AI Lead Engineering Practices in Sheffield

AI Lead Engineering Practices in Sheffield

Sheffield Temporary 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Essential Consulting

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead AI initiatives, develop tooling, and promote best practices in engineering.
  • Company: Join a major global financial services organisation with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid working, and potential for contract extension.
  • Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of AI in engineering and influence thousands of engineers.
  • Qualifications: Experience in AI solutions, strong coding skills, and ability to communicate complex concepts.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

We're supporting a major global financial services organisation who are looking to onboard an experienced AI Lead to join their Global Engineering Practices team within the Chief Technology Office (CTO). This is a unique opportunity to combine hands-on technical expertise with engineering leadership, helping shape how AI is adopted across a large global engineering organisation.

Rather than developing AI products, you'll play a leading role in embedding AI into the software engineering lifecycle by developing practical AI capabilities, defining engineering standards, creating reusable tooling and enabling engineers to make effective, responsible use of AI in their day-to-day work. You'll be equally comfortable writing code, influencing engineering leaders and engaging with technical communities.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead the AI workstream within the Engineering Practices function.
  • Develop AI capabilities, integrations and tooling that improve engineering productivity.
  • Design and build AI skills that enable engineers to access engineering standards, guidance and best practice through AI-native interfaces.
  • Define and promote engineering standards for the effective and responsible use of AI.
  • Work closely with Architecture, Security and Risk teams to ensure AI adoption aligns with organisational standards.
  • Build and support an internal AI Community of Practice, encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration.
  • Produce technical content including reference implementations, tutorials, playbooks and best practice guidance.
  • Deliver workshops, technical sessions and engineering showcases to promote AI adoption.
  • Monitor AI adoption across engineering teams, identifying opportunities for improvement and sharing successful outcomes.
  • Act as a trusted technical advisor on AI across the engineering community.
Key Requirements
  • Proven experience delivering AI solutions within a software engineering environment.
  • Hands-on experience developing AI applications, integrations or tooling.
  • Strong software engineering background with experience in Python, Java or similar programming languages.
  • Experience defining technical standards, engineering patterns or best practices.
  • Strong understanding of responsible AI principles and the governance of AI within enterprise environments.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both engineering and leadership audiences.
  • Experience influencing engineering communities and driving technology adoption at scale.
Desirable Experience
  • Experience within a large enterprise or regulated environment.
  • Financial Services experience.
  • Experience in Engineering Enablement, Developer Experience (DevEx) or Developer Relations.
  • Experience building or leading technical Communities of Practice.
  • Conference speaking, technical blogging, open-source contributions or recognised technical thought leadership.
  • Familiarity with modern AI tooling and developer productivity platforms.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping how AI is embedded into engineering practices within a major global technology organisation, influencing the way thousands of engineers adopt and use AI.

AI Lead Engineering Practices in Sheffield employer: Essential Consulting

Join a leading global financial services organisation that values innovation and collaboration, offering a dynamic hybrid work environment in Sheffield or Birmingham. As an AI Lead in Engineering Practices, you'll benefit from a culture that prioritises employee growth through continuous learning opportunities, while also enjoying competitive compensation and the chance to influence AI adoption across a vast engineering community. This role not only allows you to leverage your technical expertise but also positions you at the forefront of shaping responsible AI practices within a major enterprise.

Essential Consulting

Contact Details:

Essential Consulting Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land AI Lead Engineering Practices in Sheffield

Join Financial Networking Events

Jump into local finance meetups and conferences — they’re a goldmine for temporary roles in banking and financial services. You can chat with industry professionals and even get leads on upcoming opportunities that might not be posted online yet.

Utilise Temp Agencies Specialised in Finance

Reach out to temp agencies that focus on the banking sector. They often have strong ties with various firms and can help you secure short-term gigs that can help beef up your CV and get your foot in the door at firms like Essential Consulting.

Connect with Alumni from Your Uni

Don't underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network. Many former students are working in banking and can help you find temporary roles or even offer mentorship. Reach out directly or attend alumni events to broaden your circle.

Stay Active on Job Boards and Company Websites

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards specifically for finance roles. Companies like Essential Consulting might post temporary positions directly on their sites, so make sure to apply there too. Set alerts to catch those roles the moment they go live!

We think you need these skills to ace AI Lead Engineering Practices in Sheffield

AI Solutions Delivery
Software Engineering
Python
Java
Technical Standards Definition
Responsible AI Principles
Technical Communication

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Academic Achievements:In banking and financial services, your academic record can really make you stand out. List relevant grades, certifications, or coursework on your CV, especially if you've taken finance-related modules. This is particularly important for a temporary role where qualifications can help you shine even brighter!

Highlight Relevant Experience:If you’ve done any internships, part-time roles, or even coursework that aligns with banking or finance, make sure you include those! Showcase specific tasks where you used quantitative skills or analytical thinking, as this is what the hiring managers at Essential Consulting will be keen to see in your application.

Tailor Your Cover Letter Purposefully:When writing your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in a temporary position at Essential Consulting. Let them know how you can quickly adapt to the team's needs and how eager you are to learn the ropes of the banking sector during this short stint. Your motivation and enthusiasm could really set you apart!

Be Prepared with References:For temporary roles, references can play a crucial role in your application. Make sure you’ve got a couple of references lined up who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. This helps to give Essential Consulting confidence in your short-term commitment to the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at Essential Consulting

Brush Up on Financial Regulations

Since this is a role in banking and financial services, be ready to discuss key regulations like MiFID, Basel III, or GDPR. These are hot topics, and your awareness of how they impact daily operations can give you a significant edge during your interview with Essential Consulting.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Prepare for interview questions that assess your analytical abilities. You might need to tackle hypothetical scenarios involving risk assessment or financial forecasting. Bringing examples of relevant projects or coursework can emphasise your practical understanding of these concepts.

Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability

For a temporary role, showing that you can quickly pick up new processes and tools is crucial. Be ready to discuss previous experiences where you had to adapt to changing requirements or tight deadlines, as this will reassure Essential Consulting that you’re a reliable team player.

Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn

In a temporary position, leaning into your eagerness to learn can really set you apart. Be prepared to share how you’re staying updated on industry trends or any additional training you've pursued. Employers appreciate candidates who are proactive about their development—even for short-term roles.