Data Scientist/AI Engineer

Square One Resources; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is looking for an AI Engineer/Data Scientist to join a financial services client's team for a 6-month contract. The role involves building production-ready models for content extraction and classification, collaborating closely with product managers and business teams to deliver innovative solutions. The ideal candidate has strong experience in document AI and proficient in Python, machine learning, and related technologies. This opportunity requires onsite presence in Birmingham three days a week.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in document AI and intelligent document processing.
• Proven track record of delivering production code in Python.
• Experience with machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing.

Responsibilities

• Build production-ready models for content extraction and classification.
• Collaborate with business teams to understand requirements.
• Design and build Python/ML/OCR-based components.

Skills

Document AI/Intelligent document processing

Python

Machine learning

Deep learning

Natural language processing

Generative AI

Image processing

OCR

Cybersecurity

Resilience

Tools

TensorFlow

Pytorch

Hugging Face

Spacy

OpenCV

Regex

PostgreSQL

Azure CLI

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure DevOps

Job description

Job Title: AI Engineer/Data Scientist

Location: Sheffield or Birmingham - 3 days per week in the office - only candidates within commutable distance will be considered by the client

Salary/Rate: 500 per day inside IR35

Start Date: 29/01/2026

Job Type: Contract - 6 months

Company Introduction

We have an exciting opportunity now available with one of our sector‑leading financial services clients! They are currently looking for a skilled AI Engineer/Data Scientist to join their team for an initial 6‑month contract.

Job Responsibilities/Objectives

The Onboarding and Know Your Customer Value Stream incorporates onboarding products, platforms, and a delivery capability particularly suited to client‑aligned agile delivery at pace. They are investing heavily across these domains with a strategic focus on increasing adoption of AI capabilities through our flagship AI journeys, day‑to‑day engineering and overall ways of working. To accelerate achieving our vision , we are seeking an experienced AI Engineer to join the Client Services and OBKYC Technology group.

1. Building production‑ready models to drive content extraction and classification from images and text‑based sources.
2. Working closely with business teams to understand requirements and iteratively design and develop solutions.
3. Collaborative with product managers, technical teams.
4. Create, test and iterate new and existing products and features.
5. Designing and building Python/ML/OCR‑based components.
6. Not only supporting the development of the product, but also the full lifecycle including the deployment, testing and production support of the application.

Required Skills/Experience

The ideal candidate will have the following:

1. Strong experience in Document AI/Intelligent document processing using traditional models and Generative AI - particularly in using open source models for achieving business outcomes.
2. Experience delivering to production in Python, with a focus on machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, generative AI, image processing and OCR all additional positives.
3. Experience with some of the following frameworks - TensorFlow, Pytorch, Hugging face, Spacy, OpenCV, Regex or equivalents.
4. Experience delivering safe code to production, focusing on cybersecurity and resilience of the application and APIs.

Desirable Skills/Experience

Although not essential, the following skills are desired by the client:

1. Experience using PostgreSQL for data storage and management.
2. Proficiency with Azure core services like Azure Virtual Machines and experience with one or all of Azure CLI, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Azure DevOps
3. Experience delivering in teams releasing at a high cadence to production.