Principal AI Engineer (Databricks) - UK in London

We are currently looking for a Principal AI Engineer to join us remotely in the UK. As we build out our UK hub to support our GTM strategy, this role will be our first AI Engineer hire, complementing the data engineering and sales teams we already have in place. In this role, you will work with our EMEA and US customers to help them solve their data architecture, ML, ML Ops, GenAI and cloud migration puzzles.

What (exactly) will you do?

• Project Planning & Delivery
  • In the planning phase of a project, you’re expected to lead or participate in scoping the engagement, designing high-level architecture, defining subtasks, and project delivery schedules.
  • After the planning phase is over, you’ll deliver the project on your own or within a mixed DS/DE team setup where you’ll oftentimes take the role of a technical lead.
  • During project delivery, you will be client-facing, acting as DATAPAO’s interface or SPOC to our customers.
  • During non-delivery cycles, you will provide ML/DS consultancy to technical teams for our EMEA customers.
• Data Science & AI consultancy
  • As a consultant, you will work closely with Databricks and cloud providers to understand the needs and requirements of clients.
  • You will recommend solutions that leverage Databricks or native cloud features.
  • You will be responsible for conducting workshops to enable clients on these platforms.
  • You are to spearhead Machine Learning and (generative) AI projects in the Databricks platform, using the latest technologies to deliver real business impact for our top customers.

What does it take to fit the bill?

• Technical Expertise
  • You (ideally) have 5+ years of experience as a Data Scientist, with a focus on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • You have a proven track record working with Databricks (PySpark, SQL, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog).
  • You have a good understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs), and you are familiar with their frameworks/libraries.
  • You have strong Python knowledge of the most common DS libraries.
  • Proficiency with MLOps.
  • You have good knowledge of data visualization tools/libraries.
  • [BONUS] You are proficient in any deep learning framework.
  • [BONUS] Experience with distributed computing, preferably Spark.
• Consulting & Client-Facing Skills
  • Ideally, you bring a proven history in consulting, from scoping to gathering requirements, designing solutions, and communicating effectively with stakeholders.
  • You’ve successfully delivered projects like end-to-end, fully automated ML solutions, or production-ready Generative AI applications in Databricks.
  • You excel in explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences and drive decision-making.
• Operational Readiness & Soft Skills
  • You’re (almost) ready to hit the ground running, immediately contributing to live client projects.
  • In a fast-paced consulting environment, where no two days are the same, flexibility and problem-solving comes naturally to you.
  • Your communication skills are on point — whether you’re writing, speaking, or collaborating with stakeholders, you know how to keep everyone in the loop.

What do we offer?

• The chance to work remotely - as we don’t have a physical office in the UK yet, we offer a fully remote setup for the time being.
• World-class educational benefits - there’s no shortage of learning opportunities at DATAPAO, meaning that you’ll get access to Databricks’ public and internal courses.
• Flexible PTO days - we’re flexible with how many days you take off if that does not conflict with customer success and the work getting done.
• 4 weeks of paternity leave - because we think it’s important for both parents to be there when it matters the most.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - life always happens! And we’d like to be there for you when it counts the most.
• Pension scheme enrollment and a comprehensive private health insurance plan.
• Top-notch working equipment - you will get a MacBook Pro, a phone, and a sign-up bonus of 500 GBP gross.
• The chance to make an impact in a high-transparency culture - open feedback and no politics are things we value a lot at DATAPAO.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Given that we are still sorting our ways out in the UK, this list will likely get an update in the following months.

The gross salary for this position ranges from 70,000 to 100,000 GBP/year, depending on your assessed seniority level during the selection process.

Please note that currently we are unable to support transfer or offer full sponsorship for Skilled Worker visas as we’re just setting foot into the UK.

Want to know more about us? DATAPAO is a data engineering and AI company that covers the entire data transformation from architecture to implementation.