Lead AI Engineer

Lead AI Engineer

Full-Time 120000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Higher - AI recruitment

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of autonomous AI systems that transform complex workflows for enterprise clients.
  • Company: Join a top-tier AI company in London, backed by major investors and renowned clients.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary up to £120,000, share options, generous holiday, and health benefits.
  • Other info: Collaborative team environment with opportunities for professional growth and learning.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by solving challenging problems with cutting-edge AI technology.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in AI systems, strong leadership, and system design skills required.

The predicted salary is between 120000 - 120000 £ per year.

Higher is working with one of the most technically serious enterprise AI companies in London to hire 2 Lead AI Engineers. Their clients include Johnson & Johnson, Cisco and Syneos Health. They are solving one of the hardest problems in enterprise software today.

THE PROBLEM THEY ARE SOLVING

Most AI in the enterprise is cosmetic. Dashboards, copilots, tools that assist, but don’t act. This company is building something different: Digital Workers, autonomous AI systems that execute complex knowledge workflows end to end, with human-level reliability. Founded nearly 10 years ago, with over $50m in funding from some of the UK’s most prominent VCs, they’ve built a platform that actually runs in production at global scale.

THE ROLE

As Lead AI Engineer, you will embed directly with enterprise clients, untangle their most complex operational workflows, and architect the agentic systems that automate them. This is a forward-deployed, client-facing role that demands both deep technical capability and the maturity to operate at the business level. You will own delivery end to end, from architecture through to production. The team is 45 people, nearly 20% with PhDs. They value intellectual rigour, ownership, and a genuine drive to win. They come together at their West London office 1-2 times per week.

WHAT YOU BRING

  • 5+ years hands-on experience building and deploying production-grade AI systems using LLMs, RAG pipelines, MCPs and agentic workflows
  • A track record of leading complex, client-facing technical engagements
  • Strong system design and architecture skills, with the ability to turn ambiguous business problems into scalable AI solutions
  • Experience setting technical direction and driving delivery to measurable outcomes
  • Solid understanding of evaluation, reliability and performance in production AI systems
  • Tech stack: Python, modern LLM frameworks, orchestration tooling, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP or Azure).

WHAT’S ON OFFER

  • Up to £120,000 base salary + high-value share options
  • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with carry-over and sell options
  • Pension scheme, life cover at 4x salary
  • Health and dental insurance options
  • Learning and development budget, work abroad days
  • Cycle to work, tech purchases scheme

THIS COMPANY IS NOT OFFERING SPONSORSHIP TO FOREIGN CANDIDATES. IF YOU REQUIRE SPONSORSHIP TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE UK, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY.

Higher is a specialist AI executive search firm. This search is being conducted confidentially on behalf of our client. To be considered, please apply or reach out to Kelly Gauthier at kelly@highersearch.co.

Lead AI Engineer employer: Higher - AI recruitment

This innovative enterprise AI company in London is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters intellectual rigour and ownership. With a strong focus on employee growth, they provide generous benefits including a competitive salary, high-value share options, and a dedicated learning and development budget, making it an ideal environment for Lead AI Engineers looking to make a meaningful impact in the field of AI.
Higher - AI recruitment

Contact Detail:

Higher - AI recruitment Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead AI Engineer

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the AI industry. Attend meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect Lead AI Engineer role!

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your past projects, especially those involving LLMs and agentic workflows. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and set you apart from the crowd.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s tech stack. Brush up on Python, modern LLM frameworks, and cloud platforms like AWS or GCP. Being well-versed in their tools will show you’re serious about the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we’re here to help you every step of the way, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any tips or guidance.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead AI Engineer

AI Systems Development
LLMs (Large Language Models)
RAG Pipelines
MCPs (Model Control Pipelines)
Agentic Workflows
Client-Facing Technical Engagements
System Design and Architecture
Scalable AI Solutions
Technical Direction Setting
Delivery to Measurable Outcomes
Evaluation of AI Systems
Reliability in Production AI
Performance in Production AI
Python
Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)

Some tips for your application 🫡

Know Your Stuff: Before you start writing, make sure you really understand the role of Lead AI Engineer. Dive into the job description and highlight the key skills and experiences they’re looking for. This will help you tailor your application to show that you’re the perfect fit!

Showcase Your Experience: When detailing your experience, focus on specific projects where you've built and deployed AI systems. Use concrete examples that demonstrate your technical skills and how you've tackled complex problems. Remember, they want to see your hands-on experience in action!

Be Client-Focused: Since this role is client-facing, it’s crucial to highlight any experience you have working directly with clients. Talk about how you’ve engaged with them, understood their needs, and delivered solutions that made a real impact. This will show you can bridge the gap between tech and business.

Apply Through Our Website: Once you’ve polished your application, don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to follow the process!

How to prepare for a job interview at Higher - AI recruitment

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest AI technologies, especially LLMs and agentic workflows. Brush up on your knowledge of Python and cloud platforms like AWS or GCP. Being able to discuss specific projects you've worked on will show your hands-on experience.

✨Understand the Company’s Mission

Dive deep into what this company is doing with Digital Workers. They’re tackling complex operational workflows, so be prepared to discuss how your skills can contribute to their mission. Show them you’re not just interested in the role, but also in solving the problems they face.

✨Prepare for Client-Facing Scenarios

Since this role involves direct client engagement, think of examples where you’ve successfully led technical discussions or managed client expectations. Be ready to demonstrate your ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value.

✨Show Your Leadership Skills

Highlight your experience in setting technical direction and driving projects to completion. Discuss how you’ve taken ownership in previous roles and the measurable outcomes you achieved. This will resonate well with their emphasis on intellectual rigour and ownership.

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