Forward Deployed AI Engineer (Contract)

Harnham; Greater London; On-site; GBP 138,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Harnham is seeking an experienced contractor to shape AI strategy across a portfolio of businesses and stay hands-on with delivery.

You will assess processes, design AI solutions using LLMs, agents and RAG, and create pragmatic roadmaps for adoption while engaging stakeholders to communicate risks and recommendations. The role blends strategic influence with practical engineering in a fast‑growing environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering end-to-end AI solutions in commercial settings.
• Ability to work across strategy, architecture and hands-on engineering.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience with LLMs, AI agents and RAG.

Responsibilities

• Assess processes and identify AI-driven automation opportunities.
• Design and build AI solutions using LLMs, agents, and RAG.
• Create roadmaps for AI adoption with prioritized plans.
• Engage stakeholders to communicate risks and recommendations.
• Develop, deploy and scale production-ready AI apps.
• Support portfolio businesses with AI strategy and implementation.

Skills

AI strategy

End-to-end AI

LLMs

AI agents

RAG frameworks

Stakeholder mgmt

Tools

LLMs tooling

RAG frameworks

Job description

They are a specialist investment-focused organisation with a portfolio of businesses across multiple sectors. They are actively exploring how AI can enhance operations, improve workflows, and unlock efficiencies across their portfolio. With a collaborative and entrepreneurial culture, they are looking for an experienced contractor who can influence strategy while remaining hands-on with delivery.

The Role and Deliverables

• Assess existing business processes and identify opportunities for AI-driven automation and optimisation.
• Design and build AI solutions using technologies such as LLMs, agents and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
• Create practical roadmaps for AI adoption, including prioritised implementation plans.
• Engage with business stakeholders to communicate opportunities, risks and recommendations.
• Develop, deploy and scale production-ready AI applications.
• Support portfolio businesses with AI strategy and solution implementation where required.

Your Skills & Experience

• Strong experience designing and delivering end-to-end AI solutions in commercial environments.
• Capability to work across strategy, architecture and hands-on engineering.
• Expertise with LLMs, AI agents, RAG frameworks and modern AI tooling.
• Experience assessing business processes and translating requirements into technical solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Background working within smaller, high-growth businesses, consultancies or project-based environments.