At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of cutting-edge AI solutions for enterprise clients.
- Company: Fast-growing AI consultancy with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, equity, and hybrid work options.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence AI strategy and drive best practices in a thriving company.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI while working on impactful projects in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in Generative AI, LLM architecture, and hands-on technical leadership.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
All candidates should make sure to read the following job description and information carefully before applying.
Location: London | Hybrid
Salary: £150,000 - £200,000 + Bonus + Equity
We are working with a fast-growing AI consultancy looking to appoint a Principal AI Architect to take a leading role in designing and delivering complex, production-grade AI solutions. This is a senior, hands-on position for someone who combines deep technical expertise in Generative AI, Agentic AI and LLM architecture with the ability to lead technical strategy and engage confidently with enterprise clients.
The Role
- You will take ownership of the architecture and technical direction of sophisticated AI programmes, working from initial client requirements through to production deployment.
- You will be responsible for:
- Designing end-to-end Generative AI and Agentic AI architectures
- Architecting production-grade LLM applications and AI platforms
- Designing agentic workflows, orchestration and multi-agent systems
- Leading technical discovery and architecture discussions with enterprise clients
- Making key decisions around models, frameworks, infrastructure and deployment
- Remaining hands-on technically while providing leadership to engineering teams
- Establishing best practices around scalability, security, reliability and responsible AI
- Helping shape the organisation's wider AI architecture and technology strategy
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone with significant experience designing and delivering AI systems in real-world production environments. Ideally, you will bring:
- Strong commercial experience with Generative AI and LLM architecture
- Hands-on experience building Agentic AI / AI agent systems
- Deep understanding of LLMs, RAG, embeddings, vector databases and orchestration
- Experience taking AI solutions from concept through to production
- Strong Python and modern AI/ML engineering knowledge
- Experience with major cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure or GCP
- Strong architecture and system-design capabilities
Principal AI Engineer employer: Sterling Bridge
As a 1st/2nd Line IT Support Engineer at our established Managed Service Provider in Southampton, you will thrive in a dynamic hybrid technology environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth, ensuring that our employees are supported in their career development while enjoying a vibrant work culture that values teamwork and creativity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal AI Engineer
✨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 Sterling Bridge 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 Sterling Bridge.
✨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 Sterling Bridge.
✨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 Sterling Bridge 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
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 Sterling Bridge.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sterling Bridge 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 Sterling Bridge
✨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 Sterling Bridge 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.
