At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and maintain innovative AI solutions for Commodities Trading.
- Company: Join Trafigura, a leader in Digital Transformation and AI technologies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse workforce, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming the way commodities trading operates with cutting-edge AI.
- Qualifications: 5-8+ years in AI/ML systems, strong Python skills, and experience with modern AI frameworks.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Trafigura is undergoing an exciting Digital Transformation, developing innovative AI technologies to change the way we work in Commodities Trading. The Document AI team is a key pillar of this initiative, unlocking data-rich proprietary documents to enable high-value process optimisation and data science use cases. We are seeking an Applied AI Engineer to grow our Document AI platform, developing robust and scalable AI solutions that solve real business problems. As a document-intensive industry, you will be building production‑ready Agentic AI/LLM systems that radically transform Commodities Trading. This is a hands‑on Individual Contributor role.
Required Qualifications
- 5-8+ years of experience building production AI/ML systems
- Modern Python proficiency with deep knowledge of the ecosystem (Pydantic, FastAPI, asyncio, type safety)
- Experience with modern AI frameworks (we currently favour Pydantic AI)
- Production experience maintaining human‑in‑the‑loop systems and AI monitoring/observability
- Strong fundamentals in AI/ML evaluation frameworks
- Experience building agentic systems including MCP, tool calling, memory systems, vector-based knowledge stores, guardrails
- In depth understanding of modern software design principles (e.g. microservices, event-driven architectures, domain driven design, object oriented programming, test driven development)
- In depth understanding of modern software development lifecycle (CI/CD, IaC, Containerisation)
- Practical experience with cloud engineering (preference for AWS)
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience in Commodities, Fixed Income, Equities, Asset Management is a plus
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain Python-based AI applications
- Build and maintain document workflows using LLMs and classical NLP
- Debug model performance issues, handle edge cases, and optimize system reliability
- Write comprehensive tests and implement monitoring for AI/ML systems
- Rapidly prototype new features, evaluate them, and implement to production
- Participate in code reviews, technical design discussions, and architecture decisions
- Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders to understand and translate business requirements into production code
Example projects you might own in the first 6 months
- Develop a specialised agent to automate highly complex commodity trading workflow
- Develop an agent to operate within human workflows, including seamless UI integrations and long running durable executions
- Develop a new AI product to extract key insights from firmwide market intelligence emails for front and middle office
Attributes for Success
- Engineering mindset focused on delivering practical solutions that solve real business problems
- Self-directed and comfortable working autonomously with minimal supervision
- Pragmatic approach to technology choices - you pick the right tool for the job rather than chasing trends
- Deep appreciation for AI system reliability - you understand that making AI systems work consistently is the hardest part of the job
- Intellectually curious and adaptable to rapidly evolving AI/ML landscape
- Strong desire to help people solve problems
Key Relationships
You will work closely with the Digital Transformation Team to understand business requirements and rollout production-grade applications to solve them. You will support the Data Science & Engineering teams as a Centre of Excellence for Agentic AI and related tech, providing support in the form of knowledge sharing and tool adoption.
Reporting Structure
You will report directly to the Document AI Lead.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or handicap, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Applied AI Engineer in London employer: Puma Energy
Trafigura is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the rapidly evolving field of AI within Commodities Trading. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have the opportunity to develop cutting-edge AI solutions while working alongside a diverse team that values your contributions. Our culture promotes autonomy and creativity, ensuring that you can make a meaningful impact on our Digital Transformation journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Applied AI Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your AI projects, especially those that align with commodities trading. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. We want to see how you think and approach real-world problems!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Trafigura and being part of this exciting digital transformation.
We think you need these skills to ace Applied AI Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Applied AI Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Python and AI frameworks, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects that showcase your skills in building production-ready systems.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re excited about the Digital Transformation at Trafigura and how your background aligns with the Document AI team’s goals. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, emphasise your engineering mindset and how you've tackled real business problems in the past. We love seeing examples of how you’ve built reliable AI systems or optimised workflows in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Puma Energy
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AI/ML systems, especially those relevant to the commodities trading sector. Be ready to discuss your experience with Python and frameworks like Pydantic AI, as well as any hands-on projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to build production-ready AI solutions.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled real business problems using AI technologies. Think about specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you approached them, particularly in maintaining human-in-the-loop systems or optimising model performance.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since you'll be working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. Be ready to discuss how you've translated business requirements into production code in past experiences, as this will show your ability to bridge the gap between tech and business.
✨Be Ready for Technical Discussions
Expect to dive deep into technical design discussions during the interview. Familiarise yourself with modern software design principles and be prepared to talk about your experience with CI/CD, containerisation, and cloud engineering, particularly with AWS. This will demonstrate your readiness for the hands-on nature of the role.
