Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Faculty AI; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited Annual Leave Policy

Private healthcare and dental

Enhanced parental leave

Family-Friendly Flexibility & Flexible

Sanctus Coaching

Hybrid Working

Job summary

Faculty AI seeks a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to lead and architect our most complex AI initiatives in a fast-growing professional services setting in the UK. You will steer scalable systems, set technical direction, and mentor teams while collaborating with clients.

The role combines hands-on design with strategic leadership, shaping how financial services and other sectors leverage responsible AI at scale.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in machine learning, statistics, and data science.
• Proven ability to define software architecture for complex systems.
• Strong problem-solving and guidance across diverse projects.
• Strategic mindset to shape technical direction for high-impact projects.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts to peers and customers.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with hands-on design and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Architect scalable software and data science frameworks for large-scale systems.
• Design integrated architectures that scale with standards.
• Solve intricate technical challenges across projects as a technical expert.
• Set strategic technical direction for flagship projects.
• Influence company-wide technical strategy with ML and statistics.
• Advise on major initiatives ensuring robust, sustainable architecture.

Skills

Machine Learning

Statistics

Data Science

System Architecture

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Why Faculty?

We established Faculty in 2014 because we thought that AI would be the most important technology of our time. Since then, we’ve worked with over 350 global customers to transform their performance through human-centric AI. You can read about our real-world impact here.

We don’t chase hype cycles. We innovate, build and deploy responsible AI which moves the needle - and we know a thing or two about doing it well. We bring an unparalleled depth of technical, product and delivery expertise to our clients who span government, finance, retail, energy, life sciences and defence.

Our business, and reputation, is growing fast and we’re always on the lookout for individuals who share our intellectual curiosity and desire to build a positive legacy through technology.

AI is an epoch-defining technology, join a company where you’ll be empowered to envision its most powerful applications, and to make them happen.

About the team

In our Professional and Financial Services Business unit, we bring everything we have learned in more than a decade of Applied AI, and use it to help our clients navigate a rapidly changing landscape.

We develop and embed AI solutions which help financial institutions become more efficient, enhance customer experience, and find the commercial upside in uncertain markets. Within the constraints of a highly regulated industry, we see so much opportunity for impactful innovation and are proud to set the gold-standard for marrying technical excellence with safe deployment.

About the role

As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you will serve as a high-level technical authority, steering our most complex projects and driving the next wave of AI innovation. You will architect scalable, large-scale systems that integrate seamlessly into existing frameworks while setting the technical direction for Faculty’s flagship initiatives.

By leveraging your deep expertise, you will provide authoritative advice across business units, fostering team growth and influencing company strategy to ensure our solutions remain at the cutting edge of the industry.

What you'll be doing

• Architecting sophisticated software and data science frameworks for large-scale, complex systems that meet rigorous functional and non-functional requirements.

• Designing integrated system architectures that scale effectively and align with broader organisational and technical standards.

• Solving intricate technical challenges that span multiple projects or business units, acting as a respected expert for both internal teams and external customers.

• Setting the strategic technical direction for flagship projects, providing the vision and guidance necessary to ensure successful delivery.

• Influencing company-wide technical strategy by leveraging deep domain expertise in machine learning and advanced statistics.

• Advising major initiatives as a technical authority, ensuring that architectural choices are robust, sustainable, and innovative.

Who we're looking for

• You are a recognised technical authority with extensive experience in machine learning, statistics, and advanced data science methodologies with a specific focus on solutions the Financial Services space

• You possess a proven track record of defining software architecture and designing complex systems that thrive within existing organisational frameworks.

• You are a natural problem-solver who can navigate challenges across diverse projects and provide authoritative guidance on major initiatives.

• You have the strategic mindset required to set the technical pulse for high-impact projects and contribute meaningfully to long-term company goals.

• You excel at communicating complex technical concepts to both peers and customers, earning trust through expertise and clear architectural leadership.

• You thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, balancing hands-on system design with the ability to direct others toward technical excellence.

Our Interview Process

1. Talent Team Screen (30 minutes)

2. Introduction to the role (45 minutes)

3. Pair Programming Interview (90 minutes)

4. System Design Interview (90 minutes)

5. Commercial & Leadership Interview (60 minutes)

Our Recruitment Ethos

We aim to grow the best team - not the most similar one. We know that diversity of individuals foster diversity of thought, and that strengthens our principle of seeking truth. And we know from experience that diverse teams deliver better work, relevant to the world in which we live. We’re united by a deep intellectual curiosity and desire to use our abilities for measurable positive impact. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, religions and sexual orientations.

Some of our standout benefits:

• Unlimited Annual Leave Policy

• Private healthcare and dental

• Enhanced parental leave

• Family-Friendly Flexibility & Flexible working

• Sanctus Coaching

• Hybrid Working