Lead AI Engineer with Java 17

We are searching for aLead AI Engineer who is truly AI-native and prepared to deliver hands-on technical leadership of a delivery squad. This isn't a position for conventional engineers who have merely added AI tools on top of old routines — we require a leader who codes daily, owns architecture, upholds standards, and treats AI-assisted delivery as the core engineering model (targeting 60%+ AI-assisted code output). You will mentor engineers, shape specifications, and collaborate with client architects and leadership across both Agile and project delivery modes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver hands-on technical leadership of a delivery squad while actively writing code
• Own end-to-end architecture within the squad and lead architecture discussions with client architects
• Drive specification quality, enforce engineering standards, and stay accountable for delivery quality and governance
• Apply AI coding tools (such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or Cursor) daily for generating, refactoring, testing, and reviewing code — reaching 60%+ AI-assisted code output
• Configure MCP servers, implement multi-agent patterns, and set up AI/LLM gateways to manage routing, cost, limits, and fallbacks
• Leverage AI to assess agent output quality and continuously refine delivery practices
• Coach engineers on prompts, context management, and skill files, and review and approve skill-file contributions
• Step into any full-stack or mobile role as needed to support squad delivery
• Present progress, architecture, and AI adoption outcomes to senior leadership
• Mentor teams on AI adoption and champion AI-native ways of working across the delivery organisation

Requirements

• 12-15 years of overall engineering experience, including 3+ years leading AI-assisted delivery teams
• Proven record of leading delivery in a regulated sector (financial services preferred), with references available
• Background in Java 17+ and Spring Boot 3.x (mandatory) with microservices architecture
• Expertise in frontend development with React (mandatory), TypeScript, and component design
• Proficiency in responsive UI development and Figma-to-code workflows
• Skills in REST and event-driven APIs, OAuth2 / OIDC, and PostgreSQL
• Competency in messaging platforms, including Kafka and IBM MQ
• Capability to own service pipelines using GitHub Actions, Docker, and Kubernetes / OpenShift
• Qualifications in GitOps practices and automated testing
• Showcase of leading at least one programme where AI-assisted delivery was the primary engineering model (not a pilot)
• Familiarity with MCP server configuration, multi-agent patterns, and AI/LLM gateway configuration
• Demonstrated ability to mentor teams on AI adoption and work comfortably across both Agile and project modes
• English proficiency at an Upper-Intermediate level (B2) or higher