At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to build innovative AI systems for Citi's Global Lending Platforms.
- Company: Join Citi, a leading global financial institution with a focus on technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible hybrid working, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values continuous learning and technical excellence.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI in finance while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in software engineering and leadership, especially with AI technologies.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior AI Engineer to join and help lead an experienced team of software developers. You will take a senior, hands-on technical role in building a new, strategically important AI system that directly powers one of Citi's Global Lending Platforms. This is a great opportunity to build AI at real scale inside a leading global financial institution, shaping architecture and technical direction while mentoring engineers and partnering closely with senior stakeholders, in a culture that values craft, ownership, and continuous learning.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement software components and applications for AI systems, with a primary focus on data.
- Build MCP (Model Context Protocol) tools and AI agents that effectively utilize this data to solve business problems.
- Act as a senior, hands-on technical leader within a skilled SCRUM team — take ownership of complex, ambiguous problems, drive features from design through production, and ensure delivery of high-quality, production-grade applications.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven execution environment, balancing speed with engineering excellence, and proactively identify and resolve technical risks before they impact delivery.
- Lead code reviews, drive technical discussions, and help define shared engineering standards; mentor and coach junior and mid-level engineers to raise the overall capability of the team.
- Partner with product owners, architects, and senior stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable, resilient technical solutions.
- Exercise sound judgment on architecture, design trade-offs, and technology choices, balancing short-term delivery needs with long-term platform health.
- Champion engineering rigor across the team, including testing, observability, security, and operational readiness for production AI systems.
Skills & Qualifications
- Significant experience as a Software Engineer, with a track record of increasing scope, ownership, and technical leadership.
- Experience working in complex enterprise environments, collaborating with global teams.
- Experience applying large language models (LLMs) to solve real business problems, from ideation through to production deployment.
- Deep fluency in the Python AI/ML ecosystem, including Pydantic, REST API integration, database access, and orchestration frameworks such as ADK or LangGraph.
- Strong proficiency in SQL and working with complex data in enterprise environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring engineers, influencing technical direction, and driving engineering standards within a team – big plus.
- A genuine team player who can also operate with full autonomy and ownership — equally effective in the office or working remotely.
- Sharp, structured thinker with strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and the ability to independently research, evaluate, and master new technical domains.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder-management skills in English.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; advanced degree a plus.
What's in It for You
- Take on a senior, high-visibility role working alongside experienced engineers while helping shape the growth of others.
- Work on a complex, high-stakes project deployed globally within a leading financial institution.
- Operate in a culture that actively encourages and sponsors personal and professional development.
- Build with cutting-edge AI tools — MCP, LLMs, agent frameworks — at real enterprise scale, with the latitude to influence architecture and technical direction.
- Flexible hybrid working model supporting both office collaboration and remote productivity.
Senior AI Engineer, Vice President in Belfast employer: Citigroup
Citi is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation meets collaboration. As a Sales Director, you will benefit from extensive training and mentorship opportunities, fostering your professional growth while working alongside industry leaders in FX Sales. With a strong commitment to integrity and inclusivity, Citi provides a supportive culture that empowers employees to excel and drive meaningful results for clients.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior AI Engineer, Vice President in Belfast
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Citigroup or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Citigroup.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Citigroup.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Citigroup that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior AI Engineer, Vice President in Belfast
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Citigroup.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Citigroup and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Citigroup
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Citigroup uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
