Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Understanding Recruitment Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Understanding Recruitment Ltd in the United Kingdom is seeking an AI Engineer to build and deploy production-grade agentic systems for defence and national security environments, focusing on performance, reliability and real-world impact.

The role involves working with LLM orchestration, model optimisation, multimodal AI, real-time sensor data, and ownership from research to production. Strong ML foundations and production experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong foundations in machine learning, deep learning and applied mathematics.
• Production experience building agentic AI / LLM-based systems.
• Strong programming ability in Python, Rust, C++ or Java.
• Experience with PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow or agent orchestration frameworks.
• Excellent engineering judgement and the ability to turn research into robust, production-ready AI.
• Interest in solving difficult technical problems with real-world consequences.
• PhDs, top-tier ML publications and experience deploying AI in constrained or regulated environments are a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy production-grade agentic AI systems.
• Develop LLM orchestration, agent architectures and model optimisation.
• Work with multimodal AI, computer vision and real-time sensor data.
• Take ownership from research and prototyping through to production.
• Ensure reliability, safety, scalability and deployment of AI systems.

Skills

Machine learning

Deep learning

Applied mathematics

Production-grade AI

Problem solving

Tools

Python

Rust

C++

Java

PyTorch

JAX

TensorFlow

Agent orchestration

Job description

AI Engineer

LLMs / Python / PyTorch / Rust | Defence AI | UK

Are you an AI Engineer who wants to work on problems where model performance, reliability and real-world impact genuinely matter?

I'm working with a highly ambitious, VC-backed AI start-upbuilding advanced AI systems for some of the most demanding defence and national security environments.

They're looking for exceptional AI Engineers to build and deploy production-grade agentic systems, working on problems that go far beyond standard LLM applications.

Why it's interesting:

• Build advanced AI agents capable of taking actions in secure, highly controlled environments
• Work on LLM orchestration, agent architectures and model optimisation
• Explore multimodal AI, computer vision and real-time sensor data
• Take ownership of AI systems from research and prototyping through to production
• Solve challenging problems around reliability, safety, scalability and deployment
• Join an exceptionally strong engineering team with significant technical autonomy

What we're looking for:

• Strong foundations in machine learning, deep learning and applied mathematics
• Production experience building agentic AI / LLM-based systems
• Strong programming ability in Python, Rust, C++ or Java
• Experience with PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow or agent orchestration frameworks
• Excellent engineering judgement and the ability to turn research into robust, production-ready AI
• A genuine interest in solving difficult technical problems with real-world consequences

PhDs, top-tier ML research publications and experience deploying AI in constrained or regulated environments are a bonus.

The technical bar is high. We're looking for engineers who combine deep ML understanding with the ability to build AI systems that actually work outside a research environment.

UK | Office-first with flexibility

UK right to work and eligibility for SC clearance required.