AI Engineer (Agentic Systems) in Belfast

Every question matters, every pathway, direction, thought process and conversation. Because every challenge makes us stronger, more knowledgeable, more determined and more valuable to our clients. We're not big on egos and we're not for the faint hearted. We stand for camaraderie, collaboration and change. Welcome to Data Intellect. Challenge Accepted.

We build AI systems that go into production. Our clients are Tier 1 banks and hedge funds with real data volumes and real regulatory pressure and they hire us because we can put working software in front of them quickly. This role is for an engineer who has already built agentic AI systems and wants to do more. You will design and build agents that call tools, query client data, reason over it and hand back something a user can act on. Some of that runs against cloud model APIs, some of it runs on local models inside a client's network because the data cannot leave the building. You need to be comfortable with both. You will work directly with client engineers and stakeholders, as an AI specialist.

What you will be doing:

• Building and shipping LLM-backed agents: tool use, MCP servers, retrieval, orchestration between specialist agents, evaluation and guardrails.
• Working across cloud model APIs and locally hosted models, and making sensible calls about which fits a given client's constraints.
• Using AI-assisted development tools as a core part of how you work, and having a view on where they help and where they get in the way.
• Turning a vague client problem into a scoped proof of concept, then into something maintainable.
• Explaining your design decisions to people who are technical and non-technical.
• Building reusable accelerators so the next engagement starts further along than the last one.

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience building AI agents that use LLMs, cloud hosted or local.
• Fluent use of AI-assisted coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot or similar) in day to day development.
• Software engineering fundamentals: version control, testing, code review, CI/CD and an understanding of what makes code someone else can maintain.
• Strong written and spoken communication. You can write a clear client-facing document and hold your own in a technical conversation with a client.
• Able to work with minimal supervision. You take a problem, ask the right questions early and come back with progress rather than waiting to be unblocked.
• Genuine interest in where agentic AI is going, evidenced by what you read, build or contribute to outside of what your last employer asked of you.

Desirable:

• Claude Certified Architect (Foundations or Professional), or an equivalent credential from another vendor. If you have not done one, we will support you through it.
• Background in financial services, market data or another regulated, data-heavy domain.
• Experience with MCP server development.
• Experience with time series or analytical databases (kdb+/KDB-X, ClickHouse, Oracle).
• Python, Java and TypeScript.
• Experience deploying models on-premise or in a locked-down cloud environment.

Who does well here:

• People who are honest about what they do not know.
• People who put in the work. Consultancy has peaks and clients notice who shows up during them.
• People who can hold a relationship as well as a codebase. Much of our repeat work comes from a client trusting a specific engineer.
• People who collaborate well and share what they learn, rather than keeping the clever bit to themselves.

What's on offer:

• Direct involvement in shaping our AI practice rather than slotting into someone else's.
• Exposure to senior stakeholders at recognisable clients from early on.
• Work alongside a supportive team and across our global offices.
• Continuous L&D opportunities, training and certifications.
• A modern, flexible working environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• The chance to make a real impact on how Data Intellect grows.
• Healthcare cover - Benenden Health, including 24/7 GP & Mental Health Helpline.
• Generous referral scheme - we love to see referrals coming through and referring a friend means cash for you!
• Regular social events, prizes and giveaways - our talented social committee work hard all year round to provide exciting events across all regions and they're open to suggestions.

How to apply:

Upload your CV along with a short note covering one agentic system you have built. Tell us what it did, what the model was doing versus what your code was doing and what you would change if you started again. A link to a repo, a demo or a write-up is worth more to us than a cover letter.

A little background on DI:

Simply put - we turn big data problems into smart data solutions. At our core, Data Intellect is a data and technology consultancy firm. Our key area of expertise is financial and capital markets technology solutions. However, the utility of these solutions allow us to apply fintech data expertise to other industries such as smart energy and healthcare. This proprietary offering is complemented by a wealth of experience in data engineering, electronic trading systems, data capture applications, regulatory and compliance systems and middle and back-office enterprise web solutions.

Fair employment and equal opportunities:

Data Intellect is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusion and diversity. If you have a disability, accommodations are available on request throughout the assessment and selection processes.

Ready to accept the challenge? Apply now.