Lead Software Engineer (AI)

Aurora Energy Research; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Parental Support

Salary-Exchange Pension

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Local Oxford Discounts

Cycle-to-work Scheme

Flu Jabs

Job summary

Aurora Energy Research in Oxford is seeking a Lead Software Engineer (AI) to design and build autonomous AI systems that plan, call tools, and navigate multi-dimensional data to advance power-grid modeling.

You will lead a small, fast-paced team of engineers and data scientists, own projects from concept to production, and collaborate with modelling teams to embed insights into scalable software. Hybrid work options are available.

Qualifications

• 10+ years developing mission-critical backend systems.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-ownership environments.
• Proficiency in Python (we mostly use Python).
• Strong discipline in testing and automation.
• Experienced, judicious user of AI coding tools.
• Experience managing teams of 5+ engineers.
• Excellent team player with low ego and high initiative.
• Genuine interest in energy markets and infrastructure transformation.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of Software Engineers and Data Scientists.
• Own projects end-to-end from initial user conversations to production systems.
• Collaborate with modelling and data teams to embed proprietary insights into production.
• Deploy agentic systems enabling fast, data-driven decisions.

Skills

10+ years backend systems

Fast-paced environments

Python

Testing & automation

AI coding tools

Team leadership

Team player

Energy market transformation

LLM-based systems

LangGraph/RAG/MLOps/AWS tools

Tools

Python

LangGraph

RAG

MLOps

IaaC

AWS

Job description

Lead Software Engineer (AI)

Department: Tech - Software Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Oxford, UK

Description

Please note that we are open to considering candidates who require visa sponsorship (subject to eligibility and company approval)

Aurora helps governments, investors, and utilities make billion‑dollar decisions on the journey to net‑zero. Based in Oxford, you will work in a dynamic and growing engineering organisation that builds cloud-based software to track and model power grids around the world.

As a Lead Software Engineer on the AI team you will build systems where LLMs autonomously plan, and call tools, to navigate large, multi-dimensional, fast‑evolving data. Your work will amplify the value of Aurora's data, models, and forecasts to researchers, investors, and policy‑makers around the world, and directly impact the decisions that drive the decarbonisation of grids around the world.

You will work in a small, fast‑paced team that releases changes multiple times a day. The successful applicant will be an excellent problem solver, a strong team player, and a proven ability to take big projects from conception to production.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a team of Software Engineers and Data Scientists
• Own projects from end-to-end, from first conversations with users through to production systems
• Work with modelling and data teams to embed proprietary insights into production systems
• Deploy agentic systems that enable fast, multi‑dimensional, data‑driven decisions

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required attributes:

• 10+ years developing impactful, mission‑critical backend systems
• The ability to work in fast‑paced, high‑ownership environments
• Excellence in one or more language (we mostly use Python)
• Strong discipline in testing and automation
• Experienced, judicious user of AI coding tools
• Previous experience managing teams of 5+ engineers
• An exceptional team player - low-ego, high-initiative
• Genuine interest in the transformation of energy markets and infrastructure

Desirable attributes:

• Hands‑on experience building LLM‑based systems
• Experience testing non‑deterministic systems
• Understanding of statistics and inferential methods
• LangGraph, RAG, MCP, MLOps, IaaC, AWS

What we offer

Some of the benefits we include are:

• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Parental Support
• Salary-Exchange Pension
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Local Oxford Discounts
• Cycle-to-work Scheme
• Flu Jabs

At AER, we are committed to offering flexibility in the way we work. Most of our roles are hybrid with a mix of in‑office/home working and potentially adjustable working hours. Let’s discuss what works for you and AER during the interview process.

The Company is committed to the principle that no employee or job applicant shall receive unfavourable treatment on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity.