Senior AI Research Engineer

Twenty First Group; London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports intelligence company in London seeks a Senior AI Engineer to lead AI research and development. This role involves architecting AI-powered tools and mentoring colleagues while driving the company's AI strategy forward. Ideal candidates will have extensive AI experience, strong proficiency in Python, and a passion for sports. The position offers competitive salary and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible hybrid working model

Opportunity to work on novel problems

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in AI/ML engineering roles.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and AI/ML libraries.
• Experience designing and deploying scalable AI solutions on cloud platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of emerging AI technologies.
• Develop advanced AI prototypes.
• Drive internal adoption of AI tools.

Skills

AI Research

Prototyping

Python

MLOps

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About TFG Labs:
TFG Labs is the innovation arm of Twenty First Group, dedicated to pioneering AI-driven solutions that redefine the future of sports. We focus on developing groundbreaking technologies that enhance decision-making, performance analysis, and fan engagement across the sports industry. As a senior member of the Labs team, the research experiments you conduct will shape how the future of how AI and sports intersect.

Role Overview:
We are seeking a visionary and experienced Senior AI Engineer with a growth mindset to be a foundational pillar of our new AI Engineering team in TFG Labs. This is a role for a strategic thinker and a hands-on builder who is obsessed with the rapid advancements in AI. You will be our go-to expert on emerging AI paradigms, from agentic workflows to multi-modal systems, and will be empowered to drive our R&D roadmap. Your primary mission is to architect and prototype the next generation of AI-powered tools that will give TFG and our clients a definitive competitive edge, on and off the pitch.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead AI Research & Development: Drive the R&D of emerging technologies, and move beyond hype to identify tangible value for our business and clients.
• Architect and Build Advanced Prototypes: Lead the hands-on development of sophisticated AI prototypes, particularly focusing on agentic systems, automation platforms, and novel applications of Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Drive Technical Adoption: Analyse and drive the evolution and internal adoption of our AI infrastructure and tooling.
• Thought Leadership & Evangelism: Act as a thought leader within TFG. Translate complex AI concepts and the implications of your experiments for diverse audiences, from junior engineers to the C-suite. Mentor other team members, fostering a culture of curiosity and excellence.

Defining Pathways for Integration: Collaborate with cross-functional product and engineering teams to chart a path for successful prototypes to become scalable, integrated solutions within our core products.

Core Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in a dedicated AI/ML engineering role, with a demonstrable track record of building and shipping complex systems.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and its core AI/ML libraries (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, LlamaIndex), and comfortable transitioning to a 'pilot' role using AI tools to amplify your productivity.
• Proven experience designing, deploying, and managing scalable AI solutions on at least one major cloud platform (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Solid understanding of MLOps principles and experience with relevant tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, MLflow) for building robust, production-ready systems.

The Ideal Candidate Profile: This role is a perfect fit if you...

• Are at the bleeding edge of AI: You don't just follow the news; you're ahead of it. You actively follow research from top labs (OpenAI, DeepMind, Anthropic), experiment with open-source models the week they drop, and can articulate the architectural nuances between them.
• Are an architect of intelligent agents: You have hands-on experience designing and building agentic AI systems. You understand how to orchestrate multiple models, tools, and memory to perform complex tasks and are familiar with architectures like the Model-Control-Perception (MCP) loop or similar multi-agent frameworks.
• Are a master of the modern AI toolkit: You were an early adopter of GitHub Copilot and have since graduated to tools like Cursor or building your own custom developer automation. You intuitively use AI to achieve a 10x developer workflow and can evaluate new tools for team-wide adoption.
• Are a clear communicator and educator: You can demystify complex AI concepts. You can confidently explain to a non-technical stakeholder why an LLM hallucinates or why "2+2" might not always equal "4" in a probabilistic model, tailoring your explanation to the audience.

Are passionate about the application: You have a genuine interest in sports. You understand that our clients' businesses run not just on data, but on a deep-seated passion for the game. Creative taste is a significant bonus.

Application Process:
Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter. In your cover letter, please briefly describe a recent AI experiment you've run (personal or professional) or a research paper that has recently excited you and why.

Benefits

• A pivotal role in shaping the AI strategy of a leader in the sports intelligence industry.
• Significant autonomy and the budget to explore bold ideas and cutting-edge technologies.
• The opportunity to work on genuinely novel problems with a world-class, collaborative team.
• Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package.
• A flexible hybrid working model and a healthy dose of sports-related fun.