Principal AI Data Engineer

Job Description

Contract role: Principal AI Data Engineer

Contract Location: London, 5 days onsite weekly
Contract Start Date: August 2026
Contract Duration: 4 months

Payroll provider: Rockford Payroll Info for Contingent Workers – Rockford Pay

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate AI/GenAI/AgenticAI prototypes using tools like Copilot Studio, AI Foundry and Copilot Analyst Agent, Mosiac AI, Genie, AgentBricks, MLflow with a focus on quick wins and enterprise integration.
  
• Build and tune Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, including embedding model selection, prompt engineering, and traceable evaluation.
  
• Design and deploy basic AI agents using frameworks such as LangChain, AutoGen, and smolagents
  
• Communicate complex AI concepts clearly to business stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
  
• Collaborate on E platform enhancements and work within its current limitations.
  
• Deploy models and applications using Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Foundry, Databricks Mosaic Gateway, and Docker.
  
• Follow DevOps best practices including CI/CD pipelines, testing, linting, and GitHub workflows.
  
• Write modular, reusable code using OOP design patterns in Python (Pydantic, PyTorch, etc.).
  
• Operate in agile teams and contribute to sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.
  
• Deliver hands on GenAI/AgenticAI systems used directly by commercial teams within Trading & Supply, taking solutions from prototype to production
  
• Apply engineering skills (emphasis on Databricks) and research skills across experimentation, rapid prototyping, and iterative delivery. Someone who puts emphasis on reproducibility and open source, manages large-scale text and structured datasets on Databricks.
  
• Build AI capability, manage stakeholders and communicate effectively to ensure alignment between business needs and AI solutions, and a quick understanding of commercial operations that happen in T&S
  
• Design and run evaluation and testing frameworks for GenAI systems, including benchmarking, reproducibility checks, and structured model assessments
  
• Build solutions using Databricks infrastructure, Genie, MLflow (deployment and tracing and evaluations), LangChain, and LangGraph, and integrate them into scalable AI workflows and architectures
  
• Contribute to system planning, architectural design, and structured testing to ensure long term reliability, performance, and maintainability
  
• Preferably also someone who can set the building blocks and lead building out the backlog
  

Required Skills

• Bachelor or Master or equivalent in Statistics, Mathematics, Econometrics or similar discipline with at least 8-12 years’ experience on data science/AI projects.
  
• Deep understanding of LLM families (GPT, Llama, Claude, Mistral) and their reasoning capabilities.
  
• Strong experience with Databricks- DLT, Delta Lake concepts, UC governance.
  
• Solid understanding of streaming technologies (e.g., Spark Structured Streaming, Autoloader)
  
• Programming skills in Python, SQL, or Scala.
  
• Proficiency in data modelling, ETL/ELT processes, and data architecture.
  
• Strong analytical background with problem-solving skills.
  
• Performance tuning concepts like watermarking, late data handling, parallelism & checkpointing.
  
• Hands-on expertise in ADF, and Qlik Replicate for data ingestion and replication.
  
• Experience working in Azure cloud environments.
  
• Experience with GenAI evaluation frameworks and benchmarking methodologies.
  
• Experience in MS Copilot, AI Foundry , Databricks (MosiacAI, MLflow, Agentbricks, Genie)
  
• Strong Git practices and collaborative coding standards.
  
• A passion for and expertise in practicing data science to solve real-world problems.
  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills and enthusiasm for teamwork, as well as the ability to work independently.
  
• Familiarity with the enterprise AI platforms and governance models is a plus.
  
• Strong decision-making abilities, using data-driven insights to make informed choices that align with organizational goals.
  
• Skills in managing conflicts and facilitating effective resolutions to maintain a positive and productive team dynamic.
  
• Ability to engage with and manage expectations of various stakeholders, including executives, project managers, and other teams.
  
• Proficiency in identifying potential risks in data projects and implementing strategies to mitigate them.
  
• Strong commitment and ownership of project delivery.
  

Requirements
AI Data Engineer Copilot Studio Foundry Genie AgentBricks