At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of impactful AI systems for diverse clients.
- Company: Colibri Digital, a leading consultancy in advanced data and AI solutions.
- Benefits: Remote work, private health insurance, competitive salary, and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI while working with global brands on real-world projects.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in AI engineering and strong software development skills.
- Other info: Join a collaborative culture focused on excellence and continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Join to apply for the Principal Applied AI Engineer role at Colibri Digital. Colibri Digital is a specialist engineering consultancy delivering advanced data and AI solutions for clients across sectors including finance, healthcare, logistics, government, and technology.
As trusted partners of AWS and Databricks, we help organisations design, build, and scale intelligent systems that deliver measurable business outcomes. We lead from the front in Generative and Applied AI adoption — guiding clients from uncertainty to confident, delivering production‑grade AI implementation.
We’re looking for a Principal Applied AI Engineer to shape and build AI systems that make a tangible impact. You’ll work closely with clients and cross‑functional teams to design and deliver scalable, production‑ready AI capabilities — from intelligent automation to generative applications. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, mentors others with confidence, and enjoys bridging design, engineering, and delivery.
Key Responsibilities- Lead technical discovery and delivery for AI engineering engagements, taking clients from concept to production.
- Design, build and deploy applied AI systems that integrate seamlessly with existing software and data platforms.
- Develop and maintain backend systems, APIs, and frontends in alignment with software engineering best practices.
- Mentor and develop engineers (both within Colibri and client teams), building capability and confidence.
- Define and uphold best practices in AI engineering, including robust architecture, testing, and deployment.
- Partner with data scientists, product managers, and delivery leads to ensure AI solutions are practical, ethical, and aligned with business outcomes.
- Contribute to Colibri’s internal capability development; shaping frameworks, patterns, building reusable code repositories or other assets and thought leadership in applied AI.
- Represent Colibri as a trusted technical advisor, communicating complex AI concepts clearly to non‑technical audiences.
- Proven experience in a senior or principal engineering role within an AI technology consultancy or AI‑driven product organisation, delivering AI models, systems and products to production.
- Strong foundation in software engineering with hands‑on experience building and deploying production‑grade AI or ML‑enabled systems.
- Deep understanding of modern cloud and MLOps environments (AWS, Azure, GCP; MLflow, SageMaker, or equivalent).
- Proficiency in at least one major programming language (Python preferred) and modern software delivery practices (CI/CD, containers, orchestration).
- Experience mentoring engineers and guiding clients through AI adoption and delivery.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, able to lead with empathy and clarity in complex client environments.
- Experience integrating Generative AI, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), or similar architectures into production systems.
- Strong background in consultancy, digital transformation, or multi‑industry project delivery.
- Contributions to open‑source projects or AI engineering communities.
- Remote‑first working with flexibility around client needs.
- Private health insurance.
- Projects with global brands & public sector leaders, working on real‑world impact.
- A collaborative culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
- Competitive salary, bonus structure, and long‑term growth opportunities.
Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type: Full‑time
Job Function: Engineering and Information Technology
Industries: IT Services and IT Consulting
Principal Applied AI Engineer in London employer: Colibri Digital
Contact Detail:
Colibri Digital Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Applied AI Engineer in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with folks in the AI and tech space! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just chat with people on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just tell them what you can do; show them! Create a portfolio of your projects or contributions to open-source. This gives potential employers a tangible sense of your capabilities and how you can add value.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to AI engineering. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to the role at Colibri Digital. Confidence is key!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Make sure to apply directly 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 Colibri Digital.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Applied AI Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Applied AI Engineer role. Highlight your experience in AI systems, software engineering, and any relevant projects that showcase your skills. We want to see how you can make a tangible impact!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for Colibri Digital. Mention your experience with cloud environments and your ability to mentor others, as these are key aspects of the role we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since you'll be working closely with clients and cross-functional teams, it's important to demonstrate your communication skills. In your application, give examples of how you've explained complex AI concepts to non-technical audiences. We love clear communicators!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Colibri Digital!
How to prepare for a job interview at Colibri Digital
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in AI and ML, especially around Generative AI and MLOps. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with production-grade systems and how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Since this role involves mentoring others, think of specific examples where you've guided engineers or clients through complex AI projects. Highlight your ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
✨Understand the Business Impact
Colibri Digital is all about delivering measurable business outcomes. Prepare to discuss how your AI solutions have positively impacted previous clients' businesses, and be ready to align your technical expertise with their strategic goals.
✨Be Ready for Technical Discovery
Expect to engage in discussions about technical discovery and delivery processes. Familiarise yourself with best practices in AI engineering and be prepared to share your approach to designing and deploying scalable AI systems.