Data Engineer

Wave Works; Greater London; On-site; GBP 96,000 - 152,000; Part time

Job summary

Wave Works is seeking an AI Engineer on a contractor basis under a new Head of AI. This is an early-building function tasked with turning AI concepts into demonstrable value, working hands-on from concept to production-ready outputs.

You'll design and implement AI/ML solutions, stand up data pipelines, collaborate with data engineering, and document architecture to enable a scalable, permanent team over 12–24 months.

Qualifications

• A track record shipping AI/ML solutions into production.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity in a high-growth environment.
• Strong engineering judgement: know when to build fast vs lasting.
• Confident collaboration with data engineering on infrastructure and pipelines.
• Commercially minded, linking technical delivery to business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Design and build AI/ML solutions against an early-initiative backlog prioritised for speed to value.
• Stand up data pipelines, model integration, evaluation, and deployment in partnership with data engineering.
• Translate strategy into working proofs of concept and production-ready pilots.
• Flag data, infrastructure, or resourcing gaps early to avoid delays.
• Document architecture and decisions clearly for a permanent team to inherit and extend.

Skills

AI/ML design

Delivery to production

Data pipelines

Model deployment

Stakeholder communication

Job description

We're partnering with one of our PE clients to bring in an AI Engineer on a contractor basis, working directly under a new Head of AI.

This is one of the first hands-on hires into a function being built from zero, with the job of turning early AI initiatives into real, demonstrable value fast.

This is a build and deliver role. You'll take agreed use cases from concept to working output, while helping shape the technical foundations the permanent function will scale on over the next 12 to 24 months.

What you'll own:

• Design and build AI/ML solutions against an agreed early-initiative backlog, prioritised for speed to value
• Stand up the technical scaffolding for initiatives (data pipelines, model integration, evaluation, deployment) in partnership with data engineering
• Translate the Head of AI's strategy into working proofs of concept and production-ready pilots
• Flag resourcing, data, or infrastructure gaps early so they don't stall delivery
• Document architecture and decisions clearly enough for a permanent team to inherit and extend
• Feed hands-on delivery learnings back into the wider operating model as it's defined

What we're looking for:

• A track record shipping AI/ML solutions into production, ideally in early-stage or newly-formed functions
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and shifting priorities in a high-growth, investment-backed environment
• Strong, pragmatic engineering judgement: knows when to build quickly versus build to last
• Confident working directly with data engineering on infrastructure, access, and pipeline design
• Commercially minded, able to connect technical delivery to business outcomes