Engineer the Quantum RevolutionYour expertise can help us shape the future of quantum computing at Oxford Ionics.

View Open Roles

Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Ocho People
Londonderry
1 month ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior/ Principal Data Engineering Consultant- London

Principal MLOps Machine Learning Operations Developer for AI Research

Engineering Manager, Machine Learning Platform

Lead Data Engineer, Machine Learning

Data Scientist - Ad Campaign Performance

Senior Data Engineer

Principal Machine Learning Engineer wanted to shape the future of AI in a brand-new team

Want to lead a new AI function at a tech company on a serious growth trajectory?

Looking for the chance to mentor a high-calibre team, work on greenfield projects, and deliver real-world machine learning solutions that have commercial impact?

If you're a strategic thinker with deep technical roots and a passion for driving innovation-this is the role for you.

The Role

You'll be the driving force behind a newly-formed AI team, leading and mentoring Data Scientists and shaping the roadmap for AI/ML across the business.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll guide the development and deployment of production-grade ML models, champion a "fail-fast" culture of experimentation, and work closely with engineering, product, and stakeholders to turn ideas into outcomes.

It's the perfect mix of strategy, delivery, and people leadership.

What's In It For You?

  • Negotiable six-figure salary
  • Hybrid working - 1 to 3 days in the office
  • Greenfield ML projects from day one
  • Join an award-winning business with no layoffs, ever
  • Work with a brilliant, motivated team that's just getting started
  • Big focus on professional development, experimentation, and autonomy

Technical Skills You'll Need

  • 10+ years' experience in Data Science/AI
  • At least 5 years leading teams and delivering machine learning projects
  • Strong coding ability in Python, R, and SQL
  • Experience with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, and libraries like scikit-learn
  • Proven ability to develop, optimise, and deploy ML/AI models in production
  • Solid understanding of model governance, compliance, and data security
  • Experience working in regulated industries (finance, health, etc.) is a bonus

You'll Be a Great Fit If You:

  • Are a strategic thinker who can link ML projects to business goals
  • Love mentoring teams and fostering a culture of innovation
  • Communicate complex ideas in simple ways, especially to non-technical audiences
  • Stay on top of AI trends, tools, and best practices
  • Have a product mindset and a strong sense of ownership
  • Are passionate about building AI solutions that actually ship

Why Join?

This company has one of the best retention rates in the NI tech scene-and for good reason. They treat people like adults, give you the freedom to do your best work, and support you every step of the way.

You'll be joining at a pivotal moment, with the opportunity to shape the future of a new AI capability that's central to the company's next chapter.

If you want to hear more (without commitment), drop me a message. Let's have a chat and see if it's the right fit for you.

Y29saW4ubWNhbGluZGVuLjUwOTUxLjEyMjcxQG9jaG9wZW9wbGUuYXBsaXRyYWsuY29t.gif

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Seasonal Hiring Peaks for Machine Learning Jobs: The Best Months to Apply & Why

The UK's machine learning sector has evolved into one of Europe's most intellectually stimulating and financially rewarding technology markets, with roles spanning from junior ML engineers to principal machine learning scientists and heads of artificial intelligence research. With machine learning positions commanding salaries from £32,000 for graduate ML engineers to £160,000+ for senior principal scientists, understanding when organisations actively recruit can dramatically accelerate your career progression in this pioneering and rapidly evolving field. Unlike traditional software engineering roles, machine learning hiring follows distinct patterns influenced by AI research cycles, model development timelines, and algorithmic innovation schedules. The sector's unique combination of mathematical rigour, computational complexity, and real-world application requirements creates predictable hiring windows that strategic professionals can leverage to advance their careers in developing tomorrow's intelligent systems. This comprehensive guide explores the optimal timing for machine learning job applications in the UK, examining how enterprise AI strategies, academic research cycles, and deep learning initiatives influence recruitment patterns, and why strategic timing can determine whether you join a groundbreaking AI research team or miss the opportunity to develop the next generation of machine learning algorithms.

Pre-Employment Checks for Machine Learning Jobs: DBS, References & Right-to-Work and more Explained

Pre-employment screening in machine learning reflects the discipline's unique position at the intersection of artificial intelligence research, algorithmic decision-making, and transformative business automation. Machine learning professionals often have privileged access to proprietary datasets, cutting-edge algorithms, and strategic AI systems that form the foundation of organizational competitive advantage and automated decision-making capabilities. The machine learning industry operates within complex regulatory frameworks spanning AI governance directives, algorithmic accountability requirements, and emerging ML ethics regulations. Machine learning specialists must demonstrate not only technical competence in model development and deployment but also deep understanding of algorithmic fairness, AI safety principles, and the societal implications of automated decision-making at scale. Modern machine learning roles frequently involve developing systems that impact hiring decisions, financial services, healthcare diagnostics, and autonomous operations across multiple regulatory jurisdictions and ethical frameworks simultaneously. The combination of algorithmic influence, predictive capabilities, and automated decision-making authority makes thorough candidate verification essential for maintaining compliance, fairness, and public trust in AI-powered systems.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Launch Your Career in Machine Learning: The UK's Intelligence Revolution

The United Kingdom stands at the epicentre of a machine learning revolution that's fundamentally transforming how we solve problems, deliver services, and unlock insights from data at unprecedented scale. From the AI-powered diagnostic systems revolutionising healthcare in Manchester to the algorithmic trading platforms driving London's financial markets, Britain's embrace of intelligent systems has created an extraordinary demand for skilled machine learning professionals that dramatically exceeds the current talent supply. If you've been seeking a career at the forefront of technological innovation or looking to position yourself in one of the most impactful sectors of the digital economy, machine learning represents an exceptional opportunity. The convergence of abundant data availability, computational power accessibility, advanced algorithmic development, and enterprise AI adoption has created perfect conditions for machine learning career success.