Principal AI Engineering Manager

bp; Sunbury-on-Thames; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Share options

Flexible benefits

Healthcare

Job summary

bp is seeking a Principal AI Engineer to lead the AI engineering capability across Upstream and Downstream, managing a team of AI-focused software engineers and delivering end-to-end AI-powered solutions from design through to production.

The role acceleratesbp’s AI adoption by embedding leadership near business domains, ensuring scalable, fit-for-purpose solutions, and shaping the engineering strategy across the function.

Qualifications

• Experience leading AI/engineering teams in production environments.
• Hands-on experience delivering AI/ML solutions at scale (model development, deployment, operations).
• Strong ability to translate business challenges into AI engineering initiatives and manage stakeholder expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of AI software engineers.
• Own end-to-end delivery of AI engineering programmes across business domains.
• Partner with stakeholders to translate challenges into AI initiatives.
• Shape AI engineering strategy and promote best practices.
• Manage internal and external engineering resources and ensure quality.

Skills

Leadership

AI engineering

Software engineering

MLOps

LLMs

Communication

Version control

CI/CD

Automated testing

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in CS/Software Engineering/Data Science/Mathematics

Tools

Version control

CI/CD

Automated testing

Job description

Entity:

Technology

Job Family Group:

IT&S Group

Job Description:

This role leads AI engineering capability across Upstream and Downstream business domains within bp’s central digital delivery organisation. The Principal AI Engineer is responsible for managing a team of AI focused software engineers, owning the end-to-end delivery of AI-powered solutions from design through to production, and contributing to the broader AI engineering strategy for the function.

The role exists to accelerate bp’s adoption of applied AI by embedding technical leadership close to business domains, ensuring AI solutions are fit for purpose, scalable, and aligned with enterprise standards. As a senior leader in a growing AI capability, this individual plays a key role in shaping how AI engineering is practised across the organisation, in growing the talent pipeline for the discipline and line managing a team of high performing software engineers.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead and develop the skills of a team of software engineers, setting technical direction, fostering a culture of engineering excellence, and ensuring the team delivers high-quality AI solutions aligned to business domain needs.
• Own the end-to-end delivery of AI engineering programmes within assigned business domains, driving definition of requirements, solution design, iterative development, and production deployment.
• Partner with business stakeholders and product managers to translate domain challenges into well-scoped AI engineering initiatives, prioritising efforts that deliver measurable business value.
• Contribute to the overall AI engineering strategy for the function, establishing and promoting practices, standards, and patterns that improve the consistency and quality of AI solutions across teams.
• Manage relationships with internal and external engineering resources, including contracted and offshore teams, ensuring delivery quality and alignment with technical standards.
• Collaborate with platform, data, and architecture teams to ensure AI solutions are built on sound foundations and integrate appropriately with the broader enterprise technology landscape.

What you will bring…

• Demonstrable experience leading and managing software or AI engineering teams in a production environment, with accountability for team performance, technical quality, and delivery outcomes.
• Strong software engineering background, including proficiency in modern programming languages and software development practices (e.g., version control, CI/CD, automated testing).
• Hands‑on experience delivering AI or machine learning solutions at scale, including model development, deployment, and ongoing operations (MLOps).
• Experience with large language models (LLMs), generative AI techniques, or agentic AI frameworks applied to real‑world business problems.
• Track record of managing multi‑stakeholder programmes, balancing business priorities with technical constraints and engineering quality.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical concepts clearly to non‑technical partners and senior leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or a related technical subject area.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience operating in the energy sector or another complex industrial or commodities environment.
• Familiarity with enterprise data platforms, SaaS integration, or data mesh/fabric architectural patterns.
• Prior exposure to AI applications in operational, trading, or engineering domains (e.g., optimisation, forecasting, natural language interfaces to enterprise data).
• Formal training or certification in AI/ML (e.g., AWS Machine Learning Specialty, Google Professional ML Engineer, or equivalent).

Why join us?

We’re committed to supporting leaders who want to make an impact. At bp, you’ll have the chance to shape and influence outcomes across businesses. You’ll be part of an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and where your contribution to performance and integration matters. We invest in the growth and wellbeing of our people, providing the resources, networks, and development opportunities needed to thrive.

Our total rewards package includes competitive pay, bonuses, share options, and a range of flexible benefits designed to meet your needs — from healthcare and retirement plans to paid time off and agile working. We recognise that people have multifaceted lives, and we strive to offer a career experience that reflects that.

Location

This position is based in our Sunbury office. Please note however that this will move to Southwark, London by end 2027.

Travel Requirement

Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills:

Agility core practices, Agility core practices, API and platform design, Cloud Platforms, Collaboration, Communication, Configuration management and release, Continuous deployment and release, Creating a high performing team, Database Design, Digital Project Management, Documentation and knowledge sharing, Emerging technology monitoring, Facilitation, Information Security, Mentoring, Metrics definition and instrumentation, NoSql data modelling, Problem Solving, Relational Data Modeling, Risk Management, Scripting, Secure development, Service operations and resiliency, Software Design and Development {+ 7 more}

Future Location Notice: This role will start in Sunbury, London. bp has announced a planned office move to Timber Square, London, with all positions currently advertised in Sunbury, including this one, expected to relocate around Q4 2027-Q1 2028. This presents an exciting opportunity for all employees and leaders to come together in one London location. The specific date of the move will be confirmed closer to the time.

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status.Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process,please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.