AI Accelerator Lead

Key Recruitment; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 79,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension contribution

Hybrid 50/50 working

Learning & development

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Key Recruitment in Southampton is seeking an AI Accelerator Lead to establish a strategic AI initiative. Hybrid 50/50, salary £79,079–£92,258, guiding rapid prototyping and cross-functional collaboration to turn AI concepts into production-ready solutions in geospatial contexts.

You will lead programme design, mentor teams, vet techniques like LLMs, agentic systems, and orchestration, and work with product, data, and tech partners to ensure responsible AI governance and measurable impact.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in AI/ML engineering, software development and leadership.
• Strong understanding of modern AI techniques (LLMs, agentic systems, orchestration).
• Ability to write production-grade code and define engineering practices.
• Programme design, stakeholder engagement and impact evaluation experience.
• Passion for responsible AI adoption and governance.

Responsibilities

• Programme Leadership: design and run the AI Accelerator as a high-impact programme.
• Exploration & Innovation: identify high-value AI applications and assess risks.
• Technical Delivery: lead prototypes, write production-grade code, guide transitions to production.
• Capability Building: mentor participants and curate learning resources.
• Stakeholder Engagement: align initiatives with priorities and ethical standards.
• Communicating Impact: report outcomes to senior stakeholders and influence roadmap.

Skills

AI leadership

Software development

Technical leadership

LLMs

Agentic systems

Orchestration frameworks

Mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Responsible AI

Job description

AI Accelerator Lead

Salary £79,079.00 - £92,258.00

Hybrid working 50/50%

Southampton

My client is delivering world-class geospatial data and services that power innovation across government, business, and society. They are on a mission to unlock the full potential of location data and now, we’re accelerating that vision through artificial intelligence.

The Opportunity

Lead the establishment of AI Accelerator - a strategic initiative designed to unlock enterprise-wide value from AI. This is a unique opportunity to combine technical leadership with programme-level influence, driving innovation through rapid prototyping, capability building, and cross-functional collaboration.

You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team exploring advanced AI techniques such as geo foundation models, agentic systems, and LLM orchestration. Your goal: deliver high-impact prototypes that evolve into scalable, production-ready solutions, embedding AI in real-world contexts to reduce adoption friction and build organisational confidence in responsible AI use.

What You’ll Do

Programme Leadership: Design and operate the AI Accelerator as a structured, high-impact programme that drives experimentation, rapid prototyping, and capability development across the business

Exploration & Innovation: Investigate emerging AI techniques, identify high-value applications, and surface associated risks and opportunities for the business.

Technical Delivery: Own the design and build of prototypes, write production-grade code, conduct code reviews, and guide the transition from concept to scalable solution.

Capability Building: Mentor participants, energise the AI Guild, and curate learning resources to strengthen skills and foster a culture of responsible experimentation.

Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with product, data, and technology teams to align initiatives with strategic priorities and ethical standards.

Communicating Impact: Track and communicate outcomes, insights, and recommendations to senior stakeholders, informing roadmap decisions and future investment.

About You

• Proven experience in AI/ML engineering, software development, and technical leadership
• Strong understanding of modern AI techniques (LLMs, agentic systems, orchestration frameworks)
• Ability to write production-grade code and define engineering best practices
• Skilled in programme design, stakeholder engagement, and the evaluation of impact
• Passion for responsible AI adoption, including human-in-the-loop workflows and ethical application
• Familiarity with AI governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, and secure software engineering practices
• Ability to mentor, inspire, and influence across diverse teams
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with emerging AI technologies and industry best practices

Why Join

• Be at the forefront of AI innovation in geospatial technology
• Work on cutting-edge projects with real-world impact
• Enjoy a collaborative, inclusive culture with flexible working options
• Access to professional development, competitive benefits, and a supportive environment

The Rewards

We want you to love what you do and feel supported to do your best work.

Their benefits include:

• Competitive salary and pension (contribute up to 12.07%)
• Performance‑related bonus (where applicable)
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Enhanced family leave, including paid partner leave
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• Learning and development support, coaching and mentoring
• Access to wellbeing support
• Volunteering leave and matched fundraising