AI Lead - UAE National

We have partnered with a globally recognised technology organisation operating at the forefront of AI innovation to hire an AI Lead for their Centre of Excellence in the UAE. This is a senior hire that will help define the technical direction of the COE and play a leading role across a diverse portfolio of high-impact AI projects. For the right person, this is a chance to build something lasting inside an organisation with the resources, ambition and talent to do it properly.This role suits a technically deep, people-oriented leader who is as comfortable setting architectural direction as they are developing the engineers around them. You will have a direct hand in shaping how the COE operates, the standards it works to and the calibre of work it produces.About the role:Lead the technical delivery of AI initiatives across the COE's project portfolio, taking ownership of architecture, quality and outcomesDefine and embed AI engineering standards, frameworks and best practices across the Centre of ExcellenceMentor and develop a team of AI engineers, creating an environment where people grow quickly and perform at a high levelAct as the senior technical voice on AI across cross-functional project teams, partnering with engineering, data and product stakeholdersDrive the evaluation and adoption of emerging AI techniques, tools and research relevant to the organisation's areas of focusContribute to the strategic development of the COE, including capability planning, tooling decisions and technical roadmapRepresent the AI function in senior stakeholder conversations, translating complex technical concepts into clear business language About you:8 or more years of experience in AI engineering or applied machine learning, with a clear progression into technical leadershipStrong hands-on capability across the AI stack, including model development, deployment and production.Proven experience leading and mentoring engineering teams, with a track record of raising the technical bar around youDeep proficiency in Python and modern AI frameworks including TensorFlow, PyTorch or Hugging FaceBroad exposure across applied AI domains such as NLP, computer vision or generative AI, with production experience in at least oneExperience designing and implementing AI systems at scale within complex, multi-workstream environmentsExcellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate credibly at a senior levelPrior experience building or contributing to a Centre of Excellence or similar innovation function is a strong advantageUAE National status is required for this position