Principal Applied AI Engineer
Location : London
Salary : Circa £140K
This is a great job for someone who:
Is a highly experienced applied AI or software engineer and recognised technical authority, with a track record of leading the design and delivery of complex AI systems at scale.
You may already be shaping architecture and standards across teams and are motivated by influencing outcomes through expertise rather than line management.
This role suits someone who enjoys operating at system and organisational level, partnering with senior stakeholders, and setting the technical direction that others confidently follow.
A bit about the job:
This role sits at the heart of Aviva’s Applied AI Engineering capability and exists to provide long‑term technical leadership for applied AI across the organisation.
The team designs and delivers Aviva’s most complex and high‑impact AI systems, while establishing the standards, patterns, and safeguards that allow AI to be used responsibly at scale.
As a Principal Applied AI Engineer, you will be accountable for the technical direction, architectural quality, and safe operation of critical AI systems, enabling teams to deliver customer and business value with confidence.
Skills and experience we are looking for:
- Extensive experience designing, building, and operating complex applied AI or LLM‑powered systems in production.
- Deep Python engineering expertise, with the ability to define, uphold, and evolve high engineering standards across teams.
- Proven ability to make and lead significant architectural decisions that balance customer value, scalability, reliability, and regulatory risk.
- Strong experience defining evaluation and quality approaches that manage safety, correctness, and compliance in live AI systems.
- Confidence working in regulated environments, acting as a technical authority who can partner with senior stakeholders on risk‑aware AI delivery.
Whatyou’llget for this role:
Our purpose –with you today, for a better tomorrow–is a promise we make to our colleagues too. And one of the ways we live up to that promise is by investing in you. We have so much to offer when it comes to being an Aviva colleague:
- Salary:Circa£140K (depending on location, skills, experience, and qualifications)
- Bonus opportunity –12% of annual salary Actual amount depends on your performance and Aviva’s.
- Generouspensionscheme – Aviva will contribute up to 14%, depending on what you put in
- 29 daysholidayplus bank holidays, with theoptionto buy or sell up to 5 days
- Aviva-funded Private Medical Benefitto help you get expert support when you need it
- Up to 40%discount on Aviva products, and other retailer discounts
- Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through ourMatching Share PlanandSave As You Earnscheme
- Brilliantlysupportive policiesincluding parental and carer’s leave
- Flexible benefitsto suit you, includingsustainability optionssuch as cycle to work
- Make a difference, be part of ourAviva Communitiesand use your 3paid volunteering days to help others
- We take yourwellbeingseriously with lots of support and tools
Take a look to learn more. Put a salary into this calculator to see what your total Aviva Reward could be.
Aviva is for everyone:
We’reinclusive and welcome everyone–we want applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if youdon’t,we’dstill encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares.
We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Most of our people are smart working – spendingat least50% of their time in our offices every week–combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues.
To find out more about working at Aviva take a look here
We interview every disabled applicant who meets theminimumcriteria for the job.
Onceyou’veapplied, please send us an emailstatingthat you have a disclosed disability, andwe’llinterview you.
We’dlove it if you couldsubmityour application online. If yourequirean alternative method of applying, please give Kirthi a call on +447387534297 or send an email to kirthi.kanikireddy@aviva.com
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