AI Engineering Manager

Centrica plc; Clewer Village; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Centrica plc is seeking an AI Engineering Manager to lead the design, development and deployment of enterprise-grade AI and LLM-powered solutions. You will mentor engineers, set engineering standards, and stay at the forefront of MLOps and AI governance.

You will partner with data scientists, product teams and business stakeholders to translate complex requirements into reliable, scalable AI systems while balancing innovation with operational reliability.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in AI Engineering, ML, or related technical discipline with production deployments.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing technical teams with a collaborative culture.
• Hands-on design/build/deploy of LLM-powered solutions at enterprise scale.
• Strong Python development skills and ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn).

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to the AI engineering team with strong software engineering, MLOps, and responsible AI standards.
• Lead design, development, and deployment of AI applications, including LLM-powered solutions, with hands-on coding and architecture input.
• Support data scientists with model deployment, monitoring, and productionisation of AI solutions.
• Collaborate with data scientists, product owners, and stakeholders to translate business needs into AI solutions.
• Ensure operational excellence by embedding quality, security, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

AI leadership

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Scikit-learn

MLOps

LLM technologies

Cloud platforms

Azure

Databricks

CI/CD

DevOps

Stakeholder management

Education

Computer Science/Engineering/Data Science degree

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

Version control

Job description

Join us, be part of more. We’re so much more than an energy company. We’re a family of brands revolutionising how we power the planet. We're energisers. One team of 21,000 colleagues that's energising a greener, fairer future by creating an energy system that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels, whilst living our powerful commitment to igniting positive change in our communities. Here, you can find more purpose, more passion, and more potential. That’s why working here is #MoreThanACareer. We do energy differently - we do it all. We make it, store it, move it, sell it, and mend it.

AI Engineering Manager

As an AI Engineering Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of innovative AI solutions that help Centrica unlock value from data and emerging technologies. Combining technical leadership with hands‑on engineering expertise, you will be responsible for guiding a team of AI Engineers in the design, development, deployment, and operation of scalable AI and Large Language Model (LLM) powered applications. Working closely with Data Scientists, Product teams, and business stakeholders, you will ensure AI products are secure, reliable, and built to enterprise standards. Reporting to the Director of AI & Data Science, you will play a key role in shaping Centrica's AI engineering capability, driving best practice across software engineering and MLOps, and supporting the successful transition of machine learning models and AI solutions from experimentation into production. This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong leader who enjoys developing people while remaining actively involved in architecture, solution design, and hands‑on engineering delivery.

Responsibilities of the role

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the AI engineering team, ensuring strong standards in software engineering, MLOps, and responsible AI development.
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI applications, including large language model-powered solutions, while contributing hands‑on to code, architecture, and technical decision‑making.
• Support data scientists with robust model deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and product ionisation of machine learning and AI solutions.
• Collaborate with data scientists, product owners, business stakeholders, and data engineers to translate business requirements into practical AI solutions and deliver outcomes aligned to business priorities.
• Ensure operational excellence across AI engineering by embedding quality, security, reliability, and continuous improvement into delivery.
• Mentor and develop AI engineers, creating an environment that supports collaboration, continuous learning, innovation, and a growth mindset.
• Stay informed about emerging AI, MLOps, and engineering practices so the team continues to operate at the forefront of innovation .

Here’s what we’re looking for

• Significant experience in AI Engineering, Machine Learning, Software Development, or a related technical discipline, with a proven track record of delivering AI and machine learning solutions into production environments.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing high‑performing technical teams, creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Hands‑on experience designing, building, and deploying Large Language Model (LLM) powered solutions and generative AI applications at enterprise scale.
• Strong Python development skills, with experience using machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Scikit‑learn.
• Deep understanding of AI Engineering, MLOps practices, and modern LLM technologies, including prompt engineering, Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), AI agents, and model orchestration frameworks.
• Experience implementing and managing MLOps capabilities, including model lifecycle management, deployment automation, experiment tracking, monitoring, governance and machine learning pipelines.
• Proven experience working with cloud platforms and modern engineering practices, including Azure, Databricks, CI/CD pipelines, version control, and DevOps methodologies.
• The ability to design, build, deploy, and support scalable, secure, reliable, and production‑grade AI solutions.
• Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to shape architecture, define engineering standards, guide technical decision‑making, and drive delivery excellence.
• Experience delivering complex technology programmes and balancing innovation with operational reliability and business priorities.
• The ability to mentor and coach engineers, foster technical excellence, and build capability within the wider AI Engineering team.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior leaders, product owners, data scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders.
• Experience translating business requirements and challenges into practical technical solutions that deliver measurable commercial value.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and make sound engineering decisions.
• An understanding of data governance, responsible AI principles, and the regulatory considerations associated with AI solutions.
• Commercial awareness and an appreciation of how AI, data, and emerging technologies can drive business outcomes within a large, complex organisation.
• A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Relevant certifications in AI, Machine Learning, Cloud Technologies, Data Engineering, or MLOps would be advantageous.

Why should you apply?

We’re not a perfect place – but we’re a people place. Our priority is supporting all of the different realities our people face. Life is about so much more than work. We get it. That’s why we’ve designed our total rewards to give you the flexibility to choose what you need, when you need it, making sure that you and your family are supported not only financially, but physically and emotionally too.

Visit the link below to discover why we’re a great place to work and what being part of more means for you. https://www.morethanacareer.energy/centrica

We’re a family of brands revolutionising how we power the planet. When it comes to energy, no one does it like us. We make it, store it, move it, sell it and mend it. We’re made up of 12 different businesses, but united by our purpose as Centrica. We’re energisers. Our journey to a greener, fairer future is powered by individuals like you. Through innovative green products, intelligent energy solutions and developing smarter ways to use and save energy, we’re not just part of the energy transition, we’re leading it. Our commitment goes beyond sustainability. Together we’re bringing our collective energies to create positive change in our local communities. If you immerse yourself in our fight to change tomorrow, you might just find your why. We’re looking for people to add to our culture – not fit in with it. We're building a community where you can be unapologetically you, where differences are celebrated, and where everyone can belong. Real inclusivity also means supporting the different realities our people face. That’s why we have the UK’s best Carers Policy and are continually building our approach to flexibility and wellbeing. Of course, we love having fun too. We’re a people place after all.