Forward Deployed Engineer - Lead AI & Agentic Engineer

3620 Kyndryl UK Limited; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kyndryl is seeking a Forward Deployed Lead / Principal Engineer (Band 9) to own the technical direction of major enterprise AI programmes. You will architect agentic systems and generative AI applications, collaborating with platform engineers through design, build and deployment.

You will guide architecture, governance, and implementation across complex engagements. The role requires hands-on Python (FastAPI), experience with agentic AI frameworks and MCP, and a track record of shipping AI at

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years in software or solution engineering with AI systems.
• Proven delivery of enterprise AI programmes and client-facing engagements.
• Strong Python (FastAPI) and SDLC practices, including CI/CD.

Responsibilities

• Design and build agentic AI applications and multi-agent workflows for enterprise use cases.
• Develop RAG pipelines, integrate LLM APIs, vector databases, and MCP tooling.
• Translate enterprise requirements into AI solution roadmaps for senior stakeholders.
• Provide architectural oversight across multi-disciplinary teams.

Skills

Python engineering

FastAPI

Agentic AI frameworks

RAG pipelines

LLM integration

PostgreSQL/Neo4j

Git/GitHub

CI/CD

AI governance

Stakeholder comms

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

LangGraph

CrewAI

OpenAI Agents SDK

Semantic Kernel

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

OpenTelemetry

Prometheus

Job description

Who We Are

At Kyndryl, we run and reimagine the mission-critical technology systems that drive advantage for the world’s leading businesses. We are at the heart of progress; with proven expertise and a continuous flow of AI-powered insight, enabling smarter decisions, faster innovation, and a lasting competitive edge. For our people—Kyndryls—that means doing purposeful work that powers human progress. Join us and experience a flexible, supportive environment where your well-being is prioritized and your potential can thrive.

The Role

Your Role As a Forward Deployed Lead / Principal Engineer (FDE) with an AI & Agentic Engineering focus (Band 9), you own the technical direction and delivery of major enterprise AI programmes - architecting the agentic systems and generative AI applications that go into production in close collaboration with platform engineering. You align enterprise goals with target-state AI architectures for senior stakeholders, guide the team’s technical direction while staying close to the work, and work hand-in-hand with the platform engineers on the team throughout design, build, and deployment. You combine deep expertise in agentic AI systems, RAG, and applied software engineering with strong consulting acumen. You establish AI governance frameworks, champion sound engineering practice across the AI delivery lifecycle, and act as a go-to technical reference on complex engagements.

What You Will Do

• Design and build agentic AI applications and multi-agent workflows, along with the frameworks that run them, for enterprise use cases
• Build RAG pipelines and integrate LLM APIs, vector databases, and MCP (Model Context Protocol) tooling
• Process unstructured data into condensed, structured knowledge, including ontology extraction
• Write production‑grade Python services (FastAPI) with solid engineering practices: design, testing, code review, CI/CD
• Work with relational and graph databases (e.g. Postgres, Neo4j) to model and serve data behind AI applications
• Work closely with platform engineering throughout deployment - hosting, scaling, and MLOps/LLMOps - without owning that infrastructure yourself
• Define AI governance and responsible-use guardrails: data privacy boundaries, LLM governance, and policy enforcement (OPA/Rego)
• Instrument AI applications for observability (OpenTelemetry, Prometheus) so behaviour and cost stay visible in production
• Translate enterprise requirements into AI solution roadmaps for senior stakeholders
• Capture field learnings, codify reusable agentic patterns, and mentor engineers hands‑on
• Provide architectural oversight across multi-disciplinary workstreams, staying close enough to unblock the team directly

Who You Are

You don’t need to tick every box below to apply — this reflects the breadth of the role, not a strict checklist.

Required Skills and Experience

• 8–10+ years in software or solution engineering, with a track record of shipping AI systems in client‑facing engagements
• Strong Python engineering (FastAPI), with solid SDLC practices: design, testing, code review, CI/CD, Git & GitHub
• Hands‑on experience with agentic AI frameworks (examples include LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, Semantic Kernel, OpenAI’s Agents SDK, and Google’s Agent Development Kit) and MCP (Model Context Protocol)
• Practical experience building RAG/LLM‑based pipelines and working with vector databases
• Experience with relational and graph databases (e.g. Postgres, Neo4j) for data modelling behind AI applications
• Hands‑on familiarity with modern AI coding copilots (e.g. Claude, Codex, Cursor)
• Strong stakeholder communication, translating AI capability into business outcomes for senior stakeholders
• Willingness to travel and work on customer premises as required
• Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Informatics, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related discipline — or equivalent professional experience

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with observability instrumentation for AI systems (OpenTelemetry, Prometheus)
• Experience with AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch) and the Hugging Face / open‑source AI ecosystem
• Experience with image understanding and OCR
• Working knowledge of policy‑as‑code (OPA/Rego) for AI governance and guardrails
• Understanding of LLM governance: data privacy, guardrails, and responsible‑use controls
• T‑shaped profile: deep expertise in AI engineering, broad understanding across software engineering and technical consulting

Being You

We focus on ensuring all Kyndryls feel included and we welcome people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We believe in growth, and we’re excited to see what you can bring.

At Kyndryl, employee feedback has told us that our number one driver of employee engagement is belonging. That sense of belonging — being a valued, respected, trusted member of the team — is fundamental to our culture and fueling great experiences for our customers.

That’s The Kyndryl Way.

What You Can Expect

Our dynamic, hybrid‑friendly culture supports your well‑being and empowers you to grow. Our Be Well programs are thoughtfully designed to support your financial, mental, physical, and social health—because we know that when you feel your best, you do your best. From your very first day, you’ll dive into impactful work that powers the systems our customers rely on every day. You won’t just contribute—you’ll make a difference, tackling meaningful projects that sharpen your skills and fuel your growth. We’ll champion your journey. With powerful tools to chart your career path, personalized development goals aligned with your ambitions, and continuous feedback to keep you inspired and on track, you’ll have everything you need to thrive and evolve. You’ll develop in‑demand skills to grow your career and achieve your ambitions with access to cutting‑edge learning opportunities—from certifications with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to coaching and hands‑on experiences. And through it all, you’ll be part of a culture that values empathy, restless learning, and a devotion to shared success. We want you to thrive here—and we’re committed to helping you do just that.

Company Purpose

At Kyndryl, we achieve progress the world depends on, with purpose. Beginning with the purpose that matters to you. Because here, you will be part of a culture designed with purpose. One that is restless, empathetic and devoted. Where we are committed to sustainable progress for our customers and supporting the communities where we work and live. All of you is what we want. And what we need. Join us, and together, we can advance the vital systems that power human progress.