Principal Machine Learning Engineer

SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited annual leave

Enhanced parental leave

Flexible & hybrid working

External coaching support

Job summary

Leading applied AI consultancy in London is seeking a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to own the architectural vision for ML engineering. You will lead flagship programmes across multiple teams and act as a trusted technical partner to senior leadership and executive clients.

This role shapes engineering culture, builds scalable foundations, and drives the adoption of new tools and platforms while mentoring senior engineers and managers. Hybrid working is offered in London.

Qualifications

• Recognised authority in ML engineering across multiple domains.
• Proven ability to build production-grade ML systems at scale with Python.
• Deep experience across major cloud providers and full-stack AI platforms.
• Strong MLOps, containerisation and orchestration expertise at scale.
• Track record developing senior engineering talent and leadership.
• Visible external profile or industry recognition.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the organisation-wide technical vision for ML engineering.
• Lead delivery on flagship ML programmes across teams and clients.
• Drive strategic adoption of tools, platforms, and ways of working.
• Coach and develop senior engineers and engineering managers.
• Act as principal technical voice in executive client engagements.
• Provide technical authority on high-value sales and pre-sales opportunities.
• Partner with Data Science, Commercial, and Infrastructure leadership on strategy.

Skills

ML engineering authority

Python

Cloud architecture

MLOps

Containerisation

Talent development

Executive communication

Job description

Job Title: Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Location: London (Hybrid) | Company: Leading applied AI consultancy

About the Company

Founded almost 20 years ago, on the belief that AI would be the most important technology of our time, this applied AI consultancy has worked with 350+ global clients, spanning government, finance, retail, energy, life sciences, and defence. Delivering human-centric AI that moves the needle, not chases hype.

About the Role

As Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you'll be the definitive technical authority on ML engineering across the organisation. You'll own the architectural vision for the most complex, highest-stakes programmes, shape engineering strategy at an organisational level, and act as a trusted technical partner to senior leadership and executive clients.

This isn't just project leadership, you'll be a force multiplier, shaping engineering culture, elevating the people around you, and building technical foundations designed to last.

What You'll Do

• Define and own the organisation-wide technical vision for ML engineering
• Lead delivery on flagship, business-critical ML programmes across multiple teams and clients
• Drive strategic adoption of new tools, platforms, and ways of working
• Coach and develop senior engineers and engineering managers
• Act as principal technical voice in C-suite and executive client engagements
• Provide technical authority on high-value sales and pre-sales opportunities
• Partner with Data Science, Commercial, and Infrastructure leadership on strategy

What You'll Bring

• Recognised authority in ML engineering, with deep expertise across multiple domains
• Expert-level Python and a proven record building production-grade ML systems at scale
• Expertise across multiple major cloud providers, with experience architecting complex, full-stack AI platforms
• Deep MLOps, containerisation, and orchestration expertise at scale
• A track record developing senior engineering talent
• A visible external profile, publications, conference talks, open-source leadership, or industry recognition
• Comfort operating at executive level, translating technical decisions into commercial outcomes

Interview Process

Five stages

• Unlimited annual leave
• Enhanced parental leave
• Flexible & hybrid working
• External coaching support