Principal Engineer – Advanced AI Engineering in Manchester

Principal Engineer – Advanced AI Engineering in Manchester

Manchester Full-Time 84624 - 126936 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative AI projects and develop cutting-edge solutions in a hybrid work environment.
  • Company: Join Lloyds Banking Group, a leader in diversity and innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, 30 days holiday, and flexible working options.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating an inclusive workplace.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on AI-powered products that enhance customer experiences.
  • Qualifications: Proven engineering leadership and expertise in AI/ML technologies required.

The predicted salary is between 84624 - 126936 £ per year.

Salary Range: £84,624 - £126,936

We support flexible working – click here for more information on flexible working options.

Flexible Working Options: Hybrid Working, Job Share

About this opportunity:

The new Advanced AI Engineering team is seeking Principal Engineers to join. The purpose of the team is to evaluate emerging AI technologies and methods, build MVPs, and hand over proven solutions for engineering at scale. A key priority is enabling the Group to create industry-leading AI-powered products and services that drive customer engagement and service excellence!

You'll join the Data & AI Unit within the Chief Technology Office (CTO), helping shape and support the Group's Data and AI technology strategy. This role sits at the forefront of Agentic AI, combining technical leadership, hands-on engineering expertise and applied GenAI knowledge to deliver innovative solutions within a regulated environment!

Day-to-day, you'll:

  • Partner with business and platform teams to identify priority problems and adoption bottlenecks, focusing on customer-facing AI solutions that can operate effectively within a regulated environment.
  • Evaluate emerging AI technologies, techniques and approaches through applied research, experimentation and rapid prototyping.
  • Lead the engineering and delivery of operational MVPs that address critical business challenges and create a pathway to scalable adoption.
  • Act as a trusted technical advisor, guiding engineering teams, technology leaders, and business collaborators in GenAI and Agentic AI.
  • Coach and mentor engineers, helping teams develop engineering capability and adopt proven AI patterns and practices.
  • Influence business and technology strategy by demonstrating the art of the possible and finding opportunities to bring value through AI innovation.

What you'll need:

  • Proven experience leading engineering teams and delivering production-grade technology solutions in complex environments, with accountability for outcomes.
  • Strong software engineering expertise with proficiency in at least two programming languages and a track record of solving complex technical problems.
  • Deep applied AI/ML and Generative AI experience, including the use of patterns such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), tool use, guardrails, evaluation frameworks and AI agents.
  • Experience designing, building and operating AI solutions within regulated environments, managing considerations such as reliability, security, safety and explainability.
  • Strong analytical thinking and judgement, with the ability to translate ambiguous challenges into clear technical direction, MVPs and scalable engineering solutions.
  • Proven ability to influence, coach and mentor engineers while engaging senior stakeholders on technical direction, architecture and technology decisions.

And any experience of this would be really useful:

  • Experience delivering technology solutions within regulated industries, particularly financial services.
  • Experience conducting or applying research within industry, academia or equivalent environments.
  • Experience developing large-scale customer-facing technology solutions and influencing engineering standards, reference architectures or reusable patterns across large organisations.

This is a place for you...

Our ambition is to be the leading UK business for diversity, equity and inclusion, supporting our customers, colleagues and communities. We are committed to creating an environment in which everyone can thrive, learn and develop.

We offer reasonable workplace adjustments for colleagues with disabilities, including flexibility in office attendance, location and working patterns. As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for a fair and proportionate number of applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role and have a disability, long-term health or neurodivergent condition, through the Disability Confident Scheme.

Benefits:

  • A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
  • An annual performance-related bonus
  • 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

Ready to make an impact? Apply today.

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.

We're focused on creating a values-led culture and are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Together we’re building a truly inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.

Principal Engineer – Advanced AI Engineering in Manchester employer: Lloyds Bank

At Lloyds Banking Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Fort William. With a strong focus on employee growth through our Skill Progression Framework, we provide ample opportunities for career advancement while ensuring a healthy work-life balance with flexible working options. Our comprehensive benefits package, including generous pension contributions and wellbeing initiatives, reflects our commitment to the well-being of our colleagues, making us a great place to build a meaningful career.

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Contact Details:

Lloyds Bank Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer – Advanced AI Engineering in Manchester

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 Lloyds Bank 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 Lloyds Bank.

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 Lloyds Bank.

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 Lloyds Bank 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 Principal Engineer – Advanced AI Engineering in Manchester

Technical Leadership
Hands-on Engineering Expertise
Applied AI/ML Knowledge
Generative AI Experience
Proficiency in Programming Languages
Problem-Solving Skills
Experience in Regulated Environments

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 Lloyds Bank.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Lloyds Bank 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 Lloyds Bank

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 Lloyds Bank 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.