Lead AI Research Engineer

Lead AI Research Engineer

Central London £90,000-£120,000 + benefits Hybrid (WeWork + Remote)

This isn't just another AI job.

It's the chance to build an AI Lab inside one of the UK's most forward-thinking global SaaS businesses.

The Opportunity

Imagine walking into a blank canvas - a brand-new R&D unit with one mission: to explore, prove, and scale AI capability across a global product ecosystem that's already trusted by thousands of schools worldwide.

This is exactly that.

You'll be the founding Lead AI Research Engineer, working directly with the Global CTO to design, test, and embed AI solutions that redefine what's possible in education technology.

You'll have full creative freedom to experiment, prototype, and deliver impact.

No rigid frameworks. No bureaucracy. No "wait for approval" culture.

This is your playground - your AI Lab - to build real solutions that blend research, engineering, and imagination.

What You'll Be Doing

• Build and scale the company's first AI R&D function from the ground up
• Design and deploy intelligent agents, models, and automation frameworks
• Experiment with LLMs, ML, and agentic systems using live production data
• Integrate third-party APIs (OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic) into core SaaS products
• Develop reusable architectures and rapid prototypes that move from idea to value fast
• Work with the AI Advisory Board to shape strategic direction
• Upskill the wider engineering team in AI-first principles

You'll be turning raw data into smart systems that help schools, teachers, and students make better decisions - creating intelligent products that learn, adapt, and evolve.

What Makes You a Fit

You're part engineer, part innovator. Someone who can move from concept to code without getting lost in the theory.

You've already built or deployed real-world AI systems. You understand LLMs, NLP, and ML frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or LangChain. You know your way around Azure, AWS, or GCP, and you're confident designing APIs, microservices, and data pipelines.

Maybe you've come from an academic background and now want to apply your research commercially.

Or maybe you're an experienced software engineer who's already delivering AI-led solutions.

Either way, you're curious, bold, and ready to lead something special.

Why This Role Really Matters

This role is the foundation stone for the company's entire AI transformation.

You'll be the person who builds the lab, sets the vision, and shapes how this global business uses AI - not in theory, but in practice.

Your work will influence thousands of schools worldwide, enabling educators to make smarter decisions, freeing up time for teachers, and creating learning experiences that truly adapt to every individual.

You'll help define what AI in education actually looks like.

This is your chance to put your fingerprints on something with global impact.

"We're not looking for someone to write about the future. We're looking for someone to build it."

Ready to shape the next chapter of AI in education?

Apply now or message me directly for a confidential chat.