AI Accelerator Lead

AI Accelerator Lead  

Salary  £79,079.00 - £92,258.00 

Hybrid working 50/50%

Southampton

My client is delivering world-class geospatial data and services that power innovation across government, business, and society. They are on a mission to unlock the full potential of location data and now, we’re accelerating that vision through artificial intelligence. 

The Opportunity 

Lead the establishment of  AI Accelerator - a strategic initiative designed to unlock enterprise-wide value from AI. This is a unique opportunity to combine technical leadership with programme-level influence, driving innovation through rapid prototyping, capability building, and cross-functional collaboration. 

You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team exploring advanced AI techniques such as geo foundation models, agentic systems, and LLM orchestration. Your goal: deliver high-impact prototypes that evolve into scalable, production-ready solutions, embedding AI in real-world contexts to reduce adoption friction and build organisational confidence in responsible AI use. 

What You’ll Do 

Programme Leadership: Design and operate the AI Accelerator as a structured, high-impact programme that drives experimentation, rapid prototyping, and capability development across the business

Exploration & Innovation: Investigate emerging AI techniques, identify high-value applications, and surface associated risks and opportunities for the business. 

Technical Delivery: Own the design and build of prototypes, write production-grade code, conduct code reviews, and guide the transition from concept to scalable solution. 

Capability Building: Mentor participants, energise the AI Guild, and curate learning resources to strengthen skills and foster a culture of responsible experimentation. 

Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with product, data, and technology teams to align initiatives with strategic priorities and ethical standards. 

Communicating Impact: Track and communicate outcomes, insights, and recommendations to senior stakeholders, informing roadmap decisions and future investment. 

About You 

• Proven experience in AI/ML engineering, software development, and technical leadership
• Strong understanding of modern AI techniques (LLMs, agentic systems, orchestration frameworks)
• Ability to write production-grade code and define engineering best practices
• Skilled in programme design, stakeholder engagement, and the evaluation of impact
• Passion for responsible AI adoption, including human-in-the-loop workflows and ethical application
• Familiarity with AI governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, and secure software engineering practices
• Ability to mentor, inspire, and influence across diverse teams 
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with emerging AI technologies and industry best practices

Why Join 

• Be at the forefront of AI innovation in geospatial technology
• Work on cutting-edge projects with real-world impact
• Enjoy a collaborative, inclusive culture with flexible working options
• Access to professional development, competitive benefits, and a supportive environment

The Rewards 

We want you to love what you do and feel supported to do your best work. 

Their benefits include: 

• Competitive salary and pension (contribute up to 12.07%) 

• Performance‑related bonus (where applicable) 

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service) 

• Enhanced family leave, including paid partner leave 

• Hybrid and flexible working options 

• Learning and development support, coaching and mentoring 

• Access to wellbeing support 

• Volunteering leave and matched fundraising