Senior AI Engineer

Tesco UK; Welwyn Garden City; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the UK is looking for a Senior AI Engineer to join their Data Science team. This role involves designing and implementing production-grade machine learning systems to enhance customer experiences. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in deploying machine learning systems and a solid understanding of LLMs and AI engineering patterns. The position offers opportunities for both personal development and technical collaboration in a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Continuous learning opportunities

Collaborative and inclusive environment

Flexible work patterns

Qualifications

• Proven experience building and deploying machine learning systems beyond prototyping.
• Ability to make well-reasoned decisions grounded in technical understanding.
• End-to-end software experience including system design, DevOps, and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Design and ship production-grade LLM systems that power customer experiences.
• Work end-to-end from rapid prototypes to production code.
• Accelerate GenAI use cases across the business.

Skills

Machine learning systems deployment

Understanding of LLMs

Technical decision making

Collaborative technical sessions

ML engineering practices

Python programming

NLP experience

Tools

Python libraries

LangGraph

LangChain

Job description

At Tesco, our Data Science team builds scalable solutions to complex business challenges across stores, online, supply chain, marketing and Clubcard. We apply advanced machine learning, generative AI, and large language models (LLMs) to personalise customer experiences, optimise operations and drive innovation. We work across several business domains, including customer experience, online, fulfilment, distribution, commodities, store operations and technology. Team members rotate across domains to broaden their expertise and impact.

We foster a culture of continuous learning, dedicating 10% of the working week to personal development. Our team benefits from academic partnerships, regular knowledge‑sharing events and a collaborative, inclusive environment that values work‑life balance and professional growth.

Senior AI Engineer – Data Science Team

We are seeking a Senior AI Engineer to be part of a fast‑pacing team, to create new customer growth.

Expect end‑to‑end ownership – rapid experimentation, fast shipping, and leaning in wherever the work takes you, beyond your job title. If you’re ambitious, hard‑working, and excited to build 0→1 against tall ambitions, you’ll thrive here.

Design and ship production‑grade LLM systems and shared platform capabilities that power experiences for millions, solving cross‑cutting pain points with smart build‑vs‑buy decisioning. You’ll work end‑to‑end – from rapid prototypes to production code – accelerating GenAI use cases across the business.

While existing knowledge is valuable, a strong ability to learn quickly and apply new skills effectively is essential. The ideal candidate will be solution‑oriented, eager to stay current with the latest developments, and comfortable in a fast‑paced environment with ample room for creativity and problem‑solving.

Qualifications

• Proven experience building and deploying machine learning systems beyond prototyping.
• Understanding of LLMs and emerging AI Engineering system design patterns and challenges.
• Ability to make well‑reasoned decisions grounded in technical understanding and real‑world constraints.
• Confidence engaging with other technical teams and running collaborative technical sessions.
• Familiarity with ML engineering practices and tools such as experiment tracking and reproducibility, model versioning and lifecycle management, robust statistical evaluation.
• Hands‑on end‑to‑end software experience including system design, backend/APIs, DevOps and infrastructure.
• Experience with Python and common Python libraries.
• Familiarity with LLM frameworks such as LangGraph, LangChain.
• Experience with NLP.

Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer’s favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move. Our core purpose is ‘Serving our customers, communities and planet a little better every day’. Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers. It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of and for the planet.

We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. At Tesco, we not only celebrate diversity, but recognise the value and opportunity it brings. We’re committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and make sure that all colleagues are given the same opportunities. We’re proud to have been accredited Disability Confident Leader and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support we can offer, please click here.

We’re a big business and we can offer a range of diverse full‑time & part‑time working patterns across our many business areas, which means that we can find something that works for you. We work in a more blended pattern – combining office and remote working. Our offices will continue to be where we connect, collaborate and innovate. If you are applying internally, please speak to the Hiring Manager about how this can work for you – Everyone is welcome at Tesco.