Chief AI Engineer

Burns Sheehan is partnering with an established, PE-backed, global data and intelligence business to appoint a Chief AI Engineer to lead its AI engineering function and shape its AI transformation. The business has an incredibly rich proprietary dataset, and AI is already delivering real value in production across multiple areas of the organisation. This is a deeply technical leadership role (70% technical / 30% strategic), offering a seat on the Senior Leadership Team, significant autonomy and the opportunity to influence the wider AI strategy while remaining close to the engineering. The role could suit an established Head/Director of AI Engineering, or an exceptional Principal/Staff AI or ML Engineer ready to step into a broader leadership position. Burns Sheehan Ltd will consider applications based only on skills and ability and will not discriminate on any grounds.

Responsibilities

Take ownership of AI architecture, engineering standards and delivery; Build genuinely differentiated AI solutions at scale; Lead the AI engineering function and shape the next stage of the AI transformation; Influence the wider AI strategy while remaining close to the engineering

Requirements

Deep expertise across Machine Learning, Data Science and modern AI, including LLMs, RAG, fine-tuning and agentic AI; Proven experience taking multiple AI/ML solutions from ideation through to production, with measurable commercial impact; Strong hands-on engineering capability with Python, MLOps/LLMOps and cloud technologies, ideally Azure; Experience leading technical teams, setting engineering standards and making complex architectural decisions; The technical credibility and leadership skills to influence senior stakeholders and operate at executive level

Benefits

Seat on the Senior Leadership Team; 10% bonus; Significant autonomy