Lead AI Engineer (PhD)

I’m partnering with a fast-growing fintech to hire a Lead AI Engineer for a highly technical, hands-on leadership role.This isn’t a typical “AI Engineer” position. We’re looking for someone whose foundations are genuinely in AI/ML, data science and research — someone who understands the mathematics behind the models, can read cutting-edge research and turn it into working software, but who has also developed the engineering breadth to build and ship complete products.A PhD / significant academic research background in AI, Machine Learning, Computer Science or a closely related discipline is essential for this search.What you’ll be doingLead forward-looking AI/ML research and development from 0 → 1Build, train, validate and calibrate ML models — not simply integrate model APIsTurn new research papers and emerging techniques into working prototypes and production systemsWork across foundation models, agents, causal inference, real-time ML and streaming analyticsTake ideas from research through to production across models, data infrastructure, backend services and product interfacesSet the technical and architectural direction for ambitious AI initiativesRemain highly hands-on — coding, experimenting and prototypingHelp build and mentor a high-performing AI/engineering teamWhat we’re looking forPhD / strong research background — essentialDeep foundations in Machine Learning / Data Science / AI8+ years’ experience across AI, ML and engineering with evidence of having built and shipped real ML modelsStrong Python and modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch / TensorFlowExperience with distributed data technologies such as Spark, Kafka, Snowflake or DatabricksAbility to understand and implement ideas from academic AI/ML researchStrong engineering capability across production-grade systemsExperience taking AI/ML research from experimentation into scalable productsStrong product mindset — you care about how what you build is actually usedComfortable operating as a senior individual contributor, not simply managing from a distancePublished research, open-source AI contributions and experience within fintech would be particularly interesting.This is a rare opportunity for someone who wants to sit at the intersection of AI research, machine learning, engineering and product, with genuine ownership over what gets built.If your career started closer to models and research and expanded into engineering — rather than the other way around — I’d particularly like to hear from you.