We're hiring:
Forward Deployed Engineer.
What we do.
The Institute of AI is the UK's professional body for artificial intelligence. We set the standard of AI practice, work to that standard ourselves, and put it within reach of everyone else. Our work runs across four areas.
- Accreditation
- We accredit AI professionals at four levels, from Student to Fellow, against our own competency framework for what a practitioner should be able to do, and we assess organisations separately against a five-pillar maturity model.
- Practice
- We run an independent practice that advises organisations on adopting AI, from readiness and strategy to governance and policy, and then builds what we recommend, taking AI solutions from proof of concept into production.
- Platforms
- We build software: our own digital platforms and AI systems, which we design, engineer, and operate for anyone to use.
- AI for All
- Our public programme brings AI literacy and enablement to schools, charities, and young people through events, pro bono consultancy, and resources.
There is more to our work than any summary can hold: education platforms and multi-player AI games, regulatory trackers, the UK AI Readiness Charter and plenty more.
If that sounds like work worth doing, come and do it with us.
The role.
When an organisation decides to do something serious with AI, the Practice is who they call, and you're the person we send.
A Forward Deployed Engineer sits somewhere between a staff engineer, a solutions architect and a technical founder. We optimise for engineering judgement over familiarity with any particular framework or model. You embed with clients, figure out what the real problem is, and build the solution alongside them. You might be designing an AI platform for an NHS trust one engagement and integrating LLM workflows into a manufacturer's ERP system the next. Every engagement is different, but the goal is always the same: leave behind software that people depend on.
You'll work directly with clients to understand how they operate and build AI systems that solve real problems. Sometimes that means designing a modern AI platform. More often, it means making AI work within legacy systems, imperfect data and organisational constraints.
This isn't strategy consulting, and it isn't an internal engineering role. You'll spend time with users, engineers and executives, move between architecture and implementation, and stay with a project until it's delivering value in production.
Core responsibilities.
Lead technical delivery from discovery through to production, taking ownership of outcomes rather than just outputs.
Embed with client teams to understand their systems, processes and constraints, then design solutions that fit the reality of their environment.
Design and build production AI systems, from LLM applications and agentic workflows to enterprise integrations, using the right tools for the problem.
Integrate AI systems with existing enterprise software, databases, APIs and identity platforms rather than building in isolation.
Deploy, operate and improve production AI systems across cloud infrastructure, application architecture and data pipelines.
Act as a trusted technical advisor to engineering teams and senior stakeholders, communicating complex decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Turn successful engagements into reusable tooling, patterns and engineering practices that raise the quality of future delivery.
What we're looking for.
A strong software engineering background with experience building and operating production systems.
Comfortable in Python and at least one other modern language (TypeScript, Go, C#, Java, etc.).
Experience designing, building and operating production AI systems from architecture through to deployment.
Experience delivering software on modern cloud platforms (AWS/Azure) using modern CI/CD practices.
Able to navigate ambiguity, make sensible technical trade-offs and keep projects moving.
Good engineering judgement. You know when to optimise, when to simplify and when not to use AI at all.
Strong communication skills and confidence working directly with clients, from engineers through to executive leadership.
Curious, pragmatic and motivated by solving real-world problems.
Willing to travel within the UK when projects require time on site with clients.
This role is not for you if…
You want a pure engineering role with no client contact.
You only want to work on greenfield projects with perfect requirements and modern technology.
You'd rather spend your time building in isolation than working closely with customers and users.
You want to be insulated from the commercial consequences of your technical decisions.
You might be…
A staff or principal software engineer who wants more ownership and closer contact with customers.
A senior solutions architect who wants to spend more time shipping products.
An experienced forward deployed engineer looking for a broader range of technical challenges and greater autonomy.
Checks before you start.
Practitioners who apply to us for accreditation must evidence what they claim, and we verify it. Joining the team is no different. Every offer we make is conditional on background checks, which normally include:
- Identity checks
- Right to work in the UK
- Past employment references
- Education and qualification checks
- A DBS check or equivalent
Please note that certain positions may also require more extensive vetting, such as an enhanced DBS check or security clearance.
An equal opportunities employer.
Diversity matters to us at the Institute of AI, and we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We welcome people from all walks of life. If you need any adjustments during the application process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
What we offer.
A four-day week
32 hours across four days, on 100% of the pay. Not a compressed week, not a pilot, and not something you earn after probation.
A published band
You saw the number before you applied. We never ask what you currently earn, so the number you see is the number we start from.
Where you work
Every role states its location up front. We are remote-first, though some roles need time on site, and the whole team comes together every so often.
Time to stay current
A learning budget, and your CPD hours inside the working week rather than on your weekend.
Accreditation, on us
We cover the assessment fee and the annual fee for the level you are accredited at, and give you time in the week to prepare.
Holiday
28 days, plus bank holidays. Book them when it suits you and switch off properly. Nobody expects you to check in.
Put yourself forward.
Applications are for Members.
Membership is free and takes a minute. You will need an account so we can keep you updated about your application.
Create a free accountSee what else is
open.
Every role we are hiring for is listed in one place. If this one is not quite it, another might be.