Principle AI Engineer

Central Employment; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support for exceptional may

Job summary

Central Employment is seeking exceptional AI Engineers to work directly with clients, define requirements and deliver AI solutions from first principles. This consultancy role emphasizes hands-on design, delivery, and mentorship across multiple client environments.

You will translate business problems into AI/ML solutions, design architectures and lead delivery from concept to deployment, while mentoring engineers and contributing to the growth of the consultancy.

Qualifications

• Directly work with clients to define and solve complex technical challenges.
• Translate business problems into AI/ML solutions.
• Design solution architectures and modelling approaches from first principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery from concept through to deployment.
• Mentor engineers and shape technical direction.
• Contribute to growth of a rapidly scaling consultancy.
• Engage with customers across multiple client environments.

Skills

Client engagement

ML/AI solution design

Delivery leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Adaptability

Engineering judgement

Tools

Python

Software engineering

Job description

Most AI Engineering roles involve implementing somebody else's ideas; this one doesn't.

We're looking for exceptional AI Engineers who can work directly with clients, understand complex problems and build AI solutions from first principles.

This is a consultancy environment where you'll engage with customers, define requirements, design technical solutions and lead delivery. We're not looking for engineers who simply integrate existing models into applications. We're looking for people who can start with an ambiguous problem, determine whether AI is the right answer and build the solution from the ground up.

What You'll Be Doing

• Working directly with clients to define and solve complex technical challenges
• Translating business problems into AI and Machine Learning solutions
• Designing solution architectures and modelling approaches from first principles
• Leading delivery from concept through to deployment
• Mentoring engineers and shaping technical direction
• Contributing to the growth of a rapidly scaling consultancy

Projects may involve:

• Agentic AI
• LLMs and RAG
• Computer Vision
• Edge AI
• AI Safety and Explainability
• Extensive commercial AI or Machine Learning experience
• Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals
• Excellent Python and software engineering capability
• Proven experience translating client requirements into AI solutions
• Experience designing and delivering solutions rather than simply implementing features
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Eligible for UK Security Clearance

We're specifically interested in engineers from:

• Technology Consultancies
• Engineering Consultancies
• Data Science Consultancies
• Technical Professional Services Organisations

You should be comfortable working directly with customers, defining requirements, influencing technical decisions and delivering projects across multiple client environments.

Programming language isn't the deciding factor.

Problem-solving ability, adaptability and engineering judgement are.

Why Join?

• Solve genuinely difficult technical problems
• Work alongside exceptionally capable engineers
• Influence technical strategy and deliveryShape the future of a growing consultancy
• Flat structure with genuine autonomy
• Competitive salary, bonus and benefits
• Relocation support available for exceptional candidates

We're looking for engineers who can understand a client's problem, design the solution from scratch, build it and explain why it works.