Data Science & AI Delivery Lead

Data Science \& AI Delivery Lead City, London (Hybrid – 3 days per week) £90,000 - 120,000 per annum + 15 - 20% annual bonus + comprehensive benefits We're looking for an experienced Data Science \& AI Delivery Lead to lead the delivery of enterprise AI and machine learning solutions within a global insurance organisation. This is a hands-on technical leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys combining software engineering, data science, AI, and delivery leadership. You'll help shape the technical direction of a growing AI function while leading the successful delivery of innovative solutions using machine learning, generative AI, and cloud technologies. What you'll do * Lead the end-to-end delivery of AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics solutions from concept through production. * Provide technical leadership across multiple AI initiatives, ensuring high standards for architecture, engineering, scalability, and deployment. * Design and build AI solutions using large language models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and agentic AI approaches. * Remain hands-on with development, contributing to Python code, architecture reviews, and technical problem-solving. * Drive best practices across MLOps, testing, deployment, monitoring, version control, and AI governance. * Partner with engineering, data, and business teams to deliver scalable, production-ready AI capabilities. * Mentor and develop a team of Data Scientists and AI Engineers through coaching, code reviews, and technical leadership. * Evaluate emerging AI technologies and lead proof-of-concepts that create business value. What we're looking for * Significant experience delivering AI and machine learning solutions in production environments. * Strong Python development skills with experience across modern machine learning and data science frameworks. * Hands-on experience with large language models, generative AI, prompt engineering, and RAG architectures. * Experience with Databricks, MLflow, Spark, and cloud-based AI platforms (Azure preferred). * Strong understanding of MLOps, software engineering best practices, and production deployment pipelines. * Experience leading technical teams while remaining actively involved in solution delivery. * Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into business outcomes. * Strong project delivery and prioritisation skills within fast-paced environments. Desirable * Experience building AI agents and orchestration workflows. * Insurance or financial services experience. * Knowledge of responsible AI, model governance, explainability, and bias mitigation.