Job Specifications
VP of Engineering - AI (Hands-On | LLMs | RAG | Multi-Agent Systems)
London
Early-stage tech company
Permanent
About the Role
We are hiring a hands-on VP of Engineering - AI to lead the development of a next-generation AI automation platform. This is a rare opportunity to join an early-stage, high-growth environment where you will own the architecture, delivery, and scaling of complex LLM-driven systems - while still writing production code daily.
If you’re a builder, a problem-solver, and someone who prefers shipping over managing layers of teams, this role is built for you.
What You’ll Do
Build and ship end-to-end AI products using Python (core) and supporting Node.js services.
Architect and implement LLM, RAG, workflow automation, and multi-agent systems.
Design scalable pipelines (embeddings, vector databases, retrieval, orchestration, agents).
Lead engineering direction while staying hands-on (~80% coding).
Work directly with founders to define roadmap and deliver high-impact features.
Set high engineering standards (testing, reliability, observability).
Grow and mentor a small, elite engineering team as the business scales.
Solve real-world operational problems through AI-driven automation.
Required Experience
To succeed in this role, you must have:
Technical
Deep, hands-on Python expertise (production-level)
Strong Node.js experience
Proven experience shipping LLM-based products
Real examples of:
RAG systems
Multi-agent or agentic workflows
Embeddings & vector databases
LLM orchestration
Model evaluation & performance tuning
Ability to architect from scratch in a lean environment
Background
Recent startup / scaleup experience (Seed–Series C preferred)
Strong academic record
UK: Russell Group / Top 20 university
Overseas: Top 100 global university
Experience building in small, high-output teams
Evidence of ownership
Stable tenure (avoid frequent hopping)
Ways of Working
Must be willing to work 5 days per week onsite in London
Thrives in fast-moving, unstructured, founder-led environments
Bias for action, rapid experimentation, and iterative delivery
Nice to Have
Experience with telephony, workflow automation, or real-time systems
MLOps / DevOps experience (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, GPU optimisation)
TypeScript or full-stack background
Multi-modal models or speech pipelines
Why This Role?
Work on real AI challenges that blend automation, LLMs, and workflow intelligence
Zero bureaucracy - immediate ownership and autonomy
Build from first principles, not maintain legacy systems
Be part of a small, high-calibre engineering group with direct founder impact
Ship quickly, iterate fast, and see your work used instantly
If you’re a builder at heart, love coding, and want to own the future of AI automation, we’d love to hear from you.
How to apply?
Send a CV to kacey.norris@experis.co.uk
About the Company
Experis is a global leader in IT professional resourcing, project solutions, and managed services specializing in Business Transformation, Enterprise Applications, Cloud and Infrastructure, Digital Workspace and Cyber Security. As digital transformation and acute skills shortages in tech continue unabated, Experis provides talent with the powerful combination of in-demand technical skills together with the soft skills that are critical for business success. We can connect you to individuals with a specific skill set, manage ...
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