Technical Lead - AI

Hybrid – Attached to our Solihull, London or Hook office

Full Time, Permanent

Band 3 / £75,000 - £85,000 (dependent on experience)

Here at Serco, we’re looking for a Technical Lead specialising in AI to drive the design, build, and delivery of intelligent digital solutions across a range of products and platforms. This role is focused on practical AI delivery - not just experimentation. You’ll lead teams to take AI from concept to production, embedding models into real business processes that deliver measurable value. You’ll act as the bridge between data science, engineering, and the business, ensuring AI solutions are scalable, secure, and actually usable in the real world.

As part of this you’ll:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of AI solutions, from problem definition through to deployment and optimisation
• Design and implement machine learning and AI models that solve real business problems
• Embed AI into production systems, applications, and workflows
• Provide hands-on technical leadership to engineers and data scientists
• Translate business needs into practical AI use cases and technical solutions
• Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and maintainable in a production environment
• Drive best practices across MLOps, model lifecycle management, and AI governance
• Work across teams (engineering, product, data) to deliver high-impact, AI-driven outcomes

What you’ll need to do the role:

• Proven experience building and deploying AI/ML models at scale
• Strong track record of taking models into production (not just prototypes)
• Experience applying AI to real-world problems such as automation, prediction & forecasting, natural language processing and decision support systems
• Strong programming experience (e.g. Python, plus familiarity with modern engineering practices)
• Experience with ML frameworks (e.g. TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn)
• Experience with: CI/CD for ML models, model monitoring, retraining, and performance tracking, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or similar)
• Ability to design robust, production-ready AI architectures
• Experience leading or guiding cross-functional teams
• Ability to simplify complex AI concepts for non-technical stakeholders
• Strong decision-making skills and ability to manage trade-offs
• Comfortable working in fast-moving, delivery-focused environments
• SC clearance (or willingness to obtain it)

What we offer:

• Company car
• 5% on target bonus scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Flexible working considered
• Pension – 6%
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
• A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations.
• A safe and supportive culture.

About Serco: At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply: Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.