AI Engineer (PHP/Python) - Perm or Contract
Senior/Lead AI Engineer - AI-First Product Platform Tech4Good
Location: Remote-first (UK) | London preferred
Salary: Negotiable
Engagement: Permanent preferred (contractors also considered)
I'm working with a high-growth, product-led technology company that is embedding AI at the core of its platform rather than treating it as an add-on. They already operate a mature, production system and are now scaling their AI capability across real customer workflows.
They're looking to hire a Senior/Lead AI Engineer who can operate as a technical bridge between a core Back End platform and an AI engineering function, owning delivery from early design through to production.
This is a hands-on role with genuine technical ownership and influence.
The Role
You'll sit at the intersection of core product engineering and AI delivery, working closely with Back End engineers, AI specialists and senior stakeholders.
Key responsibilities include:
Location: Remote-first (UK) | London preferred
Salary: Negotiable
Engagement: Permanent preferred (contractors also considered)
I'm working with a high-growth, product-led technology company that is embedding AI at the core of its platform rather than treating it as an add-on. They already operate a mature, production system and are now scaling their AI capability across real customer workflows.
They're looking to hire a Senior/Lead AI Engineer who can operate as a technical bridge between a core Back End platform and an AI engineering function, owning delivery from early design through to production.
This is a hands-on role with genuine technical ownership and influence.
The Role
You'll sit at the intersection of core product engineering and AI delivery, working closely with Back End engineers, AI specialists and senior stakeholders.
Key responsibilities include:
- Acting as the technical link between a PHP/Laravel platform and Python-based AI services
- Designing and delivering AI-enabled features end-to-end (prototype production)
- Implementing and maintaining integration patterns between Back End systems and AI/LLM components
- Defining best practices for AI-native development, CI/CD and deployment
- Taking ownership of ambiguous requirements and driving them to delivery
- Providing technical leadership, mentoring and coordination across teams
- Strong software engineering background with several years of PHP and Laravel experience
- Practical, hands-on experience with AI systems, including LLMs and prompt engineering
- Solid Python experience and the ability to work directly with AI/ML codebases
- Experience deploying production systems (AWS or equivalent) and working with CI/CD pipelines
- Comfortable leading workstreams, making decisions and delivering through ambiguity
- Strong communication skills and experience working across multidisciplinary teams
- Exposure to managed ML platforms (eg SageMaker or similar)
- Previous experience in a lead or coordinating role bridging platform and AI teams
- Familiarity with modern Front End frameworks (eg Next.js)
- Remote-first role (approximately 80-90% remote)
- Preference for candidates based in or near London for periodic in-person collaboration
- Occasional visits to a secondary UK office
- Open to both permanent hires and experienced contractors