At a Glance
- Tasks: Redesign and build AI-driven software for finance processes, making them faster and more efficient.
- Company: Join a billion-dollar tech company focused on innovation and global impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Flexible work environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that values creativity and makes a real difference in the world.
- Qualifications: Hands-on coding experience and a passion for AI and automation.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
IFS is a billion-dollar revenue company with 7000+ employees on all continents.
We deliver award-winning enterprise software solutions through the use of embedded digital innovation and a single cloud-based platform to help businesses be their best when it really matters–at the Moment of Service.
At IFS, we're flexible, we're innovative, and we're focused not only on how we can engage with our customers, but on how we can make a real change and have a worldwide impact.
We help solve some of society's greatest challenges, fostering a better future through our agility, collaboration, and trust.
We celebrate diversity and accept that there are so many different perspectives in this world.
As a truly international company serving people from around the globe, we realize that our success is tantamount to the respect we have for those different points of view.
By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to be part of a global, diverse environment; you will be joining a winning team with a commitment to sustainability; and a company where we get things done so that you can make a positive impact on the world.
We're looking for innovative and original thinkers to work in an environment where you can #Make Your Moment so that we can help others make theirs.
If you want to change the status quo, we'll help you make your moment. Join Team Purple. Join IFS.
Job Description
This is a hands-on engineering role, not a management or transformation-leadership role.
We're looking for a builder — an engineer who spends their day designing, coding, and shipping software — to reinvent how Commercial Finance works using AI agents and automation.
You’ll be embedded with our Commercial Finance function to solve a concrete, high-value problem: the deal approval process is manual, slow, and spreadsheet-driven.
You will redesign it from the ground up and build the AI agents and automation that run it.
The finance specialists on the team hold the process knowledge; you bring the engineering.
Your job is to turn their process into working software.
This is an individual contributor role.
You will own technical delivery yourself, from idea to design to deployment, rather than directing a team of builders.
After the first project ships, you’ll keep building, extending the same capability across Commercial Finance over the coming years and driving AI adoption within the function.
If you already build agents in your spare time, experiment with the latest models for fun, and would rather write code than write a strategy deck, this role is for you.
- What You’ll Do
- Completely redesign the deal approval process and build the software that runs it, end to end.
- Design, build, and deploy AI agents and LLM-based automation that replace manual review, reconciliation, and validation work.
- Cut unnecessary finance approvals by encoding rules and risk-based routing into automated workflows.
- Take projects from idea → prototype → production yourself, owning technical delivery throughout.
- Integrate your solutions with the systems Commercial Finance depends on, including CRM, ERP, and finance data sources.
- Improve efficiency and free up capacity across Commercial Finance, measured in cycle-time reduction and manual work removed.
- Drive AI adoption within the function over the coming years, building reusable agent capability and helping the team direct and supervise it day to day.
- Become the go-to technical expert dedicated to Commercial Finance's projects.
- Technical Themes
- You should be strong across most of these and excited to go deep on the rest:
- AI agents; designing, building, and orchestrating autonomous and semi-autonomous agents, preferably using Claude.
- LLMs; prompting, tool use, retrieval, evaluation, and safe deployment in production.
- Cloud technologies, building and running services in a Microsoft Azure Environment.
- Process and workflow automation, replacing manual, rules-heavy work with reliable software.
- Systems integration, connecting CRM, ERP, and finance data sources via MCP/APIs and data pipelines.
- Modern engineering practices, version control, testing, CI/CD, observability, and clean, maintainable code.
- Governance and Security, ensuring the highest level of security and governance are met
Qualifications
About You
We’re looking for a technical-first engineer — someone who is hands‑on, loves building things, and is already experimenting with AI on their own. Concretely:
- You code every day and want to keep it that way; you’re an individual contributor at heart.
- You have a strong engineering mindset and take pride in shipping robust, production‑grade software.
- You’re already building with AI — agents, LLM apps, or automations, at work or in your own time.
- You’re comfortable owning a problem from a blank page through to a deployed, adopted solution.
- You’re genuinely interested in cloud technologies, automation, and where AI engineering is heading.
A finance background is explicitly not required.
You will partner with finance specialists who know the process; your value is solving their problems with technology.
Curiosity to learn the domain quickly matters far more than prior finance experience.
- Level, Reporting & Package
- Level: Staff Engineer — a senior individual contributor who builds, not a people manager.
- Reporting line: reports into an engineering leader within the wider engineering organisation, while being dedicated full‑time to Commercial Finance projects.
- Location: Staines‑upon‑Thames, UK — hybrid working.
- Additional Information
We embrace flexibility and hybrid work opportunities to support diverse needs and lifestyles, while also valuing inclusive workplace experiences.
By fostering a sense of community, we drive innovation, strengthen connections, and nurture belonging.
Our commitment ensures you can work in a way that suits you best, while also engaging with colleagues to share ideas and build meaningful relationships.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Staff Engineer - AI & Automation Staines-upon-Thames, England, United Kingdom Finance employer: IFS
IFS is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic work culture where innovation thrives. With a focus on employee growth, we offer extensive opportunities for professional development and a competitive salary package, including flexible paid time off and comprehensive health insurance. Join us in a collaborative environment where your contributions directly impact enterprise customers and the future of AI solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer - AI & Automation Staines-upon-Thames, England, United Kingdom Finance
✨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 IFS 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 IFS.
✨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 IFS.
✨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 IFS 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 Staff Engineer - AI & Automation Staines-upon-Thames, England, United Kingdom Finance
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 IFS.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at IFS 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 IFS
✨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 IFS 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.