At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of cutting-edge AI solutions using Microsoft technologies.
- Company: Join EY, a global leader in technology consulting with a diverse team culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career advancement opportunities and a focus on responsible AI.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of AI in a hands-on leadership role.
- Qualifications: Experience in AI engineering, strong Python skills, and a knack for client engagement.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Job ID: 1377984133
Location: London, GB, SE1 2AF
Job Function: Technology Consulting
Employer: EY Global Services
Apply by: 2026-12-03
Company: EY
At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence. We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.
The opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Microsoft Agentic AI Technical Lead at Senior Manager level to lead the design, engineering and delivery of enterprise-grade generative AI and agentic AI solutions for our clients. This is a hands-on technical leadership role combining deep AI engineering expertise with solution architecture, client consulting and delivery leadership. You will translate complex business problems into secure, scalable and production-ready solutions, leading multidisciplinary teams from initial discovery and prototyping through to deployment and operation.
The role has a strong Microsoft focus, using technologies such as Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Agent Framework, Semantic Kernel and Copilot Studio. You will apply these technologies pragmatically, determining where agentic AI offers real value and where conventional applications, deterministic automation or human intervention provide a better solution. You will be equally comfortable developing or reviewing working code, whiteboarding architectures with senior stakeholders, leading engineering teams and taking accountability for production outcomes.
Your key responsibilities
- Agentic AI architecture and engineering
- Lead the end-to-end technical design of enterprise generative AI and agentic AI solutions using Microsoft technologies.
- Translate business processes, user needs and control requirements into solution architectures, agent specifications, integration designs and engineering backlogs.
- Design single-agent and multi-agent solutions, selecting appropriate models, tools, orchestration patterns, grounding approaches, memory and human approval points.
- Make pragmatic platform decisions across Azure AI Foundry, Microsoft Agent Framework, Semantic Kernel, Copilot Studio, Azure OpenAI and custom Azure services.
- Design secure integrations between agents, enterprise applications, data platforms, knowledge sources and business workflows using APIs, events, messaging and appropriate tool protocols.
- Establish reusable reference architectures, engineering patterns and accelerators.
- Recognise when an agentic approach is not justified and recommend simpler, safer or more cost-effective alternatives.
- Hands-on technical leadership
- Lead the development of proofs of concept, minimum viable products, reusable accelerators and production AI components.
- Remain sufficiently hands-on to prototype critical components, review code and resolve complex technical issues.
- Guide the development of Python-based AI applications, APIs, microservices and cloud-native integrations.
- Define engineering standards covering source control, automated testing, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, secrets management and release management.
- Provide technical direction across orchestration, tool calling, retrieval-augmented generation, structured outputs, context management and asynchronous workflows.
- Ensure solutions are modular, testable and supportable rather than dependent on fragile prompts or opaque behaviour.
- Mentor AI engineers, software engineers and architects, helping develop the wider Microsoft AI & Data capability.
- Production engineering and responsible AI
- Lead the transition of AI solutions from experimentation into secure, scalable, observable and cost-effective production services.
- Define evaluation approaches covering functional quality, task completion, groundedness, safety, latency, reliability and cost.
- Establish automated evaluation, regression testing and release controls for changes to models, prompts, tools and orchestration.
- Design operational monitoring across agent workflows, including tracing, logging, performance, tool-call outcomes and cost.
- Define failure handling, retries, timeouts, fallbacks, human approval and exception-management patterns.
- Ensure solutions address identity, access control, data protection, content safety, auditability, responsible AI and regulatory requirements.
- Work with architecture, security, risk, legal and privacy stakeholders to establish proportionate controls for agents that access data or take actions.
- Define production support arrangements, operational runbooks and lifecycle-management processes.
- Client delivery and business development
- Act as the Agentic AI Technical Lead on significant client engagements, taking responsibility for technical quality and deliverability.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams of AI engineers, architects, software engineers, data engineers, business analysts and security specialists.
- Facilitate discovery, architecture and engineering workshops with senior business and technology stakeholders.
- Explain complex AI concepts, risks and design trade-offs clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Manage technical scope, dependencies, risks and delivery priorities while maintaining focus on measurable business outcomes.
- Support opportunity shaping, demonstrations, RFP responses, estimates, proposals and statements of work.
- Help clients identify and prioritise agentic AI opportunities based on value, feasibility, risk and organisational readiness.
- Work with Microsoft account, engineering and specialist teams to validate technology choices and support joint client activity.
- Contribute to EY propositions, reference architectures, delivery methods, reusable intellectual property and recruitment.
Skills and attributes for success
We are looking for someone who combines deep engineering expertise with the consulting maturity to lead clients and delivery teams. You should have:
- Significant experience designing, building and operating enterprise AI, generative AI or agentic AI solutions.
- Strong hands-on software engineering experience using Python, APIs and cloud-native design patterns.
- Deep understanding of large language model applications, including orchestration, tool use, grounding, retrieval-augmented generation, structured outputs, context management and evaluation.
- Experience designing multi-step or multi-agent workflows and making informed decisions about state, memory, delegation and human oversight.
- Proven experience moving AI solutions from proof of concept into secure, reliable and supportable production environments.
- Practical experience of DevOps, CI/CD, automated testing, infrastructure as code and observability.
- Strong understanding of AI security, identity, privacy, responsible AI and governance.
- Strong solution architecture skills, balancing innovation with reliability, security, cost and operational complexity.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and working directly with senior client stakeholders.
- Experience supporting pre-sales, including solution shaping, demonstrations, estimation, proposals and RFP responses.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain sophisticated technical concepts clearly.
Microsoft technology experience
Candidates should bring strong experience across several of the following:
- Azure AI Foundry and Azure OpenAI
- Microsoft Agent Framework and/or Semantic Kernel
- Copilot Studio and Power Platform
- Azure AI Search
- Azure API Management
- Azure Functions and Durable Functions
- Azure Container Apps and/or Azure Kubernetes Service
- Azure messaging and integration services
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Azure Monitor and Application Insights
- GitHub and/or Azure DevOps
- Bicep or Terraform
- Microsoft Fabric and modern enterprise data platforms
- Experience with Databricks, Snowflake, LangGraph, AutoGen or comparable orchestration frameworks would be advantageous.
What we look for
A successful candidate will move naturally between conversations about business value, enterprise architecture, detailed engineering and credible delivery planning. This is not a prompt-engineering role, a pure architecture role or a conventional delivery-management position. It requires a senior technologist who can design and build, lead engineers, engage credibly with clients and take responsibility for production outcomes.
Location and working arrangements
The position would be a permanent UK Senior Manager role, aligned to EY’s main UK offices, with travel to client sites as required.
EY | Building a better working world
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets. Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow. EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.
Senior Manager - Microsoft Agentic AI Technical Lead, UKI employer: EY (Ernst & Young)
At EY, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a flexible working environment that empowers our employees to thrive. Our diverse and inclusive culture fosters collaboration and innovation, while providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Join us in London and be part of a globally connected team dedicated to building a better working world through cutting-edge technology and client-focused solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager - Microsoft Agentic AI Technical Lead, UKI
✨Get Involved in Tech Transfer Events
Tech transfer is all about networking, so make sure you're attending industry conferences and seminars related to technology commercialization. Events like the AUTM Annual Meeting or local innovation workshops are clutch for meeting key players and learning what's trending—plus, you might just bump into someone from EY (Ernst & Young)!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Having a solid portfolio can really make you stand out. Highlight any projects where you successfully brought a technology to market or improved a process. Sharing case studies or insights on platforms like LinkedIn can catch the eye of recruiters at EY (Ernst & Young), showing them you’ve got the chops for the job.
✨Leverage University Connections
Many universities have strong tech transfer offices—connect with them! They often have ties to industry and can help you get your foot in the door. Plus, you might find openings or internship opportunities that lead to this full-time role at places like EY (Ernst & Young).
✨Engage with Online Communities
Join forums or online communities focused on tech transfer and commercialization. Platforms like ResearchGate or industry-specific Slack channels are great for connecting with professionals, discussing trends, and possibly learning about job openings before they hit the mainstream. Remember, your next opportunity could be just a message away!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager - Microsoft Agentic AI Technical Lead, UKI
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Transfer Know-How:In the tech transfer and commercialization world, it's crucial to highlight your understanding of intellectual property, patents, and market analysis. Make sure your CV includes relevant projects or experiences where you successfully navigated these areas. Any certifications in commercialisation would also give you a serious edge!
Tailor Your Documents for the Role:Your cover letter should reflect not just your enthusiasm for the position at EY (Ernst & Young), but also your knowledge of current trends in technology-transfer. Discuss specific cases where you've contributed to commercialising innovations or enhancing research outcomes—this will show you’re ready to tackle challenges head-on!
Quantify Your Achievements:In this field, numbers count! Whether it's successful licensing deals, funding acquired for projects, or percentage increases in collaboration outcomes, include these metrics in your CV. They not only make your accomplishments more tangible but also demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
Demonstrate Your Business Acumen:Understanding the business side is just as crucial as the tech side! When writing your application, weave in examples that illustrate your strategic thinking and your role in negotiations or partnerships. This balance of skills is what will set you apart for a full-time role at EY (Ernst & Young).
How to prepare for a job interview at EY (Ernst & Young)
✨Demonstrate Your Tech Knowledge
Brush up on key technologies and trends in technology transfer and commercialization. Be ready to showcase your understanding of licensing agreements and the innovation lifecycle, as well as any specific tools or software used in the field.
✨Show Your Business Acumen
This role isn't just about tech; it's also about understanding the market. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach bringing a technology to market, including strategies for assessing commercial viability and potential partnerships.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Think about how you'd approach real-world challenges in technology transfer, like negotiating a deal or handling stakeholder concerns—this can help us get a sense of your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Be ready to share examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past, particularly in scenarios that involved tech developers and business strategists coming together.
