At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI engineering and MLOps teams to drive innovation and operational excellence.
- Company: Join Hastings Direct, a forward-thinking tech company with a focus on AI.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, private medical insurance, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with excellent career growth and support for mental wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in AI while developing your leadership skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in AI Engineering and expertise in machine learning and cloud technologies.
The predicted salary is between 30332 - 37072 £ per year.
As a member of the CIO Technology Engineering senior leadership team, the Head of AI Engineering will lead the design, deployment, integration and continuous improvement of enterprise AI and machine learning capabilities, including ML platforms, generative AI, LLM services, feature pipelines and MLOps tooling.
The role is responsible for establishing AI engineering standards, governance and best practices across the model lifecycle, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, compliant and deliver measurable business value.
About The Role
- Lead AI engineering, MLOps and platform teams, driving high-quality delivery and operational excellence.
- Define and maintain engineering standards, AI guardrails and Responsible AI practices.
- Oversee model development, deployment, monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement processes.
- Drive preventative controls, automation, observability and root cause analysis to minimise technical debt and service issues.
- Partner with Architecture, Risk, Compliance and business stakeholders to shape AI roadmaps and align delivery with strategic objectives.
- Provide clear reporting on progress, model performance and value realisation, identifying opportunities for improvement.
- Build, mentor and develop high-performing teams through coaching, succession planning and recruitment.
About You
- Significant leadership experience in AI Engineering within a fast-paced technology environment.
- Strong expertise in machine learning, MLOps, generative AI, LLMs, AI platforms and cloud technologies (e. g. Microsoft Azure AI/Azure ML).
- Proven experience implementing AI engineering standards, deployment automation, model monitoring and Responsible AI frameworks.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Passion for innovation, data-driven decision-making and continuous learning.
- Regrettably we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role
- Benefits: competitive salary and £6k car allowance
- Flexible working –we champion a flexible hybrid working approach –please speak to your recruiter to discuss in more detail
- Competitive bonus scheme- all colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus
- Physical wellbeing – as a Band 5 colleague, Hastings pay for you to receive private medical Insurance (also known as PMI).
This gives you flexibility and convenience to see a specialist or consultant and allows you to decide when and where you will be seen
- Financial wellbeing – as well as providing you with 4x your salary with our life assurance cover, income protection at no extra cost, and matched pension contributions up to 10%, we are proud to provide you with an award winning package which includes – discounts, cashback, free independent mortgage advice and free access to financial wellbeing support
- Mental wellbeing programme – we have the thrive mental health app, our colleague assistance programme available 24/7, our own in-house mental health first aiders, support groups and a dedicated team to make sure we are covering your needs
- There's more! – 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your weeks, access to our health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to work and tech schemes, discounted and free onsite facilities, social events throughout the year and much more ….
Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly.
We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status.
Please also note that we have a thorough referencing process, which includes credit and criminal record checks.
At Hastings Direct, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us.
Our recruitment team is here to provide the support you need to ensure a fair and accessible experience for all.
- Job Posting End Date
- 27/09/2026
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Chief AI Platforms & MLOps Leader employer: Hastings Direct
Hastings Direct is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly within our Telematics Data Value team. We offer competitive benefits, continuous professional development opportunities, and a commitment to employee growth, all while being located in a vibrant area that encourages creativity and teamwork. Join us to make a meaningful impact on pricing strategies and customer outcomes in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief AI Platforms & MLOps Leader
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Hastings Direct or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Hastings Direct.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Hastings Direct.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Hastings Direct that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief AI Platforms & MLOps Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Hastings Direct.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Hastings Direct and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hastings Direct
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Hastings Direct uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
