Hybrid AI Infrastructure Lab Director: Scale Inference

ARIA; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Hybrid working 60/40

Pension scheme

Volunteer days

King’s Cross office

Job summary

ARIA is seeking a Scaling Inference Lab Director in London to lead the £50m testbed for next-generation AI hardware. The role requires steering the lab’s strategic direction, governance, and partnerships with CommonAI CIC and ARIA teams. Flexible patterns include 80% or 25–50% fractional commitment.

The successful candidate will manage delivery, engage with government and funders, and drive long-term sustainability while advancing the UK’s AI infrastructure capabilities.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading large R&D programmes.

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the successful management and delivery of the Scaling Inference Lab, working closely with ARIA teams, project leads and delivery partners.
• Set and drive the programme’s path to scale, including its operating model, long-term funding approach and governance arrangements.
• Represent ARIA in the relevant CommonAI governance structures and external partnerships as ARIA’s senior representative for the programme.
• Maintain a clear view of delivery, progress, risks and opportunities across the programme’s existing portfolio, and use evidence and judgement to guide decisions, unblock delivery and strengthen impact.
• Build and convene a high-quality network across academia, AI and compute infrastructure, industry, government, funders and the wider technical ecosystem.
• Develop trusted relationships with the institutions, funders and partners needed to support the Scaling Inference Lab’s growth and long-term sustainability.

Skills

Leadership

AI infrastructure

Stakeholder management

Public service mindset

UK travel readiness

Job description

ARIA is seeking a Scaling Inference Lab Director in London to lead the £50m testbed for next-generation AI hardware. The role requires steering the lab’s strategic direction, governance, and partnerships with CommonAI CIC and ARIA teams. Flexible patterns include 80% or 25–50% fractional commitment.

The successful candidate will manage delivery, engage with government and funders, and drive long-term sustainability while advancing the UK’s AI infrastructure capabilities.