AI-First Digital Transformation at Salford City Council Salford City Council is on a mission to harness the power of AI and data to reimagine public services for the future. As part of our newly formed AI team, you’ll help design, develop, and deploy intelligent solutions that improve the lives of residents and create a fairer, greener, and healthier Salford. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineer or developer to build and integrate AI/ML technology that delivers meaningful results. You’ll work closely with the Senior AI/ML Engineer and wider digital teams to turn innovative ideas into working solutions using Microsoft Azure as our core platform. You’ll contribute across the AI/ML lifecycle preparing data, building and deploying models, and integrating solutions into council systems. Your background in enterprise and cloud platforms, combined with strong problem-solving and collaboration skills, will be invaluable in addressing challenges and opportunities. If you’re passionate about digital transformation, eager to apply your expertise to real-world challenges, and want to see your work make a tangible social impact, this role is for you. Key Outcomes AI Solution Design & Delivery Design, develop, and deploy AI/ML solutions within Azure Machine Learning and Azure AI Foundry, integrating with other platforms and applications. Assist with model training, evaluation, and deployment, applying established frameworks and tools. Support the creation of data preparation, testing, and monitoring pipelines. AI Platform & Toolchain Support establishment of the council’s AI architecture and toolchain, focusing on Azure AI Foundry, Azure Integration Services, and Azure ML pipelines. Apply MLOps practices (CI/CD, model versioning, retraining pipelines) using Azure-native tooling. Evaluate and experiment with open-source frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex, PyTorch, Hugging Face) and other platforms (AWS SageMaker, OCI Data Science). Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with the Senior AI/ML Engineer, architects, and service teams to translate requirements into working solutions. Communicate progress clearly and escalate challenges when needed. Share knowledge and contribute to internal learning initiatives. Governance, Security & Compliance Support policy development for data governance, security, and responsible AI use. Document AI solutions to ensure transparency and reproducibility. Contribute to data quality, accuracy, and bias testing. Innovation & Continuous Improvement Stay current with emerging AI research, frameworks, and platform features. Participate in proofs of concept for new models and approaches. Promote a culture of innovation, sharing best practices across the organisation. Requirements – What We Need From You Experience & Technical Expertise Essential Proven experience designing, developing, and deploying solutions in production environments. Strong Python skills (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, PyTorch or TensorFlow). Experience with cloud-native delivery environments (e.g. Salesforce, ServiceNow, UiPath, Azure, MS Power Platform). Understanding of data structures, databases, and basic analytics (SQL or equivalent). Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences. Desirable Hands-on experience with Azure services (Machine Learning, AI Foundry, Integration Services). Exposure to AI/ML concepts such as training, evaluation, or deployment. Knowledge of MLOps tools (MLflow, Airflow, CI/CD pipelines). Experience with data visualisation (Power BI, Tableau). Awareness of AI ethics, explainability, and responsible AI practices. Understanding of enterprise and solution architecture principles. Approach & Ways of Working Curious, innovative, and eager to experiment with new approaches. Comfortable working in a lean, agile, startup-like environment. Collaborative mindset with strong influencing and facilitation skills. Passion for public sector innovation and improving citizen outcomes. Commitment to continuous learning and team success. Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and design abilities. Qualifications Degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related discipline. Microsoft certifications (e.g. Azure Fundamentals, Azure AI Fundamentals, Power Platform Developer Associate) are desirable. Evidence of continuous learning through study, online training, or project work. What We Can Offer You Professional Development We’re committed to your growth and success. You’ll have access to structured and informal learning opportunities, supported by your manager through Personal Development Reviews and ongoing conversations. Developing Your Leadership Skills Our LeadingSalford programme supports leaders in building engaged, motivated teams. You’ll have access to: Bite-sized Master Classes on leadership essentials. Accredited leadership programmes to build your practice and stay current with emerging approaches. Online Learning Access over 200 free courses through our Me-Learning platform, including: Mandatory modules: Welcome to Salford, Health & Safety in the Office, GDPR, Equality Essentials, Safeguarding Children and Adults. Optional modules in Business Skills, IT, and Project Management. Professional Qualifications Gain role-specific skills through: Apprenticeship-based learning Professional development from entry-level to Master’s equivalent qualifications Support toward achieving role-appropriate certifications Salary: £42,839 - £46,142