Head of Engineering (Machine Learning & AI Platform)
Remote (UK-Based)
Salary: £110,000–£130,000
We’re partnering with a global, multi-billion-pound insights and analytics organisation on a major AI transformation programme. This is a rare opportunity to take on a foundational leadership role, building and scaling a modern ML engineering capability from the ground up.
This is not a BAU leadership hire. You’ll be the founding engineering leader, responsible for establishing the team, culture, and technical direction to deliver production-grade AI solutions at scale. The focus is firmly on productising machine learning, turning cutting-edge models into real, revenue-generating products used globally.
The Opportunity
You’ll lead the build-out of a new ML and platform engineering function, taking early-stage AI initiatives and turning them into scalable, robust products. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you’ll have high visibility across the organisation and play a key role in shaping its long-term AI capability.
This is a hands-on leadership role where pragmatism, pace, and impact are valued over perfection.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Build and lead the engineering function
from the ground up, hiring and scaling a high-performing team (ML, platform, and frontend engineers)
- Own the end-to-end delivery
of ML-powered products, from development through to scalable deployment
- Drive the productisation of machine learning solutions, not just experimentation or prototyping
- Establish best practices across MLOps, model lifecycle management, and platform engineering
- Make key architectural decisions across a GCP / Vertex AI environment
- Work closely with senior stakeholders to align engineering delivery with commercial priorities
- Foster a pragmatic, delivery-focused engineering culture
centred on quality, speed, and real-world impact
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience leading small, high-performing engineering or ML teams
- Strong background in:
- MLOps and ML platform engineering
- Deploying and scaling ML solutions in production environments
- Hands-on technical capability, including:
- Python
- GCP (essential), ideally Vertex AI
- Frameworks such as PyTorch
- Solid grounding in machine learning fundamentals and theory
- Comfortable operating as a player-coach: strategic leadership combined with hands-on contribution
- Experience building in environments that prioritise delivery and impact over rigid process
Key Traits for Success
- Pragmatism over perfection
– focused on shipping value, not over-engineering
- Comfortable outside of “big tech” environments – adaptable, outcome-driven mindset
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability in an ambiguous, build-phase setting
Why This Role?
- Build from Scratch: A genuine opportunity to create and shape a new engineering function
- High Visibility: Work closely with senior leadership in a globally recognised organisation
- Real Impact: Deliver AI solutions that directly drive commercial outcomes—not just R&D
- Modern Tech Stack: Fully committed to GCP / Vertex AI with a clear long-term investment in AI
- Career-Defining Role: Position yourself as a key engineering leader within a global business
? If you’re a hands-on engineering leader who thrives on building teams, shipping impactful ML products, and operating in high-visibility environments, we’d love to speak with you confidentially.
