Data Scientist - Contract

Job Title: Data Scientist (Contract) Location: London (Hybrid - 1 office visit a week) Duration: 6 months Start Date: ASAP Outside IR35 A global consultancy is seeking a Data Scientist to join its internal transformation team focused on delivering AI-driven solutions across tax and legal services. This is a contract role within a high-performing data and AI group, offering exposure to cutting-edge generative AI technologies and the opportunity to contribute to impactful service delivery innovations. Key Responsibilities: • Design and deploy Python-based AI applications for internal use • Conduct R&D on generative AI techniques including fine-tuning, prompt engineering, and retrieval-augmented generation • Build agentic systems and LLM-assisted frameworks using modern orchestration tools • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver production-ready solutions • Maintain high standards of code quality, documentation, and testing • Develop evaluation pipelines and ensure robust quality control across deployments Essential Skills and Experience: • Advanced Python programming skills with experience in libraries such as Numpy, Pandas, Scikit-Learn, Langchain, LlamaIndex • Deep expertise in Azure and its AI services, including Azure AI Foundry • Hands-on experience with GenAI techniques: prompt orchestration, retrieval methods (RAG, knowledge graphs), agentic frameworks (LangGraph, Semantic Kernel Agents) • Familiarity with software engineering best practices: version control, testing, deployment • Ability to collaborate with AI engineers and translate prototypes into scalable solutions Desirable Skills: • Experience optimizing workflows and building scalable AI pipelines • Strong data analytics and visualization capabilities (Excel, Alteryx) • Understanding of Responsible AI principles and practices