At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to transform software engineering with AI, driving innovation and excellence.
- Company: Join Indicium AI, a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of AI deployment.
- Benefits: Access to cutting-edge AI tools, competitive salary, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with unique challenges and growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in enterprise AI solutions across diverse industries.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering with senior leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
About Indicium AI: Indicium AI was Anthropic’s first European launch partner and is among a handful of organisations globally trusted by Anthropic to deploy Claude at enterprise scale. We are also one of the first four OpenAI partners in the UK, and Databricks Ventures has invested in our business and holds a seat on our board. Our engineers have access to the latest AI tools and models, partner technical teams, and early capability previews that the wider market does not.
We are deploying production AI systems into the world's most complex organisations across Financial Services, Energy, and Healthcare. We exist to make AI a genuine competitive advantage for our clients, not in a presentation but in production.
The Role: Software engineering is being fundamentally reshaped by AI. The organisations that move fastest to adopt AI native development practices will have a decisive advantage. This is a senior technical leadership role at the head of our Forward Deployed Software Engineering practice. Reporting to the CTO, you will lead a team of Forward Deployed Software Engineers who embed with client engineering organisations to transform how they build software in the age of AI.
You will own the practice end to end - the quality of engagements, the playbooks that let it scale, the team you build, and the relationships you hold with clients and partners. This is a role for a true lifetime software engineer: someone who has built and shaped engineering teams, who has likely held CTO or VP Engineering roles, and who is now deeply passionate about how AI is transforming the discipline they have spent their career mastering.
You will work directly with client engineering leaders at the most senior level, with Anthropic partner teams, and with Indicium AI leadership to define the direction of our software engineering transformation practice.
What You Will Do:
- Lead, hire, and develop a high-performing team of Forward Deployed Software Engineers - setting a high bar for engineering excellence, client instincts, and delivery quality.
- Define and evolve the Indicium AI approach to AI native engineering transformation - covering Claude Code adoption, agentic SDLC tooling, engineering operating models, team structures, and best practice at scale.
- Own the technical and operational bar for software engineering engagements - reviewing SOWs, shaping engagement architecture, and ensuring your team delivers lasting capability change in client organisations.
- Manage hands-on technical delivery in enterprise - comfortable moving fluidly between boardroom conversations with a CTO about engineering strategy and pairing with your team on a client codebase.
- Build the playbooks, reference implementations, and repeatable patterns that turn one-off transformation engagements into a scalable practice.
- Develop vertical fluency across the team in Financial Services, Energy, and Healthcare - understanding the specific engineering constraints and compliance requirements of each sector.
- Partner with Sales to shape pipeline, scope engagements, and identify expansion opportunities within existing accounts.
- Work alongside Anthropic field teams on joint engagements - representing Indicium AI at the highest level.
- Provide technical mentorship, conduct regular 1:1s, and invest in the career growth of each team member.
- Be the external voice of Indicium AI’s software engineering transformation practice - through client relationships, partner engagement, and thought leadership.
What We Are Looking For:
- 10+ years in software engineering with at least 4 years in senior engineering leadership - CTO, VP Engineering, Head of Engineering, or equivalent roles where you built and shaped teams.
- A true lifetime software engineer - you have written production code across your career, led architecture decisions on complex systems, and built engineering cultures that ship.
- Deep passion for how AI is transforming software engineering - you are already using AI native development tools and have a clear, informed view on where the discipline is heading.
- A track record of building engineering teams from early stage - hiring, developing, and retaining exceptional engineers, not just managing an inherited organisation.
- Experience driving engineering transformation - whether adopting new practices, retooling an SDLC, or scaling an engineering organisation through a step change in capability.
- Enterprise credibility - you have worked with or within large engineering organisations and understand the realities of legacy systems, compliance, procurement, and multi-team coordination.
- Executive presence - you can hold your own with a CTO or VP Engineering and translate technical strategy into clear narratives for diverse audiences.
- High agency and comfort with ambiguity - you have built something from zero before and know what it takes.
Nice to Have:
- Former CTO or VP Engineering at a scaling technology company.
- Experience in a client-facing engineering role - forward deployed engineering, technical consulting, or engineering advisory.
- Experience with Claude Code enterprise deployment, AI agent integration into development workflows, or MCP server development.
- External presence - writing, speaking, or community contribution in the software engineering or engineering leadership space.
- Experience working alongside or within partner ecosystems such as Anthropic, Databricks, or AWS at a senior level.
Why Indicium AI:
- Access to leading AI Labs: Anthropic’s first European launch partner. One of the first four OpenAI UK partners. Databricks Ventures invested and on our board.
- We are builders: We embed, we architect, we build - and we stay until it works. Our engineers make real decisions on live systems, for clients in industries where getting it wrong has consequences.
- Problems worth solving: No two engagements are the same. The variety and complexity of enterprise AI problems at Indicium AI is something a product company simply cannot offer.
- Investment in staying at the frontier: The best engineers we know are relentlessly curious - and we build an environment that supports learning and growth.
Director Forward Deployed Software Engineer in London employer: Indicium AI
Indicium AI is an exceptional employer that offers its engineers unparalleled access to cutting-edge AI tools and models, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive learning opportunities and career development pathways, ensuring that our team members are at the forefront of AI transformation in industries like Financial Services, Energy, and Healthcare. Our dynamic work environment encourages engineers to tackle complex challenges, making a tangible impact while enjoying the benefits of flexible learning and a supportive team culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Forward Deployed Software Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you to someone at Indicium AI.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those involving AI. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and how you think, which is super important for a role like Director Forward Deployed Software Engineer.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding Indicium AI’s mission and values. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around AI transformation. Tailor your responses to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but for the company culture too!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Indicium AI.
We think you need these skills to ace Director Forward Deployed Software Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Director Forward Deployed Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience in AI transformation and leadership, as well as any relevant projects that showcase your skills in software engineering.
Showcase Your Passion for AI:We want to see your enthusiasm for how AI is reshaping software engineering. Share specific examples of how you've used AI tools in your previous roles and your vision for the future of engineering in this space.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and avoid jargon that might confuse us. We appreciate clarity!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Indicium AI
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest in AI native development practices. Brush up on Claude Code and how it integrates into engineering workflows. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just a leader but also a hands-on engineer who understands the tools at your disposal.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've built and shaped engineering teams in the past. Highlight your experience in hiring, mentoring, and developing talent. This role is all about leading a high-performing team, so demonstrating your leadership style and successes will be key.
✨Understand the Client Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the sectors Indicium AI operates in, like Financial Services, Energy, and Healthcare. Be ready to discuss the unique challenges these industries face and how your experience can help navigate them. This will show that you’re not just technically savvy but also aware of the broader context.
✨Prepare for Technical Conversations
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions during the interview. Be ready to talk about your architectural decisions on complex systems and how you’ve driven engineering transformations. Practising articulating your thought process will help you convey your expertise effectively.
