Principal AI Engineer

Principal AI Engineer

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
U

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and development of AI-driven software systems that transform business processes.
  • Company: Join a leading global entertainment company with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, well-being programs, and opportunities for career growth.
  • Other info: Inclusive culture with access to resources for professional excellence.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by building cutting-edge AI products in a collaborative environment.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering and applied machine learning; strong mentoring skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

UTA seeks a Principal AI Engineer to lead the design, development, and delivery of intelligent software systems that bring together enterprise application architecture, full-stack engineering, data science, and machine learning. In this highly visible, hands-on leadership role, you will build and scale production-grade platforms and AI-enabled products that power critical workflows, decision-making, automation, and business insight across the organization. The ideal candidate combines deep software engineering expertise with strong applied AI and data science capability, and has a proven ability to mentor engineers, shape technical direction, and partner cross-functionally to turn complex business problems into scalable, secure, and reliable solutions.

What You Will Do

  • AI Engineering, Data Science & Intelligent Product Development: Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning, statistical, and AI-driven solutions that support automation, prediction, decision-making, and personalization. Own end-to-end delivery of AI-enabled products and services, from problem framing and data exploration through model development, application integration, deployment, and monitoring. Evaluate and implement appropriate approaches across machine learning, analytics, and natural language processing based on business needs and technical constraints. Partner with data and platform teams to build robust pipelines, reusable services, and scalable environments that support production AI workloads.
  • Platform Engineering & Enterprise Architecture: Design and develop scalable, secure, cloud-native applications and backend services that integrate AI, data, and business workflows into enterprise platforms. Lead end-to-end full-stack engineering across backend services and modern web applications, including APIs, data models, service integrations, and internal tools. Architect systems using modern cloud patterns such as microservices, event-driven design, and managed services, ensuring reliability, observability, and scalability. Provide architectural leadership across integrations with enterprise systems and third-party platforms.
  • ML Ops, Reliability & Engineering Best Practices: Productionize AI and machine learning solutions using modern ML Ops and software engineering practices. Establish standards for testing, deployment, observability, drift detection, retraining, and documentation. Drive quality, automation, and performance in systems where accuracy, resilience, and reliability are critical.
  • Leadership, Mentorship & Execution: Serve as a hands-on technical leader and player-coach, mentoring engineers while actively contributing to design and implementation. Help define technical strategy and roadmap priorities for AI, data, and application development. Lead execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives and act as a senior escalation point for technical decisions and trade-offs. Foster a culture of engineering excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Collaboration & Business Partnership: Partner with Product, Engineering, Data, and business stakeholders to identify high-value opportunities where AI and software can materially improve outcomes. Translate ambiguous business needs into clear technical solutions, communicating trade-offs and risks effectively. Present complex technical work in a clear, actionable way to both technical and non-technical audiences, including leadership.

What You Will Need

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field, or equivalent experience; advanced degree is a plus.
  • 10+ years of experience in software engineering, applied machine learning, data science, or related fields, including building and delivering production systems end-to-end.
  • Strong hands-on expertise in modern software engineering, including backend development, APIs, and scalable system design.
  • Experience with full-stack development, including modern frontend frameworks and service-based architectures.
  • Proficiency in Python and SQL, with experience in data manipulation, model development, and analytical workflows.
  • Hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar.
  • Strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and building cloud-native systems.
  • Experience with modern data platforms such as Snowflake, BigQuery, or Databricks.
  • Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code, microservices, and event-driven architectures.
  • Strong grounding in statistics, experimentation, and analytical methods.
  • Experience deploying and maintaining production AI/ML systems, including monitoring and governance.
  • Solid understanding of secure system design, data privacy, and enterprise engineering practices.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
  • Proven experience mentoring engineers and leading through influence in a hands-on environment.
  • Experience in media, entertainment, or similarly fast-paced industries is a plus.

What You Will Get

  • The unique and exciting opportunity to work at one of a leading global entertainment companies.
  • Access to the tools, leadership, and resources you will need to create and drive a centre of excellence.
  • The opportunity to do the best work of your career.
  • Work in an inclusive and diverse company culture.
  • Competitive programs to support your well-being.
  • Experience working in a collaborative environment with room to grow.

UTA and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers.

Principal AI Engineer employer: United Talent Agency LLC

At UTA, we pride ourselves on being a leading global entertainment company that fosters an inclusive and diverse culture, providing our employees with the tools and resources necessary to excel in their careers. As a Principal AI Engineer, you will not only lead innovative projects but also benefit from competitive well-being programs and ample opportunities for professional growth in a collaborative environment. Join us to make a meaningful impact while doing the best work of your career.

U

Contact Details:

United Talent Agency LLC Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal AI Engineer

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A personal connection can often get you a foot in the door faster than any application.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to AI and machine learning. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the format.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal AI Engineer

Machine Learning
Data Science
AI Engineering
Full-Stack Development
Cloud-Native Applications
Backend Development
APIs

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Principal AI Engineer role. Highlight your expertise in software engineering, machine learning, and data science, and don’t forget to mention any leadership experience you have!

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 how your background makes you the perfect fit for this role. Be sure to connect your past experiences with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Showcase Your Projects:If you've worked on relevant projects, whether personal or professional, make sure to include them. We love seeing practical applications of your skills, especially those that demonstrate your ability to lead and innovate in AI and software development.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!

How to prepare for a job interview at United Talent Agency LLC

Know Your Tech Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Python, SQL, and machine learning frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of cloud platforms and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Since this role involves mentoring and leading teams, prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience. Think about times when you guided a team through a complex project or helped a colleague overcome a technical challenge.

Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect to dive deep into technical discussions. Be ready to explain your thought process behind designing scalable systems or deploying AI solutions. Practise articulating your approach to problem-solving and decision-making in a clear and concise manner.

Communicate Clearly with Non-Techies

You’ll need to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders. Prepare to demonstrate how you can present your work in an understandable way, perhaps by using analogies or simple language to convey your ideas effectively.