At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of AI-powered applications and mentor a team in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join an international organisation at the forefront of Digital & AI innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work on greenfield AI projects with executive support and international scope.
- Why this job: Be a founding member of a new AI Engineering function and shape its future.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering background with experience in leading technical projects.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
A rare opportunity to join an international organisation at the start of its Digital & AI engineering journey. This business is already actively exploring AI across multiple countries, with teams building applications, automations and new solutions to solve real business problems. The next step is creating the technical foundations, governance and engineering capability that will allow those initiatives to scale. As the first dedicated hire in this area, you'll have genuine influence over how AI solutions are designed, built and deployed across the organisation. This isn't a pure management role. You'll remain hands-on, helping to build solutions whilst leading technical direction, establishing best practice and mentoring others.
What You'll Do:
- Lead the technical direction of a new Digital & AI capability
- Design, develop and deliver AI-powered applications and automation solutions
- Build and integrate solutions using LLMs, AI agents and RAG architectures
- Define development standards, engineering frameworks and best practices
- Provide technical governance to support safe and scalable AI adoption
- Mentor developers and support technically focused citizen developers across the business
- Work across modern technologies including React, Next.js, Node.js and AWS
- Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud and wider technology teams
- Help shape long-term AI strategy and implementation across an international organisation
- Balance hands-on engineering with technical leadership and stakeholder engagement
What You'll Bring:
- Strong software engineering background with experience leading technical projects
- Previous experience as a Technical Lead, Lead Engineer, Principal Engineer or similar
- Strong knowledge of JavaScript / TypeScript and modern web technologies
- Experience with React, Node.js, Next.js or similar frameworks
- AWS cloud experience
- Experience building AI-enabled applications or automation solutions
- Knowledge of LLMs, prompt engineering, AI agents or RAG architectures
- Strong understanding of software architecture and engineering best practice
- Experience mentoring engineers and influencing technical direction
- Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Why You Should Apply:
- Founding role within a growing AI Engineering function
- Opportunity to build something from the ground up
- Influence technology choices, standards and ways of working
- Greenfield AI projects with strong executive support
- International scope across multiple regions and business units
- Modern technology environment
- Blend of hands-on development and technical leadership
- Clear progression and long-term growth opportunities
- Hybrid working with a Cardiff-based team
Ready to Apply? Contact Lewis Allen to find out more. Please apply with a CV outlining your suitability for the role. Know someone great for the job? We offer a referral scheme, so get in touch.
Locations
Lead Engineer (Digital/AI) in Newport, Wales employer: Yolk Recruitment Limited
As a leading manufacturing business based in Swansea, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our comprehensive training programmes and opportunities for career advancement, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding roles in the engineering sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer (Digital/AI) in Newport, Wales
✨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 Yolk Recruitment Limited 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 Yolk Recruitment Limited.
✨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 Yolk Recruitment Limited.
✨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 Yolk Recruitment Limited 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 Lead Engineer (Digital/AI) in Newport, Wales
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 Yolk Recruitment Limited.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Yolk Recruitment Limited 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 Yolk Recruitment Limited
✨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 Yolk Recruitment Limited 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.
