AI Engineering Leader - R&D

Overview

Seeking an AI Engineering Leader to drive research and development of advanced AI technologies (including machine learning, deep learning, large-scale language models, and multimodal systems) and lead the engineering effort to prototype, validate, and integrate those technologies into practical mobility solutions. The role includes setting technical strategy, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and engaging with external research partners across Europe.

Ref:KM46818

TYPE: Full-time
SALARY: To be determined based on experience
START: flexible
LOCATION: United Kingdom (South East - near London). Exact location will be disclosed to shortlisted candidates

Company overview

A major automotive-related R&D centre focused on researching and developing enabling technologies derived from cutting-edge European research and industry trends. The site contributes to the company's autonomous driving and MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) initiatives by identifying and integrating valuable technical elements. The client's name is kept confidential for this posting.

Key responsibilities

• Lead research and roadmap development for advanced AI technologies
• Build prototypes and proof-of-concepts, conduct evaluations, and transition successful results toward implementation
• Provide technical leadership in software and system design with attention to performance, safety, and scalability
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (software, sensors, systems, product owners) to drive integration
• Identify and manage collaborations with external research institutions and industry partners; perform technology scouting
• Recruit, mentor and grow engineering talent; support hiring and long-term team development
• Contribute to MLOps practices and help establish deployment pipelines and CI/CD for model and system rollouts

Required experience & skills

• Practical experience in advanced AI (machine learning, deep learning, or large language/multimodal models), ideally with leadership responsibility in research or development projects
• Strong Python implementation skills and experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.)
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and evaluating complex technical solutions
• Experience leading technical teams or projects and making technical decisions
• Professional proficiency in English (written and spoken) for documentation and external communication

Preferred experience & skills

• Background or knowledge in autonomous driving, robotics, sensor fusion, multimodal perception, or planning/control
• Experience operating and optimizing large-scale models, cloud/edge infrastructure, and MLOps pipelines
• Familiarity with C++, ROS, or embedded/vehicle-grade development workflows
• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or related fields
• Experience transitioning from other industries (e.g., tech, research labs, robotics, mobility startups) into applied mobility R&D
• Japanese language ability is an advantage but not required