At a Glance
- Tasks: Build innovative solutions using AI coding tools in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join the UK's largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler with a strong team spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, car allowance, bonuses, and health benefits.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent training and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by delivering cutting-edge projects that answer business questions.
- Qualifications: Experience with AI coding tools and a track record of rapid delivery.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 80000 £ per year.
£80,000 per annum plus £5,688 per annum car allowance, bonus and benefits.
- 12 month fixed term contract
- Hybrid working working from our Swindon head office
Our reputation as the UK’s largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler speaks for itself.
Every day, we serve more than 22,000 customers from 34 distribution centres across the country.
Behind every nightly miracle is a team of dedicated people carrying out more roles than you realise – we’re the unseen force that delivers.
So when we say we’re excited for what the future holds for our customers and colleagues, you can trust we’re as good as our word.
The i LAB is Smiths News' Innovation Lab, run from Enterprise Architecture.
It builds and develops innovative solutions for the business, working in 90‑day cycles.
This exciting role is the Lab's builder.
You will use AI coding agents and assistants as your primary build method, so that one engineer delivers at a pace that would conventionally need a small team.
Speed with discipline is the job: every build exists to answer a question the business has asked, and ending an idea with clear evidence counts as a success.
What we can offer you
Not only do we offer free onsite parking, 4x salary life assurance and 5% match pension but you’ll also have access to:
- £5,688 per annum car allowance
- Company bonus
- Company funded Health Cash Plan – providing cash back for everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy
- 24/7 E‑Learning modules, Training and Development opportunities
- Sharesave Scheme, Cycle to work schemes, Health cash plan
- Private medical insurance
About you
- Demonstrable, current use of AI coding tools to deliver working software at speed. Candidates should expect to show real examples, not describe the concept
- Hands‑on experience with large language model APIs, prompt design, retrieval‑augmented generation, structured evaluation, and ideally fine‑tuning.
- Cloud platform experience deploying, securing and costing small workloads independently.
- A track record of shipping fast. Prototypes, side projects, hackathons, start‑up or agency delivery all count as evidence.
- Plain, confident communication. Able to demonstrate and explain technical results to non‑technical colleagues.
- Degree in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience. Evidence of building matters more than certification.
Please note: you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.
A career with us is a career filled with people, pride, and passion.
We rely on each other to get the job done, and we deliver what we say we will.
Let’s see if we can rely on you, too.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Innovation Engineer in Swindon employer: Smiths News plc
As the UK’s largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler, we pride ourselves on our dynamic work culture that values teamwork and dedication. Our Operations Team Lead role offers not only competitive salaries and free onsite parking but also a comprehensive health cash plan, pension matching, and extensive training opportunities to foster your professional growth. Join us in a fast-paced environment where your leadership will directly contribute to our success and the satisfaction of over 22,000 customers daily.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Engineer in Swindon
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like Smiths News plc.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like Smiths News plc.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Engineer in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at Smiths News plc that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at Smiths News plc and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at Smiths News plc
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Smiths News plc, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show Smiths News plc that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At Smiths News plc, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
