At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the engineering strategy for a cutting-edge AI platform and drive innovation.
- Company: Join UST, a forward-thinking tech company shaping the future of AI.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team fostering innovation and engineering excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in AI adoption while staying hands-on with technology.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in software engineering and deep technical expertise in AI platforms.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: London (Hybrid: 3 days onsite / 2 days remote)
Employment Type: Permanent
UST is seeking a Director of AI & Platform Engineering to define and lead the engineering strategy for our enterprise AI platform, enabling scalable, secure, and commercially viable AI adoption across client engagements. This is a strategic leadership role at the intersection of platform architecture, product engineering, and AI innovation, with accountability for translating emerging AI capabilities into enterprise‑grade, reusable solutions. You will drive the evolution of our AI platform from innovation‑led initiatives into a mature, production‑ready offering that delivers measurable client value. While operating at a Director level, this role remains intellectually hands‑on, requiring deep technical engagement in architectural decision‑making, platform design validation, and engineering execution where required.
Key Responsibilities
- Enterprise AI Platform Strategy & Leadership: Define and execute the end‑to‑end engineering vision and roadmap for UST’s AI platform, aligned to enterprise, client, and market needs. Establish architecture principles, engineering standards, and governance frameworks to ensure scalability, security, and sustainability. Act as a senior technical authority, influencing platform direction and long‑term investment decisions.
- Productisation & Commercialisation of AI: Lead the transition of AI capabilities from experimentation and PoC into scalable, enterprise‑grade products. Drive the creation of reusable, modular, API‑first platform components supporting multi‑client adoption. Embed product thinking, ensuring the platform is client‑ready, configurable, and commercially scalable.
- Scalable, Secure & Cloud‑Native Architecture: Ensure the platform is engineered for multi‑tenant environments, high availability, resilience, and performance at scale. Champion cloud‑native, secure‑by‑design, and observable architectures across Azure, AWS, or GCP. Oversee platform maturity, including release management, versioning, and lifecycle governance.
- Engineering Excellence & Delivery Leadership: Embed best‑in‑class software engineering practices, including design patterns, code quality standards, and DevOps maturity. Provide leadership across AI/ML, GenAI, platform engineering, and full‑stack development, ensuring robust and consistent delivery. Remain hands‑on where required, reviewing architecture, validating designs, and unblocking complex engineering challenges.
- Client Engagement & Solution Leadership: Partner with Sales, Solutions, and Delivery teams to position the AI platform in strategic client engagements. Lead or contribute to executive‑level solution discussions, technical workshops, and architecture reviews. Ensure that platform capabilities directly translate into business outcomes and client value realisation.
- Leadership & Talent Development: Build, scale, and lead a high‑performing, cross‑functional engineering organisation. Foster a culture of engineering excellence, innovation, and accountability. Mentor senior engineering talent and develop future technical leaders.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience operating at Director / Senior Principal level within enterprise software, platform, or product engineering environments.
- Demonstrated success in building and scaling complex platforms, SaaS solutions, or reusable engineering ecosystems.
- Strong track record of leading large, cross‑functional engineering teams, balancing strategy, delivery, and technical depth.
- Ability to operate seamlessly across architecture, hands‑on engineering, and executive stakeholder engagement.
Technical Expertise
- Deep experience with AI/GenAI ecosystems, including LLM‑based applications, RAG architectures, orchestration frameworks, and ML platforms.
- Strong expertise in cloud‑native architecture (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and distributed systems design.
- Advanced knowledge of microservices, APIs, event‑driven architectures, and integration patterns.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, release engineering, and DevOps best practices.
- Proven ability to scale platforms from proof‑of‑concept to enterprise production environments.
Client & Commercial Exposure
- Experience engaging directly with enterprise clients, including solution shaping, technical advisory, and delivery governance.
- Ability to influence technical and commercial decision‑making at senior stakeholder levels.
Why Join UST?
This is an opportunity to define and lead a next‑generation AI platform capability at scale, shaping how enterprise clients adopt AI in a secure, scalable, and impactful way, while remaining close to the technology and engineering craft.
AI & Platform Engineering Lead (Hands-on Leadership) - Director I - Product Engineering in London employer: UST
UST is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and excellence, particularly in the dynamic field of AI and platform engineering. With a hybrid work model in London, employees benefit from a flexible work environment while engaging in meaningful projects that drive enterprise-level AI adoption. UST prioritises professional growth, offering ample opportunities for mentorship and leadership development, making it an ideal place for those looking to advance their careers in a cutting-edge technological landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI & Platform Engineering Lead (Hands-on Leadership) - Director I - Product Engineering in London
✨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 UST 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 UST.
✨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 UST.
✨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 UST 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 AI & Platform Engineering Lead (Hands-on Leadership) - Director I - Product Engineering in London
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 UST.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at UST 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 UST
✨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 UST 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.
