Staff AI/ML Engineer

JR United Kingdom; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A top tech company in Preston is seeking an experienced Staff AI/ML Engineer to lead the development of innovative machine learning systems. This permanent, full-time role involves designing scalable ML solutions, integrating AI features into applications, and setting MLOps standards. Candidates should have extensive industry experience, strong Python skills, and a collaborative mindset. Enjoy a flexible work environment with competitive compensation and benefits.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Work from anywhere option

Home office setup budget

Enhanced parental leave

Pension contribution plan

Low-ego engineering culture

Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on experience building ML/AI systems.
• 3+ years in a senior technical contributor or team lead role.
• Advanced Python skills with exposure to ML frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of machine learning initiatives.
• Architect scalable, reliable ML pipelines and APIs.
• Collaborate to embed AI-driven functionality into software.

Skills

Machine Learning

AI Systems

Python

Cloud Platforms

MLOps

Data Quality

Communication

Education

Relevant Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

AWS

Terraform

Docker

GitHub Actions

Job description

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Staff AI/ML Engineer, preston, lancashire

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Client:

SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation

Location:

preston, lancashire, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

3

Posted:

10.06.2025

Expiry Date:

25.07.2025

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Job Description:

Location: London (Hybrid – 2 days/week in the office)

Type: Permanent, Full-time

About the Role

An established tech company is building out its next generation of intelligent software products and is looking for a highly experienced Staff-level AI/ML Engineer to lead hands-on development of machine learning systems. This is a deeply technical role focused on applied AI, not management or strategy alone.

You’ll work at the intersection of large-scale data processing, generative AI, and cloud infrastructure, contributing directly to the architecture and delivery of smart features across the platform. If you’re passionate about building production-grade AI tools from the ground up, this role offers the opportunity to shape something new in a growing, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

End-to-End ML Development

• Own the full lifecycle of machine learning initiatives — from idea to deployment and monitoring.

Hands-On System Design

• Architect scalable, reliable ML pipelines and APIs, leveraging cloud-native tools and services.

AI Feature Integration

• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to embed AI-driven functionality into user-facing software.

Technical Leadership

• Set standards for MLOps, automation, and performance tuning across the engineering team.

Generative AI & LLMs

• Explore and integrate modern techniques such as large language models and generative architectures.
• Support peers through code reviews, design discussions, and knowledge sharing.

Scalability & Reliability

• Solve practical challenges like data quality, explainability, and robust infrastructure for ML.

What You’ll Bring

• 7+ years of hands-on experience building ML/AI systems in production.
• 3+ years in a senior technical contributor or team lead role.
• Advanced Python skills with exposure to common ML frameworks and data libraries.
• Solid experience working with cloud platforms (ideally AWS) and infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform).
• Understanding of distributed systems, microservices, and modern software architecture.
• Hands-on experience with LLMs and generative AI models, including tuning and inference.
• Ability to set up CI/CD pipelines for ML workflows and manage models in a cloud environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A relevant degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Tech Environment

• Python
• Java
• AWS (incl. services for AI/ML)
• LLM APIs and orchestration tools
• Terraform, Docker
• SQL-based databases
• GitHub Actions and version control tools
• Competitive compensation
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• "Work from anywhere" option (limited days/year)
• Home office setup budget
• Enhanced parental leave
• Pension contribution plan
• Collaborative and low-ego engineering culture
• Applicants must be UK-based.
• Unfortunately, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.