Associate AI Engineer

Darlington, London, Wolverhampton Job Summary We are MHCLG Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time. AI technology is rapidly evolving and there is immense opportunity to harness this capability to transform delivery at MHCLG. The new AI directorate at MHCLG is driving forward AI development and adoption across the department and support to partners in local government. We are looking for a passionate and enthusiastic junior AI engineer to join our team and be at the leading edge of AI delivery in a central government department, to deliver high-impact projects at pace to improve outcomes and productivity. You will help to unlock new approaches through the adoption of AI tools and techniques to build the evidence base that drives smarter, more impactful decisions. You will contribute to the discovery, pilot, implementation and scaling of AI projects by the Directorate, developing models for secure, ethical and effective AI tools that deliver high value opportunities and improve outcomes. You will join a multi-disciplinary team of technical experts (including data engineers, data scientists, developers, user research, delivery managers, service owners) with an ambitious and exciting remit to harness the potential of AI, working on high impact projects that deliver operational efficiencies and support policy development through the rapid prototyping and scaling of products and services. You will be forward deployed, working collaboratively across the organisation, interacting with a range of stakeholders to explore, build and maintain foundational AI capability and champion the role of AI in the process. Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment. Job Description As an Associate AI Engineer, you'll: • Work within agile, multidisciplinary teams to develop, configure and deliver AI / machine learning capability through new products and services, delivering minimum viable products (MVPs) and iterating based on user needs • Develop, configure and deliver AI prototypes and scaling to production, supporting testing and system integration as required, helping to ensure expected performance requirements are met • Listen, interpret and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided. Involve a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and delivery partners to integrate and improve. Establish relationships and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure approaches are appropriate and outputs meet end-user expectations • Apply your knowledge of policies relating to AI ethics and responsible use. Research and apply developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes. Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently. Promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation • Confidently develop, implement, maintain and review AI delivery in line with best practice and standards. Use agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts, using the right standards and tools. • Work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes. Continuously improve delivery by identifying potential efficiencies and savings in existing processes • Champion your role in AI, show positivity and enthusiasm, encouraging others to do the same and have a curiosity for the latest trends in GenAI, agentic AI, LLMOps, and ML more broadly • Relevant professional experience working in AI or related field, or a combination of qualifications/certifications and experience that demonstrates technical capability As An Associate AI Engineer, You'll • Work within agile, multidisciplinary teams to develop, configure and deliver AI / machine learning capability through new products and services, delivering minimum viable products (MVPs) and iterating based on user needs • Develop, configure and deliver AI prototypes and scaling to production, supporting testing and system integration as required, helping to ensure expected performance requirements are met • Listen, interpret and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided. Involve a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and delivery partners to integrate and improve. Establish relationships and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure approaches are appropriate and outputs meet end-user expectations • Apply your knowledge of policies relating to AI ethics and responsible use. Research and apply developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes. Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently. Promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation • Confidently develop, implement, maintain and review AI delivery in line with best practice and standards. Use agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts, using the right standards and tools. • Work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes. Continuously improve delivery by identifying potential efficiencies and savings in existing processes • Champion your role in AI, show positivity and enthusiasm, encouraging others to do the same and have a curiosity for the latest trends in GenAI, agentic AI, LLMOps, and ML more broadly • Relevant professional experience working in AI or related field, or a combination of qualifications/certifications and experience that demonstrates technical capability Person specification You'll be someone who is motivated, flexible, enthusiastic and passionate about utilising data and AI responsibly for the public good. As An Associate AI Engineer You'll Have • An understanding of building end-to-end LLM applications (prompt engineering, data models, API integration, input/output handling, training, monitoring) • Coding expertise: an understanding of core python libraries and clear, modular, reusable code with error handling and logging • Cloud and tooling: experience working with Azure; and familiarity with version control (Git/GitHub), command line, and IDEs • Software engineering practices: unit testing (e.g. pytest), code reviews, and general good practice in collaborative development • Applied AI/ML: awareness and a willingness to learn and apply a range of standard techniques (supervised/unsupervised ML, cross-validation, time-series, NLP basics, SQL) • Communication skills: able to explain technical work clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, manage active and reactive communication, support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders • Delivery and collaboration: proactive, self-motivated, organised, and effective at working to deadlines as part of a team Alongside your salary of £34,801, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £10,081 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here. Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details Application and Selection The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles: Behaviours , Experience , Technical Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information. Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link. Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading. Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter) Experience & Technical: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description. Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview. Lead sift question (Technical): In no more than 250 words, describe an AI prototype you helped move towards production (or would move to production) and the problem it helped to solve. Stage 2: Interview • Behaviours: "Changing and Improving", "Communicating and Influencing", "Delivering at Pace", "Working Together" • Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. • Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. Candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview. Sift and Interview Dates Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 23rd March 2026. Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 6th April 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change. Group 1 Digital & Data Roles MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview. MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager. Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability. Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade. HEO Group 1 Digital and Data salary • The basic pay for this role will be between £38,286 - £44,450 (London), £34,801 - £40,694 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale. • A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating. • For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above. How We Recruit Find out everything you need to know before applying here.. • Applying • Sifting • Interview • Interview Results & Feedback • Reserve List • Near Miss • Civil Service Grades • We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer • Reasonable Adjustments How To Apply What you need to know before applying. • Security Clearance Requirements • Civil Service Nationality Requirements • Right to Work • Artificial Intelligence • Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles • CV Declaration • Sponsorships • Salary and Grade • Existing Civil Servants • Conflict of Interest • Location and Flexible Working • Fixed Term Contracts • Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register • Appeals and Complaints • Conflict of Interest Security Clearance Requirements National Office: BPSS + SC London Office: BPSS + SC Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups • UK nationals • nationals of the Republic of Ireland • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact • Name : Digital Data Jobs • Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk Recruitment team • Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk Further information About If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been: • a procedural irregularity • an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy • exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day. It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk