At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI engineering and data science to transform JTC into a data-driven powerhouse.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking firm committed to innovation and growth in AI technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and employee wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of AI in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in AI/ML engineering and leadership in tech-driven settings.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 150000 £ per year.
As JTC enters the Genesis era ofgrowth and transformation under private equity ownership, the Group’s ambitionis to become a data- and AI-powered specialist-services platform where everyinteraction, acquisition and piece of expertise makes the firm smarter, moreefficient and easier to scale.
The Director, AI Engineering leads the AIEngineering & Data Science function within the unified Tech-Ops operatingmodel, the engineering engine room that turns JTC’s AI & Agentic Strategy2030 into working, governed and value-generating systems.
The postholder will build andlead the team responsible for AI/ML model development and agentic engineeringacross the three pillars of the AI strategy; AI for Service Delivery, AI for Digital Products and AI for Productivity.
This spans the JTC Agentic Platform(MCP-enabled orchestration and validation across JTC systems and market tools), the enterprise document extraction platform, end-to-end billing agents (Agentic Thames and the Agentic Wheel), conversational AI analytics on the Klondike dataplatform, function-specific JTC Agents and the Group-wide Agent Builder; alldelivered on a consolidated, Claude-based AI stack that preserves in-housecontrol and avoids vendor lock-in.
This is a hands-on engineeringleadership role.
Acting as the Group’s hub for AI in the Businesses and Groupfunctions, the postholder pairs deep technical credibility with commercialjudgement: every model and agent shipped must deliver measurable operational ROI against the Technology Value Creation Plan, operate within the AIGovernance & Model Risk framework, and stay cost-disciplined through Fin Opscontrols.
The ideal candidate combines frontier LLM and agentic engineeringexpertise with the leadership skills to build and scale a high-performing teamin a PE-backed environment.
- MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
- AI & Agentic Engineering Delivery
- Lead the design, development and production deployment of AI/ML models and agentic systems across the Group, delivering the prioritised use cases on JTC’s two-year roadmap (55 use cases selected on value, feasibility and strategic fit) to enterprise quality.
- Build and scale the near-term delivery priorities: Agentic Thames (the end-to-end billing agent combining contract-reading, scoping, billing and timesheet quality-assurance AI skills), the Agentic Wheel billing transformation, AI-enabled tax workflow redesign, the standardised AI assistant, and AI-enabled analytics on the Klondike financial reporting platform.
- Engineer Digital Integrated Agents for JTC’s client-facing digital products, enabling non-linear user journeys, content and dynamic UI generation, conversational AI-enabled analytics and reporting, and persona-aware hyper-personalisation services.
- Deliver the enterprise document extraction platform and agent supporting workflows across service delivery, driving timeliness, accuracy and efficiency in middle- and back-office operations.
- Ship function-specific JTC Agents (e. g.
Billing, Data Quality Control), individual AI productivity assistants with secure access to JTC data and systems and institutionalise the multi-platform Agent Builder for craft-your-own agents.
- Agentic Platform & AI Architecture
- Own the engineering of the JTC Agentic Platform, MCP-enabled orchestration and validation across JTC systems and market tools, maintaining in-house control of the agentic layer to avoid LLM lock-in.
- Build around the consolidated Claude stack (Claude, Cowork, Claude Code and the developer platform), migrating existing agentic workloads onto it and prioritising app-agnostic agents on the JTC Agentic Layer over vendor-embedded AI.
- Partner with Data Engineering & Provisioning to ensure AI-ready data, reusable, governed structured and unstructured data pipelines feeding models, agents and analytics across the Group.
- Define and enforce AI engineering standards, deployment patterns, integration patterns, testing and evaluation frameworks, and contribute AI/data positions to the Architecture Forum’s buy-vs-build and standards decisions.
- Evaluate third-party embedded AI and Saa S agents (e. g.
Safebooks. ai, Rossum) for benefit and cross-application scalability, integrating those that earn their place on the platform.
- Prioritisation & Value Delivery
- Co-own use-case prioritisation with the AI Product Management function, impact and feasibility assessment, quarterly roadmap refresh, dependency and sequencing management, and capacity and investment planning across the AI portfolio.
- Embed measurable operational ROI in every AI deployment and support the VCP PMO’s monthly delivery and value reviews, portfolio reporting and benefit realisation tracking for the Enterprise AI & Knowledge and related initiative clusters.
- Work with AI Product Managers who sit with users to convert real business requirements into engineered agents, iterating rapidly from pilot to production based on user feedback and delivered value.
- Translate engineering progress into business and financial narratives for the Executive Committee, Steerco and PE sponsor reporting cadences.
- Co-develop and operate within the AI Governance & Model Risk framework, model risk and assurance, responsible-AI policy, audit trail and human-in-the-loop controls, and support the AI Governance Forum’s oversight of fairness, explainability and control of AI use cases.
- Embed security, resilience and regulatory control by design in every AI system, working with Cyber & Infrastructure to scale controls for data and AI initiatives rather than bolting them on late.
- Apply Fin Ops discipline to AI at scale, AI/token and cloud cost management, usage monitoring and unit-economics control to stay ahead of run-cost.
- Ensure AI systems are auditable and evidenced for regulators, clients and internal risk functions across JTC’s regulated, multi-jurisdiction environment.
- Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Build, lead and develop the AI Engineering & Data Science team, hiring targeted internal capability in AI Engineering and AI Modelling, with phased headcount growth aligned to investment and business case.
- Act as the Group’s hub for AI in the Businesses and Group functions, upskilling Tech-Ops in AI and agentic workflow delivery and championing adoption of coding assistants (Claude Code) across engineering.
- Represent JTC AI engineering in external forums, vendor engagements and PE portfolio technology networks.
- Continuously horizon-scan the frontier of model and agent development, translating advances into practical opportunity for JTC’s AI roadmap.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Candidates should bring demonstrable progressive experience across AI/ML engineering, data science and enterprise software delivery; including leading engineering teams, ideally in Financial Services, Professional Services or PE-backed environments.
- Demonstrable track record shipping production-grade AI/ML and LLM-based systems at enterprise scale from prototype through governed production deployment and ongoing operation.
- Deep hands-on expertise in LLMs and agentic systems: prompt and context engineering, retrieval-augmented generation, tool/MCP orchestration, multi-agent workflows and evaluation frameworks.
Experience with the Anthropic stack (Claude, Claude Code, agent SDKs) is strongly advantageous.
- Strong software engineering foundations; APIs, cloud platforms, CI/CD, data pipelines and experience integrating AI into core enterprise systems and business workflows.
- Proven experience building document intelligence/extraction, workflow automation or conversational analytics solutions in control-heavy, regulated environments where specialists retain oversight and judgement.
- Working knowledge of AI governance and model risk: responsible-AI policy, explainability, human-in-the-loop controls, audit trails and model assurance.
- Fin Ops awareness; token and cloud cost management, usage monitoring and the unit economics of running AI at scale.
- Experience partnering with product management to prioritise use cases by value and feasibility, and to measure and report realised benefit against investment cases.
- Proven leadership of engineering or data science teams; hiring, developing and retaining talent in a scaling environment with the executive presence to represent AI engineering at senior leadership level.
- Sector experience in trust, fund administration, wealth management, asset management, or professional financial services is highly advantageous.
- A relevant degree in computer science, machinelearning or a related discipline, and relevant professional certifications, arevalued but not required.
- OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION & WELLBEING
JTC is committed to fostering a healthy, inclusiveorganisation where all individuals feel welcome and feel able to participate inthe workplace fully.
We value different perspectives, backgrounds and livedexperiences.
This includes supporting employee wellbeing so that people feelequipped to thrive.
Whether you are just starting out or seeking new challenges, JTC offers an environment where you can grow, develop, and succeed at every stage of your career.
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Director – AI Engineering employer: JTC Group
At JTC Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Greater London. Our inclusive culture fosters collaboration and innovation, providing employees with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a strong focus on value creation, we empower our team members to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values their contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director – AI Engineering
✨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 JTC Group 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 JTC Group.
✨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 JTC Group.
✨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 JTC Group 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 Director – AI Engineering
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 JTC Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at JTC Group 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 JTC Group
✨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 JTC Group 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.