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- Tasks: Lead AI engineering strategy and mentor a high-performing team in a digital environment.
- Company: High-growth UK business focused on technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and influence over technology direction.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI in a successful digital business with real impact.
- Qualifications: Senior engineering leadership experience and strong software development skills.
- Other info: Office-based role in Birmingham, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 ÂŁ per year.
SF Technology are supporting a high-growth, digitally led UK business looking to appoint a Director of AI Engineering to lead the next phase of its technology and AI capability. This is a senior leadership role where you will define and deliver the organisation’s AI and engineering strategy, while remaining close enough to the technology to guide architecture, development standards and infrastructure decisions. You will lead a capable in-house engineering team responsible for the platforms, data pipelines and infrastructure that power a high-volume digital environment. Alongside this, you will drive the adoption of AI, machine learning and advanced data capabilities across core commercial and operational functions. The role sits within the senior leadership team and will play a key part in shaping the company’s wider digital, product and innovation strategy.
Key responsibilities
- Define and deliver a scalable AI and technology roadmap aligned to business growth
- Lead, mentor and grow a high-performing engineering and data team
- Oversee platform architecture, infrastructure, security and operational resilience
- Drive the development and deployment of AI and machine learning models into live business workflows
- Ensure engineering best practice across software development, testing and deployment
- Translate commercial objectives into robust, scalable technical solutions
- Work closely with senior leadership to influence digital strategy, investment and innovation
Experience required
- Proven experience operating in a senior engineering or technology leadership role (Director, Head of Engineering, CTO or similar)
- Strong software engineering background, ideally with hands-on experience in Python-based development environments
- Experience building and scaling data platforms, machine learning pipelines or AI-driven applications
- Demonstrable experience deploying AI models into production environments rather than purely experimental use cases
- Experience leading engineering teams responsible for high availability platforms, APIs and complex backend systems
- Strong understanding of cloud or hybrid infrastructure, containerisation and scalable architecture patterns
- Experience embedding data, analytics and AI into real commercial decision making (pricing, automation, optimisation, fraud detection, personalisation etc.)
- Ability to operate at both strategic and technical depth, influencing senior stakeholders while maintaining engineering credibility
- Experience leading, mentoring and developing multi-disciplinary engineering teams
This is an opportunity to shape and scale an AI-driven engineering capability within a highly successful digital business, with real influence over technology direction and innovation.
đź“Ť Birmingham (office based, 4 days a week onsite)
If this sounds of interest, please reach out for a confidential conversation.
Director of AI Engineering in Birmingham employer: SF Technology Solutions
Contact Detail:
SF Technology Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of AI Engineering in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the AI and engineering space. Attend meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your past projects, especially those involving AI and machine learning. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table and set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on both technical and leadership questions. Be ready to discuss how you've led teams and delivered successful projects. Remember, they want to see your strategic thinking as well as your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your applications that way!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of AI Engineering in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Director of AI Engineering. Highlight your experience in leading engineering teams and your hands-on skills in Python and AI technologies. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about AI and technology leadership. Share specific examples of how you've driven innovation and shaped strategies in previous roles. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Quantify your successes where possible, like how you improved system performance or led a successful project. We’re looking for impact, so let us know how you made a difference!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at SF Technology Solutions
✨Know Your AI and Engineering Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of the company's current AI and engineering strategy. Research their existing platforms and data pipelines, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to their vision.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director of AI Engineering, you'll need to lead and mentor a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led engineering teams in the past, focusing on your approach to building high-performing teams and fostering a collaborative environment. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced and how you overcame them.
✨Demonstrate Technical Depth
While this is a leadership role, having a strong technical background is crucial. Brush up on your knowledge of Python-based development, cloud infrastructure, and machine learning models. Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience and how it informs your strategic decisions.
✨Align with Business Objectives
Understand how AI and technology can drive commercial success for the company. Think about how you've embedded data and analytics into decision-making processes in previous roles. Be ready to share examples of how your technical solutions have directly impacted business outcomes, such as pricing or optimisation.