Lead AI Researcher in Bristol

As a Lead AI Researcher at Lloyds Banking Group, you will be a strategic leader and expert practitioner at the forefront of the Group's AI transformation. In this role, you will lead the research and development of cutting-edge artificial intelligence, machine learning, and generative AI technologies, guiding their application to drive business value while ensuring ethical and responsible implementation. You will work within the AI Centre of Excellence, collaborating with diverse teams to solve complex financial challenges and create innovative, customer-centric banking solutions.

Role Responsibilities:

• AI Research & Innovation: Lead and conduct hands-on, end-to-end research, developing novel AI, Machine Learning (ML), Generative AI (GenAI), and Agentic AI solutions and patterns.
• Strategic Leadership: Set the technical direction and research roadmap for the AI team, translating complex business challenges and opportunities into a clear vision for AI development.
• Project Execution: Lead the full lifecycle of AI research projects, from formulating problems, ideation, proposing hypotheses, developing new algorithms/models to experimentations to validating outcomes and publishing results.
• Collaboration: Lead and work within cross-functional teams comprising product managers, data scientists, ML/AI engineers, and business leaders.
• Thought Leadership & Communication: Act as a subject matter expert, present research findings at conferences and publish papers to advance the field.
• Team Mentorship: Coach and mentor junior AI researchers and engineers, helping to grow team capabilities and fostering a culture of continuous learning and curiosity.
• Responsible AI Governance: Partner with the Responsible AI team to embed robust ethical principles, bias mitigation techniques, and regulatory compliance into all AI development workflows.

What you’ll need:

• Extensive experience developing and deploying AI systems and machine learning models in a production environment.
• Demonstrable experience in AI research, with a strong publication record in top-tier conferences and journals.
• Master’s or PhD (preferred) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or relevant STEM field.
• Deep knowledge of AI/ML concepts, algorithms, and techniques, including Generative AI, Agentic AI and reinforcement learning.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages, particularly Python.
• Expertise in AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch/TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, Statsmodels, LangGraph and ADK.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (preferably Google Cloud Platform and Vertex AI).
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
• A high degree of ethical awareness, with an understanding of AI ethics, risk mitigation, and bias detection.
• Adaptability and a passion for continuous learning to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Our focus is to ensure we're inclusive every day, building an organisation that reflects modern society and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We want our people to feel that they belong and can be their best, regardless of background, identity or culture.

We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual bonus award, subject to Group performance
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• 30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top
• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies

At Lloyds Banking Group, we're driven by a clear purpose; to help Britain prosper. Across the Group, our colleagues are focused on making a difference to customers, businesses and communities.