Director of Forward Deployed Engineering

Data Science Festival; Greater London; On-site; GBP 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Data Idols in London is seeking a Director of Forward Deployed Engineering to build and lead a new AI delivery capability for enterprise clients. This rare role combines leadership, technical strategy, and client engagement to shape AI implementations.

You will recruit top engineers, set engineering standards, develop repeatable delivery frameworks, and drive impact across multiple enterprise programmes while staying close to delivery and architecture.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading software/AI engineering teams.
• Proven track record building scalable engineering orgs.
• Strong knowledge of modern AI technologies and LLMs.
• Experience delivering enterprise cloud platforms.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead an engineering practice for enterprise AI programs.
• Recruit, develop engineers and define standards.
• Shape technical strategy and client outcomes.

Skills

Engineering leadership

AI engineering

Enterprise architecture

Cloud platforms

Stakeholder management

Business development

Job description

Director of Forward Deployed Engineering

Salary: £180K – £200K

Location: London (Hybrid)

Here at Data Idols, we’re working with an innovative technology business that is scaling a cutting-edge AI platform used by enterprise organisations around the world.

As demand continues to grow, they are looking for a Director of Forward Deployed Engineering to build and lead a new engineering capability responsible for delivering complex AI solutions into enterprise environments. This is a rare opportunity to define how AI engineering is delivered across major organisations while building a high‑performing team from the ground up.

This role combines engineering leadership, technical strategy and client engagement. You’ll work with senior stakeholders to shape AI implementation programmes, establish engineering best practice and build repeatable delivery frameworks that can scale across multiple enterprise clients.

The Opportunity

This is a highly strategic leadership role where you’ll be responsible for building an engineering practice rather than simply managing projects.

You’ll recruit and develop exceptional engineers, define engineering standards and delivery methodologies, and oversee the successful implementation of enterprise AI platforms across a portfolio of high‑profile clients. You’ll help shape technical strategy while remaining close enough to delivery to influence architecture, engineering quality and client outcomes.

Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience leading software engineering, AI engineering or enterprise architecture teams
• Proven track record of building and scaling high‑performing engineering organisations
• Strong knowledge of modern AI technologies, large language models and agentic AI
• Experience delivering enterprise‑scale cloud platforms and distributed systems
• Strong consulting and stakeholder management skills
• Commercial awareness with experience supporting business development and solution design

If you are looking for a unique opportunity to build and lead one of the UK’s most ambitious AI engineering teams, while working on some of the most complex AI programmes in the market, please submit your CV for initial screening and further details.