At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and deploy cutting-edge AI systems for Fortune 500 companies.
- Company: Join Distyl, a leading applied AI technology company transforming critical operations.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, private medical insurance, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Dynamic, mission-driven culture with opportunities for high-impact projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building AI applications that operate at scale.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in software engineering with strong Python or TypeScript skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
About Distyl AI
Distyl is an applied AI technology company partnering with the world’s most ambitious institutions to rearchitect critical operations for the frontier of AI. Our customers include the largest companies in telecom, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, consumer goods, and global social organizations. We research and deploy technologies that power AI-native operations — both for our partners and for Distyl itself. Our work spans research into self-constructing systems, the development of the most reliable execution of AI systems, and products that transform mission-critical workflows. As a result, Distyl's technologies affect some of the world's largest operations — from hundreds of millions of consumer interactions to tens of millions of supply chain transactions and millions of patient journeys. Distyl is backed by leading investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Coatue, DST Global, and the board members of 20+ F500s. The results reflect this approach: a 100% production deployment success rate for our customers and one of the few enterprise AI companies to run a profitable business.
What We’re Looking For
We’re opening an office in London, UK and looking for AI Engineers to design and deploy production-grade AI systems powered by LLMs. At Distyl, AI Engineers work directly with Fortune 500 companies to transform complex workflows using cutting-edge AI. You’ll build and ship real-world AI applications — from intelligent agents to full-stack AI products — and see them operate at scale in mission-critical environments. This role is highly hands-on. You’ll collaborate closely with customers, define system architectures, and build reliable, high-impact AI systems from prototype to production. Engineers at Distyl also help shape technical direction across major customer engagements, guiding enterprise teams through AI adoption and deployment.
Key Responsibilities
- Build Production AI Systems: Design, develop, and deploy robust AI applications using LLMs, including prompt engineering, agent workflows, tool use, and full-stack AI products.
- Work Directly with Customers: Partner closely with enterprise stakeholders to understand complex problems and translate them into impactful AI solutions.
- Lead System Architecture: Design scalable architectures for production AI systems, balancing performance, reliability, cost, and maintainability.
- Develop Our Internal Platform: Contribute to Distillery, our internal LLM application platform, by building reusable infrastructure, tools, and workflows used across customer deployments.
- Evaluate AI Systems Rigorously: Develop evaluation frameworks that measure model performance across accuracy, latency, cost, reliability, and safety.
- Ship Production-Grade Systems: Ensure systems meet high standards for observability, reliability, security, and maintainability.
- Raise the Engineering Bar: Improve development workflows, evaluation practices, and deployment strategies as our AI platform continues to evolve.
Who You Are
- 3+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- Strong proficiency in Python or TypeScript.
- Experience building and deploying LLM-powered applications or AI agents in production.
- Experience with modern LLM tooling such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, Guardrails, MCP, or agent frameworks.
- Experience implementing RAG pipelines, tool use, or multi-step AI workflows.
- Strong understanding of AI system evaluation, debugging, and observability.
- Experience building reliable production systems with modern DevOps practices.
- Experience deploying AI systems in enterprise environments is a plus.
- Experience working across cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) is a plus.
- Experience with agent architectures and long-horizon task execution is a plus.
- Familiarity with responsible AI practices, including auditability and governance is a plus.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Workplace Pension Scheme with employer contributions.
- Private Medical Insurance (PMI) offered.
- Generous holiday allowance.
- Lunch provided on office days.
- Access to state-of-the-art models, generous usage of modern AI tools, and real-world business problems.
- Ownership of high-impact projects across top enterprises.
- A mission-driven, fast-moving culture that prizes curiosity, pragmatism, and excellence.
Lead AI Engineer employer: Distyl
Distyl is an exceptional employer, offering AI Engineers the opportunity to work at the forefront of applied AI technology in a dynamic London office. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance and generous holiday allowances, Distyl fosters a mission-driven culture that values curiosity and excellence. Employees will engage directly with Fortune 500 companies, tackling real-world challenges while contributing to high-impact projects that shape the future of AI.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead AI Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the AI space, especially those connected to Distyl. LinkedIn is your best mate here; drop them a message and express your interest in the Lead AI Engineer role. You never know who might put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your previous AI projects, especially those involving LLMs. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and how you tackled challenges. This will make you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Get ready for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be prepared to discuss system architectures and your experience with AI tools like LangChain or Guardrails. Practise explaining complex concepts in simple terms; it shows you can communicate effectively with clients.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining Distyl and being part of our mission to revolutionise AI operations.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead AI Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead AI Engineer role. Highlight your experience with LLMs and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for AI and how you can contribute to our mission at Distyl. Be sure to mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to build production-grade AI systems.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical prowess! Include details about your proficiency in Python or TypeScript, and any experience with modern LLM tooling. We love seeing candidates who are hands-on and ready to dive into complex problems.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Distyl
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AI systems, especially LLMs. Be ready to discuss your experience with building and deploying AI applications, as well as any specific tools you've used like LangChain or Guardrails. This will show that you're not just familiar with the theory but have practical experience too.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to talk about complex problems you've tackled in previous roles. Think of specific examples where you translated customer needs into impactful AI solutions. This will demonstrate your ability to work directly with clients and understand their challenges.
✨Architectural Insights Matter
Since the role involves leading system architecture, be ready to discuss how you design scalable architectures for production AI systems. Highlight your understanding of balancing performance, reliability, and cost. This will show that you can think critically about the technical direction of projects.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect some rigorous technical questions during the interview. Brush up on your knowledge of AI system evaluation, debugging, and observability. Being able to articulate your thought process and methodologies will impress the interviewers and show that you’re detail-oriented.
