At a Glance
- Tasks: Build AI solutions directly with customers, tackling real operational problems at speed.
- Company: Innovative UK tech company revolutionising AI in complex organisations.
- Benefits: Flexible working, share options, and minimal bureaucracy for rapid impact.
- Other info: Join a fast-moving team with excellent growth opportunities and mentorship.
- Why this job: Make a real difference with cutting-edge AI technology and direct influence.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software or AI, deep Python skills, and customer-facing experience.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
Principal-level individual contributor role embedded directly with customers.
Building AI capability against live operational problems, at pace.
Python, large language models, agentic workflows, data integration.
Set the technical standard for how AI gets deployed across every customer.
Share options and an unusually short distance between idea and impact.
About the Company: My client is a UK technology company building an AI operating and orchestration layer that puts intelligent systems to work inside large, complex organisations where accuracy and accountability really matter. The platform is already live and in daily operational use with major customers. The engineering group is small, senior and unusually fast moving, with AI tooling built into how the team genuinely works rather than bolted on afterwards.
The Role: This is a forward deployed role in the truest sense. You go to where the problem is, work alongside the people who have it, and build against it in days rather than quarters. At principal level you are also the technical authority for how that work gets done, setting the patterns, calling the hard architectural questions, and lifting the engineers around you. It suits a very experienced engineer who wants real influence without moving into people management, and who is motivated by problems that matter rather than problems that scale neatly.
Key Responsibilities:
- Embed with customer teams to understand operational problems first hand.
- Build working AI solutions rapidly against real data and real constraints.
- Set the technical approach and architectural patterns used across deployments.
- Own the hardest problems, the ones nobody else has managed to crack.
- Design and tune retrieval, prompting and agent behaviour for demanding use cases.
- Establish the standard for how output quality is validated before it is relied upon.
- Convert successful deployments into repeatable product capability.
- Mentor senior engineers and act as the technical voice with senior customer stakeholders.
What You'll Need:
Essential:
- 8+ years building software or AI systems in production.
- Deep Python expertise and substantial hands-on large language model experience.
- Track record of shipping quickly in ambiguous, under-specified situations.
- Experience setting technical direction that other engineers then follow.
- Confident working directly with customers, including in operational settings.
- Eligible for UK security clearance.
Desirable / Nice to Have:
- Previous forward deployed, field engineering or embedded consulting experience.
- Background delivering into a heavily regulated or operationally critical domain.
- Open source contribution, patents or published technical work.
Why Apply?
- The shortest possible distance between a real problem and a working solution.
- Genuine principal-level scope, not a senior role with a better title.
- Share options as part of the package.
- Almost no bureaucracy between you and shipping.
- Flexible working pattern.
- Direct line to founders and senior leadership.
- Shape how an entire engineering function operates while it is still being built.
Benefits: Work From Home
Principal AI Engineer (Forward Deployed) in London employer: Ocho
As a Group Financial Accountant at this privately-owned global manufacturing group in County Down, you will be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and excellence. The company offers a supportive work culture with hybrid working options, fostering employee growth through continuous learning and development opportunities. With a commitment to high-quality financial reporting and a focus on compliance, you will play a crucial role in driving the company's success while enjoying the benefits of a collaborative environment and the chance to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal AI Engineer (Forward Deployed) in London
✨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 Ocho 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 Ocho.
✨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 Ocho.
✨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 Ocho 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 AI Engineer (Forward Deployed) in London
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 Ocho.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ocho 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 Ocho
✨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 Ocho 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.
