At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of impactful AI systems in high-security environments.
- Company: Leading consultancy focused on public sector programmes in security and justice.
- Benefits: Real ownership of projects, senior exposure, and a meaningful career trajectory.
- Other info: No minimum education required; practical experience and contributions valued.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by architecting production-grade AI systems that matter.
- Qualifications: Expertise in Python, AI/ML delivery, and experience leading technical teams.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Are you an AI engineer who's tired of being the person who "advises" on AI — and actually wants to build it? We're hiring a Senior AI Delivery Lead at Associate Director level for a high-impact practice working across some of the UK's most complex public sector programmes. Think policing, defence, justice, and national security — environments where the bar for reliability, security, and responsible AI is about as high as it gets. This is a hands-on technical leadership role. You'll be architecting and shipping production-grade AI systems, not producing slide decks about them.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
- Technical Architecture
- Designing end-to-end LLM and RAG systems integrated into complex enterprise workflows
- Deploying and optimising models on AWS Bedrock, Azure AI Foundry, and self-hosted GPU infrastructure (vLLM, SGLang, Ollama)
- Building robust MLOps/LLMOps pipelines — CI/CD, model monitoring, evaluation frameworks, observability
- Making the call on when AI is the right answer — and when a simpler solution is better
- Delivery
- Translating client requirements into technical roadmaps and shipping production-ready systems
- Moving AI from prototype to hardened, live service in high-security environments
- Proactively managing technical risk — security vulnerabilities, deployment bottlenecks, delivery timelines
- Leadership
- Leading cross-functional teams of data scientists and engineers
- Communicating complex AI concepts to senior non-technical stakeholders
- Mentoring and upskilling engineers, building a culture of engineering excellence
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Expert Python — plus hands-on experience with LangChain, LangGraph, PyTorch, TensorFlow or equivalent
- Deep knowledge of LLMs, RAG, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, vector databases, and generative architectures
- Production AI/ML delivery experience — real-world impact matters more than credentials
- Cloud-agnostic experience across AWS, Azure, and GCP
- Strong MLOps/LLMOps background — CI/CD for ML, governance, model monitoring
- Experience leading technical teams and managing senior stakeholder relationships
- Track record in a complex, regulated industry — healthcare, government, finance, defence, or similar
- No minimum education requirement. A PhD, strong industry experience, or impressive open source contributions all count equally. What matters is shipped, production-grade AI.
- Domain experience in Security & Justice is a bonus — not a prerequisite. A willingness to upskill in the sector is what counts.
- Security Clearance may be required.
WHY THIS ROLE?
- Real ownership — architect and deliver, not just advise
- High-stakes, meaningful work — the kind where your systems actually matter
- Career trajectory — joining at a moment of significant AI scale-up
- Senior exposure — direct engagement with client leadership from day one
Interested or know someone who might be? Drop me a message or apply directly — all conversations are confidential.
Associate Director in Sheffield employer: LinkedIn
As a leading consultancy in the UK, we offer an exceptional work environment for our Senior AI Delivery Lead, where you will have the opportunity to take ownership of high-impact projects in the public sector, including policing and national security. Our culture fosters innovation and collaboration, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and direct engagement with senior client leadership. Join us to make a meaningful impact while working with cutting-edge technology in a supportive and dynamic team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director in Sheffield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the field. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your AI projects, especially those that demonstrate your hands-on experience. This is your chance to shine and prove you can deliver real-world impact, not just talk about it.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Be ready to discuss your past projects and how you’ve tackled challenges. Remember, they want to see how you think and solve problems, so be confident!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take the initiative to reach out directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:Let us see your enthusiasm for building AI systems! Share specific projects or experiences that highlight your hands-on skills and how you've tackled challenges in the past. We want to know why you're excited about this role!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure your application speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience with Python, LLMs, and MLOps, and connect your past work to the responsibilities listed. We love seeing how your background fits our needs!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point — it shows you can communicate effectively!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at LinkedIn
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Python, LangChain, and MLOps. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with these tools and how you've applied them in real-world scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading cross-functional teams, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Highlight your ability to communicate complex AI concepts to non-technical stakeholders and how you’ve mentored others.
✨Understand the Sector
Familiarise yourself with the public sector, especially areas like policing and national security. Even if you don’t have direct experience, showing a willingness to learn and adapt will impress interviewers.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect technical questions that test your problem-solving skills. Brush up on designing end-to-end AI systems and be ready to discuss how you would handle deployment bottlenecks or security vulnerabilities in high-stakes environments.
