer - Contract - Remote (UK Based) in Bury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your AI projects, especially those that demonstrate your back-end development and experience with large language models. This will give you an edge when chatting with potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and understanding of AI adoption in enterprises. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled real business problems with your AI solutions—this is what we want to hear!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Blackstone and contributing to our exciting projects.
We think you need these skills to ace AI Engineer - Contract - Remote (UK Based) in Bury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your back-end development experience and any hands-on work with AI systems. We want to see how you've tackled real-world problems and what you can bring to the table!
Be Specific About Your Experience:Don't just say you've worked with large language models; tell us about the specific projects you've been involved in. Mention any evaluation harnesses you've built or RAG experiences you've had. The more detail, the better!
Keep It Professional Yet Personal:While we love a good professional tone, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Share your passion for AI and how you approach challenges. We’re looking for someone who’s not just skilled but also a great fit for our team culture.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It makes it easier for us to track your application and ensures you get all the latest updates. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blackstone& London
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of large language models and RAG pipelines. Be ready to discuss how they work, where they can fail, and how you've tackled these challenges in the past. This role is all about practical experience, so be prepared to share specific examples.
✨Show Off Your Coding Skills
Since solid back-end development is key, be ready to talk about your coding practices. Bring examples of clean, production-grade code you've written and explain how it can be maintained and tested by others. If you have a GitHub or portfolio, don’t hesitate to share it!
✨Understand the Business Context
This role involves working closely with delivery managers and client stakeholders. Show that you understand how AI can solve real business problems. Prepare to discuss how you've navigated complex stakeholder environments and ensured compliance and security in your previous projects.
✨Be Systematic in Your Approach
Demonstrate your systematic approach to prompting and context engineering. Talk about how you test, iterate, and document your processes rather than just guessing. This will show that you take your work seriously and are committed to delivering high-quality results.
