At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and implement cutting-edge AI systems for enterprise customers.
- Company: Leading US-based AI company expanding into the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunity to shape the UK office.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to work on innovative AI projects.
- Why this job: Be a founding member of a high-performing team and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in software/AI engineering with strong system design skills.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
An industry-leading US-based AI company, known for building and deploying generative AI systems that transform large-scale enterprise operations is expanding into the UK. As their UK Founding Engineer, you’ll be the first local member of a high-performing global team, helping to build the engineering and deployment presence from the ground up and moving forwards, help lead the UK office/function.
The Role
As a Forward Deployed AI Engineer, you’ll work directly with enterprise customers to build, operate, and continuously improve production-grade GenAI systems. This is a hands-on, impact-driven role where you’ll design and iterate on end-to-end solutions that blend models, agents, data, and evaluation frameworks into reliable, scalable deployments. As the first UK hire, you’ll build alongside a world-class engineering and research team deploying frontier AI capabilities and will be enabled to shape the foundation of their UK function and engineering culture; whilst working on systems that move beyond prototypes.
What You’ll Do
- Design and implement compound AI workflows that combine models, retrieval, evaluation, and execution into cohesive production systems.
- Operate on live AI deployments: monitor behaviour, identify failure modes, and iterate continuously to improve performance and reliability.
- Integrate systems into real customer environments; from data platforms and APIs to business applications.
- Collaborate directly with enterprise teams, often in high-visibility projects, explaining technical trade-offs and outcomes with clarity.
- Take ownership of real-world outcomes, ensuring AI systems deliver measurable business value and adapt as client needs evolve.
Skills and experience required
- 7+ years of hands-on software/AI engineering experience (Python preferred).
- Strong foundation in system design, debugging, testing, and performance optimization.
- Proven experience building LLM and AI-driven applications - not just using APIs, but composing prompts, models, agents, and evaluation mechanisms into operational systems.
- Comfortable working in dynamic customer-facing environments and communicating clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Naturally curious about AI and proactive in experimenting with new tools and techniques.
- Willingness to travel occasionally (25–50%).
For further information and immediate consideration, please get in touch.
Founding Engineer - Forward Deployed AI Engineer employer: Stott and May
As a pioneering AI company expanding into the UK, we offer an exceptional opportunity for our Founding Engineer to shape the future of our local operations while collaborating with a world-class global team. Our dynamic work culture fosters innovation and growth, providing employees with hands-on experience in deploying cutting-edge AI systems that deliver real business value. With a commitment to employee development and a unique chance to influence the engineering landscape from the ground up, we are dedicated to creating a rewarding and impactful workplace.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer - Forward Deployed AI Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the AI industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. Use LinkedIn to connect and engage with them; you never know who might help you land that interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to AI and software engineering. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios relevant to AI engineering. Mock interviews with friends or using online platforms can help you feel more confident and ready to impress.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals like you. Keep an eye on our job postings and make sure your application stands out by tailoring it to the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer - Forward Deployed AI Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your hands-on software/AI engineering experience and any relevant projects you've worked on that showcase your ability to design and implement AI systems.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're excited about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Be specific about your experience with generative AI systems and how you’ve successfully integrated them into customer environments.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, include examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles. We want to see your thought process and how you approach debugging, testing, and performance optimisation in real-world scenarios.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Stott and May
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of generative AI systems and how they transform enterprise operations. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with building LLM and AI-driven applications, as this will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but have practical skills to back it up.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've designed and implemented complex AI workflows in the past. Highlight your ability to monitor live deployments and iterate for improvement, as this role is all about delivering measurable business value through reliable systems.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since you'll be working directly with enterprise customers, practice explaining technical concepts in a way that non-technical stakeholders can understand. This will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between tech and business, which is crucial for this position.
✨Be Ready to Lead
As the first UK hire, you'll be shaping the engineering culture. Think about how you can contribute to building a strong team dynamic and what leadership qualities you bring to the table. Be prepared to discuss your vision for the UK function and how you plan to drive success from the ground up.
