Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
CFC

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and develop cutting-edge AI systems that automate complex underwriting decisions.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking insurance tech company revolutionising the industry with AI.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative team culture focused on quality, fun, and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex problems with innovative AI solutions.
  • Qualifications: 6+ years in software engineering with strong Python and AI experience.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Insurance isn’t the first industry most engineers think of when they imagine cutting-edge AI work. That’s exactly why this role is interesting. CFC’s Data & AI unit is building production agentic systems that automate complex underwriting decisions - not chatbots, not copilots bolted onto legacy workflows, but autonomous multi-step AI agents that reason over unstructured data, assess risk, and drive real business outcomes. We’re using frameworks like LangChain to orchestrate LLM-driven services that sit at the heart of how the business operates. The problems are genuinely hard: ambiguous inputs, high-stakes decisions, and the kind of domain complexity that makes for satisfying engineering.

We’re also fundamentally rethinking how we deliver software. We’re moving toward an agentic-first development model - using AI agents not just in what we build for the business, but in how we build it. The goal is to multiply engineering delivery by an order of magnitude: not by cutting corners or generating throwaway code, but by designing robust systems and processes that let agents handle well-defined work while engineers focus on architecture, design, and the problems that actually require human judgment. This is a deliberate, engineering-led approach. We care about code quality, testability, and maintainability - the agent-generated code meets the same standards as everything else.

We expect that a successful candidate will be able to bring their expertise to help guide and refine our agentic development process as it matures - a meaningful opportunity to influence how we work as well as what we ship. This is a Senior Machine Learning / AI Engineer role with genuine technical leadership scope. You’ll shape the architecture of AI-driven production microservices, own system design decisions, and work at the intersection of traditional software engineering and applied AI. You’ll collaborate closely with engineers, data scientists, and product managers in a team that’s small enough for your decisions to matter and ambitious enough for the work to stay interesting.

About the role

Design, develop, and maintain business-critical AI agent services. Build tailored agent workflows and services from business requirements, using LangChain and related frameworks with reliable patterns for LLM-driven decision-making in production. Integrate tests and validation to improve AI agents through evals and monitoring. Work with software engineers and architects to lead system design and architectural decisions. Translate technical specifications into clean, testable, and scalable production code. Work closely with cross-functional teams - engineers, data scientists, product managers - to deliver features on time and to a high standard. Write unit and integration tests to maintain reliability and service correctness. Monitor, troubleshoot, and continuously improve production services. Produce clear, structured documentation for systems, architecture, and processes. Mentor junior engineers through code reviews, best-practice guidance, and knowledge sharing.

About you

We’re looking for an experienced AI or Machine Learning Engineer with strong software engineering fundamentals and a passion for building robust, production-ready AI systems. You’ll be someone who enjoys solving complex technical problems, making thoughtful architectural decisions and working on systems where quality, reliability and maintainability really matter. You’ll have:

  • Significant experience building production-grade AI agents or LLM-powered services.
  • Strong Python development experience, ideally with 6+ years of professional software engineering experience.
  • A track record of writing clean, maintainable and high-quality production code.
  • Experience supporting business-critical systems in live production environments.
  • Strong understanding of asynchronous programming, Docker, containerised deployments and modern service architectures.
  • Experience designing distributed systems, asynchronous microservices and event-driven architectures.
  • Confidence leading system design discussions and making pragmatic architectural trade-offs.
  • Strong cloud experience, ideally within Azure.
  • Experience deploying, monitoring and maintaining ML or LLM models in production.
  • Familiarity with MLOps, LLMOps, evals, monitoring and lifecycle management.
  • Hands-on experience orchestrating LLM workflows using frameworks such as LangChain.
  • An interest in how agentic software development can improve engineering delivery without compromising code quality.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in remote or asynchronous environments.
  • An ownership mindset, with the ability to work independently and contribute effectively to shared codebases.
Core Values

Love what you do: We show up each day ready to take on the world. Our passion and intensity set us apart and makes the difference to our colleagues, customers, brokers and carriers. Challenge everything: We’re never afraid to question the way that things are done and we constantly challenge ourselves and others to make things better. Have fun, be good: Insurance is a serious business, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We make it fun to work at CFC, we welcome all viewpoints, and we treat everyone how we would expect to be treated.

Senior Machine Learning Engineer employer: CFC

CFC is an exceptional employer that prioritises the employee experience, offering a dynamic work culture in the heart of London. With a strong focus on professional development and continuous improvement, employees are encouraged to grow their skills and advance their careers while enjoying a supportive environment that values communication and collaboration. The unique advantages of working in London include access to a vibrant city life and networking opportunities that enhance both personal and professional growth.

CFC

Contact Details:

CFC Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Dive Into Industry Networking Events

Get your foot in the door by attending insurance industry events and conferences. Not only will you learn about the latest trends, but you'll also meet potential employers and industry peers. Check out local chapters of professional bodies like the Chartered Insurance Institute for valuable meetups.

Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage

Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn in the insurance world. Engage with industry content, join relevant groups, and connect with professionals at companies you admire (like CFC). A thoughtful message explaining your interest can really make a difference!

Look Out for Graduate Schemes

Many firms in insurance have structured graduate programmes. Keep an eye on application windows and utilise your university's career services for insider tips. These schemes are designed to develop talent and often lead to permanent roles after your initial training.

Leverage Your Current Connections

Got friends or family in the industry? Now’s the time to reach out! Personal referrals can give you a head start, so let them know you're on the lookout for full-time opportunities at places like CFC. Don’t shy away from asking for a coffee chat; you never know what doors it might open!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning
AI Development
Python Development
LangChain
Asynchronous Programming
Docker
Microservices Architecture

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In insurance, we love a candidate who can crunch numbers and analyse data effectively. When crafting your CV, make sure to showcase any relevant coursework or experiences that highlight your analytical abilities, especially if you’ve tackled risk assessment or financial modelling.

Showcase Industry Knowledge:Don’t be shy about your knowledge of the insurance sector! We want to see that you've done your homework on current trends, regulations, and challenges in the industry. Mention any relevant projects or studies you’ve completed that demonstrate your understanding of the field in your cover letter.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you’re passionate about insurance. Share any personal experiences or what drew you into this profession. We’re looking for enthusiasm and a clear motivation for why you want to be part of our team at CFC.

Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don't just send a generic CV! Focus on tailoring it specifically for the insurance role at CFC. Highlight relevant skills such as risk management, customer service experience, or any certifications you've earned in the industry to make your application stand out.

How to prepare for a job interview at CFC

Know Your Numbers: Insurance Fundamentals

Brush up on your understanding of key insurance concepts, like underwriting principles and risk assessment. Expect the interviewer at CFC to throw some technical questions your way, so be ready to demonstrate your grasp of these essentials.

Showcase Your Analytical Side

In the insurance world, it's all about data. Prepare to discuss any analytical tools or methodologies you've used in past experiences. If you have a portfolio of projects where you've tackled complex data, bring that along to impress the team!

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

As a full-timer at CFC, they'll want to know how you handle real-life scenarios, not just theory. Think about challenges you've faced in teamwork or customer service, and how those experiences can relate to a career in insurance.

Know the Company Culture Inside Out

Understanding CFC's values and workplace culture is essential. Don’t just memorise their mission statement; think about how your personal values align with theirs. This will show your genuine interest in being part of their team long-term.