Engineering Lead - Data and Applied AI

Barclays; Chennai District; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclays is seeking an Engineering Lead - Data and Applied AI to drive the evolution of our data technology landscape. You will lead AI-enabled solutions, design robust software, and ensure secure, scalable delivery across digital platforms.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration with product and engineering teams, and responsible AI practices. You will influence strategic direction, manage cross‑functional projects, and mentor engineers while championing best practices in data governance

Qualifications

• Experience in Applied AI and enterprise AI tooling.
• Leadership exposure in software architecture and mentoring.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver scalable software solutions with secure coding practices.
• Collaborate with product, design, and engineering to define requirements.
• Lead code reviews and promote code quality across teams.
• Stay updated on technology trends and contribute to communities.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide technical direction.

Skills

Applied AI

Claude CLI

OpenAI SDK

LangChain

Langfuse

RAG

Vector DBs

Advanced prompting

AWS

Python

IAM

Tools

Snowflake

Databricks

Starburst

StarRocks

Hadoop

Impala

Hive

Job description

Step into the role of Engineering Lead - Data and Applied AI at Barclays, where you will spearhead the evolution of our data technologies landscape through AI, driving innovation, and operational excellence. You will harness cutting‑edge technology to build and manage robust, scalable and secure applications, ensuring seamless delivery of our digital solutions backed by responsible use of AI.

You may be assessed on key critical skills relevant for success in role such as:

• Experience in Applied AI – Claude CLI / OpenAI SDK / Google ADK, RAG, LangChain, Langfuse, Bedrock, Guardrails, vector databases, advanced prompting.
• Working knowledge of AWS – Python, IAM, S3, Lambda, Step functions, Cloudwatch, Glue, Athena, Lake Formation, RDS, Postgres, ECS, EKS, Cloud Formation.
• Must have tech Leadership exposure within Software Architecture, line management, mentoring, cross‑team collaboration, project planning & execution.
• Excellent client‑facing and stakeholder communication skills.

Desirable Skills Sets

• Experience in Big Data skills (Hadoop, Impala & Hive).
• Experience in Cloud Data technologies such as snowflake, databricks, starburst, star rocks
• Strong understanding of data governance and associated controls.

You may be assessed on key critical skills relevant for success in role, as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job‑specific technical skills.

This role can be based in Chennai.

Purpose of the role

To design, develop and improve software, utilising various engineering methodologies, that provides business, platform, and technology capabilities for our customers and colleagues.

Accountabilities

• Development and delivery of high‑quality software solutions by using industry aligned programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Ensuring that code is scalable, maintainable, and optimised for performance.
• Cross‑functional collaboration with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define software requirements, devise solution strategies, and ensure seamless integration and alignment with business objectives.
• Collaboration with peers, participate in code reviews, and promote a culture of code quality and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed of industry technology trends and innovations and actively contribute to the organisation’s technology communities to foster a culture of technical excellence and growth.
• Adherence to secure coding practices to mitigate vulnerabilities, protect sensitive data, and secure software solutions.
• Implementation of effective unit testing practices to ensure proper code design, readability, and reliability.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and elevate breaches of policies/procedures..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi‑year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In‑depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.