Senior Software Engineer - AI Solutions

NextGenEnergyJobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Octopus is seeking a seasoned backend engineer to embed with cross-functional teams and co-build high-impact AI features inside domain codebases. You will design internal developer tools and templates in Python to streamline how teams across Octopus safely integrate AI into their software.

You will establish guardrails, collaborate with Data, and mentor local teams, turning quick prototypes into secure, scalable systems while maintaining a pragmatic, fast-shipping mindset.

Qualifications

• Backend engineering with Python/Django
• Experience designing scalable systems
• Interest in Developer Experience (DX) and reliability

Responsibilities

• Embed within cross-functional teams to co-build AI features
• Design and build internal developer tools and templates in Python
• Establish guardrails and production pathways for secure AI systems
• Collaborate with Data team to ensure secure data flows
• Mentor and coach local teams during embedded rotations
• Gather on-the-ground insights to inform prototypes and tooling

Skills

Python

Django

System design

DX

Stakeholder management

Collaboration

Job description

We're making energy fair, clean, and simple for all using technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Embed temporarily within cross-functional business teams (e.g. Services, Ops, Finance) to co-build high-impact AI features directly inside their domain codebases and smooth out day-to-day bottlenecks
• Design and build internal developer tools, standard templates, and pipeline gates (security, technical standards, tone, and performance checks) in Python to simplify how teams across Octopus safely integrate AI into their software
• Establish clear guardrails, security standards, and production pathways to turn quick, hacky AI prototypes into secure, scalable, and well-architected systems
• Engage directly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders across business units to help map out fuzzy operational problems, understand pain points, and design practical AI-augmented workflows
• Collaborate closely with the Data team to ensure data flows securely and effectively into front-facing AI tools and applications
• Provide hands-on pairing, mentorship, and technical guidance to local teams during embedded rotations, ensuring they can independently maintain and expand the technology built together post-handoff
• Gather insights from on-the-ground embedded deployments to feed real-world requirements back into our central prototyping tools, patterns, and frameworks

Requirements

• A strong technical background in backend engineering (with deep fluency in Python/Django), a solid understanding of system design, and a genuine interest in Developer Experience (DX) and system reliability
• Hands-on familiarity and curiosity with modern AI toolchains, LLM integrations, retrieval patterns, and rapid prototyping frameworks, alongside the ability to audit AI-generated code
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively across both deeply technical tech teams and non-technical business partners
• A pragmatic builder mindset that prioritises shipping fast, practical value to solve immediate operational friction over over-engineering complex architectures
• Excellent collaborative and coaching skills, with demonstrated experience in pair programming, mentoring, or elevating team capability, combined with high accountability and a low-ego approach to handing off projects
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, high-autonomy environment where you can navigate context-switching between projects and help shape workflows from the ground up