AI Systems Engineer (IT) / Contractor

Free-Work UK; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Free-Work UK is recruiting Senior AI Native System Engineers to join our Mobile Networks team in the UK. The role is hybrid with three days onsite and two days working from home, across London, Bristol, and Birmingham, on a 3-6 month rolling contract.

We seek engineers with deep systems experience, AI-aware delivery, and leadership to guide design choices. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and will support security-clearance processes where applicable.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience designing complex software systems.
• Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools or coding agents.
• Strong knowledge of algorithms, data structures, concurrency, OS, networking, APIs.
• Cloud compute platforms, preferably AWS, including patterns and security.
• Proficiency in system-oriented languages; Python desirable.
• Ability to set technical direction and guide teams.
• Experience embedding secure-by-design and observable practices.
• Effective communication with users, engineers and product owners.
• Curiosity about how systems work and rapid learning.

Responsibilities

• Join our Mobile Networks team to transform the network using AI.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver AI-native engineering solutions.
• Set technical direction and resolve design trade-offs.

Skills

Systems engineering depth

AI-native engineering mindset

Technical fundamentals

Cloud platforms (AWS)

Programming capability

Architecture & design leadership

Quality & governance

Communication

Learning agility

Job description

UK based - Hybrid 3 days onsite 2 working from home. London, Bristol, Birmingham

3-6 month rolling

Inside IR35

We Are Looking For Number Of Senior AI Native System Engineers, To Join Our Mobile Networks Team To Transform The Network Using AI. The Skill Sets We Are Looking For Are

• Systems engineering depth: Extensive experience designing complex software systems, distributed systems, data platforms or cloud-native services.
• AI-native engineering mindset: Practical experience using AI-assisted engineering tools or coding agents to improve software delivery, testing, documentation or design productivity.
• Technical fundamentals: Strong knowledge of algorithms, data structures, concurrency, operating systems, networking, APIs, integration patterns and performance trade-offs.
• Cloud and platform experience: Good knowledge of cloud compute platforms, preferably AWS, including architecture patterns, security, observability, deployment and cost considerations.
• Programming capability: Comfortable with system-oriented or strongly engineered languages such as Go, Rust, C/C++, Java or equivalent; Python experience is desirable for data and automation use cases.
• Architecture and design leadership: Proven ability to set technical direction, resolve complex design trade-offs and guide engineering teams through ambiguity.
• Quality and governance: Experience embedding secure-by-design, test-first, observable and compliant engineering practices into delivery workflows.
• Communication: Able to communicate clearly with users, engineers, product owners and senior leaders, bridging business outcomes and technical decisions.
• Learning agility: Demonstrates curiosity about how systems work beneath abstraction layers and the ability to learn new technologies quickly.

LA International is an award-winning partner of choice for many of the world's most influential companies and government organisations. Holding Enhanced Government Security Accreditation, we are recognised as the European market leader in the delivery of Security Cleared talent to organisations that demand the very highest levels of security, compliance and assurance.

A multiple award-winning organisation, having secured the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade over consecutive years. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background or identity, and we encourage candidates who may not meet every listed requirement to still apply. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure a fair and accessible experience.

Please Note: If a high volume of applications is received, only candidates shortlisted will be contacted.