Principal Software Engineer (AI)

Aurora Energy Research Limited; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; 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 Limited, based in Oxford, is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join their AI team. You will manage software engineers and collaborate on projects that utilize AI to optimize energy market decisions. The role requires 10+ years of experience in backend systems and proficiency in Python.

The company offers a hybrid working model with flexibility. Employees benefit from private medical and dental insurance, as well as a comprehensive employee assistance program.

Qualifications

• 10+ years developing impactful backend systems.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-ownership environments.
• Excellence in one or more programming languages, predominantly Python.
• Strong discipline in testing and automation.
• Previous experience managing teams of 5+ engineers.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of Software Engineers and Data Scientists.
• Own projects from start to finish.
• Work with data teams to integrate insights into production systems.
• Deploy systems for fast, data-driven decisions.

Skills

Python

Team management

Testing and automation

AI coding tools

High ownership environments

Tools

AWS

LangGraph

MLOps

Job description

Principal Software Engineer (AI)

Department: Tech - AI and Data 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 Principal 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

• 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.