Lead Developer - Applied AI Engineering in Durham

Do you have a strong background in software development? Becoming part of a growing community of data and digital professionals and champion excellence in AI data, and digital and help grow data & digital skills across HM Treasury? Central to this vision is more collaboration and transparency between departments and the centre of government on spending, requiring a greater level of sharing and harmonising of key data sets (Finance, Outcome & Performance data).

To meet the spending challenges of the future, HM Treasury is committed to developing an integrated data solution which will enable a single version of the truth which provides real-time, standardised data on finance, outcomes and performance. This will allow for greater autonomy for departments, more open conversations between departments and HMT and more effective, data-driven decision making, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the public.

The Finance and Performance Data Integration Service (FPDIS) is a key part of the Government’s ambition to rewire the state. The new compact between department and the centre requires more and better data, and this programme is the means by which the Treasury will get that data. The team is building and every role will bring vital perspectives and insight to the programme.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the end-to-end technical design, development, and implementation of AI solutions.
• Development and maintenance of analytic products in our preferred tech stack (Python, Plotly Dash and Azure) and experimentation with and use of other applications.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to data engineers, analysts and non-technical staff working on the broader FPDIS programme.
• Document AI architectures, models, and agent behaviours to ensure transparency, governance, and continuous improvement.
• Lead technical delivery of an experimental Agile project to extract finance and performance data from PDFs and other documents.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI to optimise public spending business processes, improve user experiences and deliver public value.
• Integrate AI capabilities with enterprise platforms and services, including low-code environments, APIs, and data pipelines, and cloud-based data integration platforms.
• Assess and select appropriate AI models, platforms, and tools.
• Stay current with emerging AI technologies, particularly developments in agent-based systems, and evaluate their applicability to FPDIS.
• Work closely with partners to translate business needs into AI-enabled solutions, incorporating agent-based architectures where appropriate.
• Support the training and upskilling of HMT staff in AI literacy, responsible use of intelligent systems, and adoption of AI-enabled tools.
• Ensure all AI solutions are ethical, secure, and aligned with HMT’s strategic objectives and regulatory obligations, and wider DSIT guidance.
• Technical leadership of applied AI projects.
• Designing of AI solution to a business problem.
• Technical Application of LLMs in a Digital Product.

Benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday.
• Flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours).
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28.97%.
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the recruitment team.