At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and scale enterprise-grade AI products while collaborating with top teams.
- Company: Join Version 1, a leader in innovative AI solutions with a focus on inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive pay, and a share in company profits.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the AI field and mentor future engineers.
- Qualifications: 8-12+ years in AI/ML engineering with strong product instincts required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Senior AI Product & Research Engineer (Consultant) to design, prototype and scale enterprise‑grade AI products. The role combines deep technical AI expertise with strong product intuition and hands‑on experience leveraging modern AI development tools and coding agents. The engineer will work closely with leadership, engineering and research teams to translate ambitious AI concepts into deployable, secure and scalable production systems.
What You Will Do
- Translate business and research objectives into scalable AI product architectures.
- Rapidly prototype AI‑driven applications using modern AI coding agents and developer copilots.
- Design and implement enterprise‑grade AI systems across model development, evaluation and deployment.
- Lead applied research efforts across LLMs, agentic systems, retrieval architectures and applied ML.
- Establish evaluation frameworks to measure model quality, safety, robustness and business impact.
- Architect production‑ready AI applications with strong observability, monitoring and iteration loops.
- Advise on AI tooling, vendor selection, infrastructure alignment and technical roadmap decisions.
- Mentor internal engineers on modern AI development workflows and best practices.
Qualifications
- 8‑12+ years of experience across AI/ML engineering, applied research or AI product development.
- Demonstrated experience building and shipping enterprise‑grade AI products.
- Deep familiarity with modern AI stacks (LLMs, RAG systems, fine‑tuning, embeddings, orchestration frameworks).
- Hands‑on experience using AI coding agents and AI‑assisted development tools in production workflows.
- Strong product instincts: ability to balance technical feasibility, business value and user experience.
- Proficiency in Python and modern AI frameworks.
Nice to Have
- Experience deploying AI systems in regulated or security‑sensitive environments.
- Familiarity with distributed systems and cloud‑native architectures.
- Background working at leading AI labs, big tech or high‑performance startups.
- Experience designing internal AI platforms used by multiple teams.
Benefits
- Share in our success with our Quarterly Performance‑Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of the company’s profits.
- Strong career progression and mentorship coaching through our Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme.
- Flexible / remote working; Version 1 is tremendously understanding of life events and people’s individual circumstances and offers flexibility to help achieve a healthy work‑life balance.
- Financial wellbeing initiatives including pension, private healthcare cover, life assurance, financial advice and an employee discount scheme.
- Employee wellbeing schemes including gym discounts, bike to work, fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, employee assistance programme and much more.
- Generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies.
- Educational assistance, incentivised certifications and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle and Red Hat.
- Reward schemes including Version 1's Annual Excellence Awards and Call‑Out platform.
- Environment, social and community‑first initiatives allow you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring including those shaped by disability and neurodiversity. We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact your recruiter at Version 1. We will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially.
Senior AI Product & Research Engineer (Consultant) in Edinburgh employer: Version 1
Version 1 is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a robust career development programme alongside flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance. With a strong focus on innovation in AI product development, employees benefit from a collaborative culture that encourages mentorship and the sharing of ideas, all while enjoying comprehensive financial and wellness benefits. Join us in a dynamic environment where your contributions directly impact the success of cutting-edge AI solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior AI Product & Research Engineer (Consultant) in Edinburgh
✨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 Version 1 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 Version 1.
✨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 Version 1.
✨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 Version 1 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 Senior AI Product & Research Engineer (Consultant) in Edinburgh
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 Version 1.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Version 1 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 Version 1
✨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 Version 1 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.
