Digital and AI Solution Lead

Element has a new role for a Digital and AI Solution Lead which will be a senior, hands-on technical role responsible within our Built Environment business unit for designing, building, and deploying AI and data-driven solutions that improve operational performance, client experience, and quality of outputs within a safety-critical Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) organization accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17065. The role focuses on practical delivery, using data and AI responsibly in regulated environments, with particular emphasis on LLM and agentic AI solutions that support — but do not replace — expert technical judgment.

In this pivotal role, by aligning with the Solutions & Insights team, you will drive the automation and systematization of our processes that assist with the testing and certification business, lead workshops with teams in operations, and contribute to critical projects that enhance our lab's efficiency and scalability. The ideal candidate is an experienced technical leader with a proven track record in engineering team management, full-stack development (with a focus on Python), and building robust data platforms. You will foster a strong innovative and progressive culture while collaborating across cross-functional teams to balance customer needs with internal goals. This position operates in a matrix environment, where reporting relationships may be indirect based on operational and functional roles within the organization. We value professionalism, mentorship capabilities, and the ability to create tangible value through strategic leadership.

If you are an experienced leader who is passionate about automation, data-driven solutions, fostering engineering excellence, and is intrigued with joining this next exciting chapter with Element Materials Technology, we encourage you to apply.

• Cultivate and empower a vibrant progressive developer culture within the Built Environment business unit, promoting collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement through Citizen Developer programs.
• Collaborate through leadership and guidance across different laboratories and teams to identify and solution-orientated proactive discussions to shape suitable and impactful solutions driving value and improvement.
• Run and direct workshops to identify the story behind problems to drive encompassing, impactful and scalable solutions which remedy issues across multiple disciplines.
• Design, develop, test, and deploy AI and advanced analytics solutions to support testing, inspection, certification, scheduling, reporting, and decision-support workflows.
• Translate operational and quality requirements into robust, production-ready AI solutions.
• Build reusable components and templates that can be safely scaled across the organization.
• Align with the Solution and Insights team on data and AI solutions utilising the full power of our Data Platform.
• Develop root-cause analysis, trend detection, and early warning systems for quality and safety risks.
• Directly contribute to and own the success of critical technical elements of solutions leveraging full-stack expertise and best-fit architecture.
• Assess technical options covering costs, resource requirements and alignment with operational efficiency and long-term scalability to inform decision making in mind.
• Produce clear technical documentation suitable for internal audits and external assessors.
• Ensure AI and data solutions align with ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17065 requirements and Elements impartiality, confidentiality, and independence obligations.
• Gather and explore business requirements from various teams to document existing processes, user stories and areas of improvement.
• Evaluate current processes to design and develop solutions which improve processes and lead to efficiency gains or tangible ROI.
• Own the delivery and implementation of process improvement solutions across the division.

• Strong hands-on experience as a senior or lead developer delivering AI and data solutions.
• Practical experience with Dataiku in production environments.
• Solid understanding of prompt engineering, agentic and LLM-based systems.
• Strong skills in Python, SQL, and data engineering principles.
• Experience working in regulated, quality-driven, or safety-critical environments.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams, delivering products, and providing mentorship to developers at various levels.
• Strong expertise in automation, systematization, and building scalable systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency in data management, particularly in developing and maintaining large-scale data platforms.
• Full-stack development experience with a focus on Python; familiarity with hardware/device automation is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional environments, balancing customer needs against internal process goals.
• Technical acumen to evaluate options for informed, strategic decisions that enhance efficiency and scalability.
• BSc/MSc in Computer Science, Engineering, related field or commensurate with experience.
• 5 + years of relevant experience in software development and leadership roles.

• Experience within TIC, laboratory, inspection, certification, or conformity assessment settings.
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17065, or similar accreditation frameworks.
• Exposure to MLOps, model validation, and auditability requirements.
• Experience integrating AI into existing enterprise systems.

• Delivery-focused with a strong sense of ownership.
• Comfortable balancing innovation with safety, quality, and compliance.
• Clear communicator who can explain technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders.
• Methodical, detail-oriented, and documentation-aware.
• Curious and proactive about emerging AI techniques.

Work from home role but with regular travel.

• 33 days annual holiday, consisting of 25 days annual holiday and 8 days public.
• x4 Life Assurance.
• Legal & General Pension scheme with total contributions up to 12%.
• Flexible Working.
• Cycle Scheme.
• Recommend a Friend Bonus.
• Perks At Work Discount Scheme.

For more information on Element's BUILT division, please take a look at our e-brochure.

To apply please email derek.grist@element.com.

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’. When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access. While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development. Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”. All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.