AI Engineer

Applied AI & Automation Engineer (12-Month FTC) Location: London (Hybrid) Duration: 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract (Strong Potential for Permanent Conversion) Salary: £100,000 + Bonus & Benefits Overview We are seeking a highly capable Applied AI & Automation Engineer to join a growing Data Science team within a leading hedge fund investment specialist. This role offers the opportunity to design and build an intelligent reporting and operational automation platform from the ground up, transforming how fund administration processes are executed. Working closely with the Head of Data Science and Fund Administration stakeholders, you will apply modern AI, automation, and data engineering techniques to replace manual processes with scalable, auditable, and production-grade systems. The successful candidate will play a key role in modernising legacy reporting and reconciliation workflows, implementing AI-assisted automation, and establishing the foundation for future AI-driven operational capabilities. This is a highly technical, hands-on engineering role suited to someone who enjoys solving complex operational challenges and building robust systems that deliver measurable business value. Key Responsibilities • Design, build, and deliver an end-to-end automated reporting and reconciliation platform. • Develop intelligent workflows to automate data ingestion, validation, reconciliation, and NAV calculation processes. • Implement AI and LLM-powered solutions to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual effort. • Design exception handling and human-in-the-loop workflows where full automation is not appropriate. • Ensure systems are accurate, auditable, secure, and resilient within a regulated financial environment. • Integrate multiple internal and external systems through APIs and structured data feeds. • Build maintainable, scalable applications rather than one-off automation scripts. • Implement monitoring, testing, logging, and observability practices across all solutions. • Work closely with Fund Administration teams to understand operational processes and translate business requirements into technical solutions. • Contribute to the development and deployment of AI agents, RAG architectures, and workflow automation solutions. • Support the evolution of internal AI platforms and operational tooling. • Collaborate with Data Science, Operations, and Technology teams to deliver production-ready solutions. Required Skills & Experience • Strong hands-on software engineering experience using Python. • Advanced SQL and data processing experience. • Experience designing and implementing data pipelines and automation systems. • Experience integrating systems via APIs and structured data sources. • Proven experience building reliable, monitored, and maintainable production systems. • Experience with Git, source control, and CI/CD practices. • Strong understanding of testing strategies and software quality assurance. • Experience designing end-to-end technical solutions and system architectures. • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills. • Strong communication skills with the ability to work closely with operational and business stakeholders. • Experience delivering automation solutions that replace or significantly reduce manual processes. Desirable Experience • Experience with Generative AI, LLMs, AI Agents, or RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems. • Experience fine-tuning or deploying open-source AI models. • Experience within financial services, asset management, hedge funds, or regulated environments. Technologies Core: Python, SQL, APIs, Git, CI/CD AI & Automation: LLMs, AI Agents, RAG, Open-Source Models Additional Technologies: Azure DevOps, React, Next.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, CSS Environment: Data Science, Fund Operations, Financial Services, Workflow Automation, Production Systems