AI Engineering Lead - LLMs & Agentic Systems

AI Engineering Lead – LLMs & Agentic Systems

Contract | £560 per day | Inside IR35
UK‑based | Remote / Hybrid (secure programmes)
Must have 5 years’ unbroken UK residency

Provide technical leadership for AI delivery at scale

We’re looking for an experienced AI Engineering Lead to provide hands‑on technical direction across teams implementing LLM‑based and agentic AI components within complex, enterprise delivery environments.

This role sits between architecture and delivery, ensuring that high‑level solution designs are translated into robust, scalable and well‑governed engineering implementations. You’ll work closely with architects, delivery managers and engineering teams to control risk, assure quality and support the successful adoption of AI within structured SDLC environments.

This role suits someone who enjoys solving complex technical problems while maintaining strong engineering standards and delivery discipline.

Key responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical direction to engineering teams delivering AI components, ensuring alignment with architecture and delivery plans
• Oversee technical design decisions relating to LLMs, agentic AI logic and associated system components
• Ensure AI solutions are implemented in a controlled, secure and scalable manner

Architecture & Delivery Alignment

• Collaborate with architects to translate high‑level solution designs into detailed engineering approaches
• Work with delivery managers to identify, manage and mitigate technical risks, dependencies and constraints

Engineering Assurance

• Provide assurance across AI engineering workstreams
• Review design artefacts, integration plans and testing approaches
• Ensure AI components align with SDLC updates, including model validation, safety checks and governance controls

Problem Solving & Enablement

• Support engineering teams in resolving complex technical challenges related to AI model behaviour, data flows and system interfaces
• Coach and guide developers and data engineers to ensure quality, consistency and good engineering practice

External Collaboration

• Engage with external AI technology providers to clarify technical requirements, capabilities and integration considerations

Required experience

• Strong background as a senior software engineer, technical lead or AI engineering lead
• Hands‑on experience delivering LLM‑based and/or agentic AI solutions
• Experience working within structured SDLC environments
• Comfortable operating in complex, regulated or high‑assurance programmes

Nice to have

• Experience contributing to or supporting AI governance and assurance processes
• Background spanning data, platform and application engineering
• Experience integrating solutions from external technology or AI providers

Security & eligibility

• Must have 5 years’ continuous, unbroken UK residency
• Eligibility for security vetting is required due to programme context

Why this role?

• Translate AI architecture into production‑ready, enterprise‑scale solutions
• Solve complex AI engineering challenges with real delivery impact
• Work closely with senior architects and delivery leaders
• £560 per day, Inside IR35