Principal Data Engineer (AI - AWS - Python - LLM) - Contract - Remote - Inside IR35

Digital Transformation Consultancy requires a client-facing Principal-level Data Engineer with strong AI capabilities to join them immediately and help them deliver an AI platform to their FinTech client. Contract Details: • Start Date: Ideally immediate, but by no later than Wednesday 8th April 2026 (after the East bank holidays). • Day Rate: £670 per day. • Determination: Inside IR35. • Base: Remote. • Duration: 3 months initially (extension "highly likely"). Project Scope: Supporting a FinTech client on their evolving AI platform (discovery approach ongoing), where there are two critical workstreams requiring a Principal-level AI/Data Engineer. This is a high-impact, hands-on role to assess current systems, define improvements, and execute solutions — with an opportunity to embed and expand further work. Key Responsibilities: • Assess current AI/data platform and provide clear technical recommendations. • Work across two workstreams to bridge gaps between product, data, and engineering. • Improve and scale an existing engagement/uplift model (multi-channel). • Enhance a natural language Data Explorer platform (semantic consistency, trust). • Enable multi-source data integration and scalable architecture. • Be hands-on in implementation and delivery, not just strategy. • Working in ambiguity and being comfortable owning both recommendations and execution. Essential Skills & Experience required: • Principal-level, hands-on data engineer. • Strong consultative and product mindset. • Strong experience in Python and AWS. • Expertise in data pipelines, ML/AI systems, and modelling. • Experience with LLM/NLP-powered platforms (desirable) - Strong focus on scalability, reliability, and system design.