Principal AI and Machine Learning Software Engineer

Job summary

Overview: Principal AI and Machine Learning Software Engineer, Wilmslow. Wat*** are seeking a Principal AI and Machine Learning Software Engineer to play a key role in shaping and delivering advanced AI capabilities within Wat***’ scientific software portfolio across cloud and on‑prem platforms.

Benefits

Qualifications

• Degree or higher in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related discipline (Master’s or PhD preferred).
• Extensive experience designing, building, and deploying AI/ML systems in production, ideally within scientific, analytical, or regulated software environments.
• Deep expertise in machine learning and AI system design, including model development, evaluation, optimisation, and real-world data challenges.
• Strong hands-on experience with modern AI/ML frameworks (e.g.
• PyTorch, TensorFlow) and familiarity with LLM ecosystems, agent architectures, and related tooling.
• Proven ability to design scalable architectures and deliver complex systems in Python, C#, or TypeScript, applying object-oriented principles with a strong focus on maintainability and unit testing.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, including architecture ownership, mentoring engineers, and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience with scientific data or analytical instrumentation is highly desirable.
• We're actively building diverse teams and welcome applications from everyone.
• But simply having a diverse workforce is not enough.
• We aim to build an inclusive environment, where everyone can contribute their best work and develop to their full potential.
• We celebrate our differences and recognise the importance of teams reflecting the communities they serve.

Responsibilities

• You will work with a collaborative, multidisciplinary team to apply machine learning, LLMs, and emerging AI approaches to support complex data analysis and scientific discovery.
• You will help guide technical direction, collaborate with scientists and engineers, and support the continued growth of AI capabilities across the organisation.
• Contribute to the technical direction for AI/ML capabilities within Wat***’ scientific software portfolio, aligning with product goals, scientific needs, and long-term scalability.
• Design and develop AI solutions (including ML models, LLM-enabled workflows, and agent-based systems) to support data analysis, interpretation, and automation in scientific applications.
• Drive the design and implementation of robust, production-grade ML systems, ensuring performance, reproducibility, and compliance with regulated industry standards.
• Work closely with scientific partners, product teams, and engineers to identify opportunities where AI can add value and improve user outcomes.
• Support the development of best practices for model lifecycle management, validation, and responsible AI in regulated environments.
• Share knowledge and provide guidance to engineers and data scientists, contributing to a supportive and high-performing team environment.
• Evaluate and introduce emerging AI

Skills

Degrees

Industry

Company size