Data Scientist (Agentic/Generative AI) – Somerset Council
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What will I be doing?
* Design, deploy and maintain advanced AI agents and large language models (LLMs) that perform tasks autonomously – including reasoning, planning, tool use and multi‑step execution. Adapt state‑of‑the‑art LLM architectures for specific business domains and implement prompt engineering strategies.
* Embed AI agents into existing council platforms (e.g. case management, CRM, reporting tools) so they can take meaningful actions. Ensure seamless hand‑off between human decision‑makers and AI executors.
* Develop and manage infrastructure for model hosting, inference and orchestration – including vector databases, model registries and secure APIs.
* Implement frameworks for agent memory, context management and long‑horizon task execution. Ensure agents can interact with structured data, APIs and internal knowledge bases.
* Lead on AI‑specific DPIAs, fairness assessments and transparency‑by‑design. Embed ethical guardrails into agent behaviour, including explainability, auditability and human‑in‑the‑loop controls.
* Monitor and evaluate agent performance – track actions, success rates, failure modes and user feedback. Implement continuous improvement loops and safeguards against hallucination, drift or unintended behaviour.
* Collaborate with data teams to enhance pipelines, tooling and infrastructure that support AI workloads and agentic integration.
* Maintain awareness of best practices and innovations in AI engineering, agent frameworks and data infrastructure to inform system design and delivery.
What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?
We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. This post is ideal for candidates who are keen to grow their skills in AI engineering and large language models. You do not need prior experience in AI or LLMs; what matters most is a solid foundation in Python or similar programming languages, and a strong appetite to learn and develop in this fast‑moving field.
* Hands‑on experience with Python (or similar languages) for building and integrating data solutions.
* Enthusiasm for learning new technologies, especially in AI and agentic systems.
* Comfortable working in cloud environments and collaborating across teams.
* Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
* Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
* Ideally, professional certification in cloud/data engineering, such as Azure AI Engineer Associate certification.
What's in it for me?
We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about improving the lives of people in Somerset.
* Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
* Flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
* Staff discounts in gyms.
* Employee assistance for wellbeing services.
* Auto‑enrolment onto a generous pension scheme with optional voluntary contributions.
* Flexible benefits scheme via salary sacrifice for cycle for work and health screenings.
* My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.
Anything else I should know?
For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Josh Pimm, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at josh.pimm@somerset.gov.uk.
Please include your full employment history and explain any gaps. Start with your current or most recent employment.
Internal applicants applying for a secondment should discuss with their line manager before applying.
Due to the importance of the role, we recommend applying as soon as possible. Depending on response levels, we anticipate conducting interviews ahead of the closing date.
£37,280 – £41,771 per annum
DBS check required via the Disclosure procedure.
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