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. Skills: ML AI Data Science Python