Principal Engineer (Development)

Principal AI/ML Engineer - Technical Lead Manchester, UK (Hybrid or Remote) I’m currently partnering with a highly innovative AI company building advanced Computer Vision and visual intelligence technology deployed at global scale. The company is looking for someone who can take ownership of the entire AI production lifecycle - from raw data collection and training pipelines through to robust, production-ready models operating in demanding environments. The role is ideal for someone who combines deep technical expertise with a hands-on approach to engineering and leadership.

You will lead the design and evolution of the company’s AI production pipeline, covering data ingestion, organisation, annotation strategy, model training, validation, optimisation, deployment, and monitoring. The focus is on building industrial-grade Computer Vision systems that perform reliably outside the lab - with real constraints around latency, scalability, reliability, and throughput. You’ll work closely with Engineering, Product, and AI teams to ensure research and technical innovation translate directly into commercial impact.

You’ll have the autonomy to help shape the structure, standards, and direction of the AI/ML function, while hiring and developing a high-performing international team. Own and scale the end-to-end AI/ML production lifecycle Build high-performance Computer Vision systems for production deployment Define standards across MLOps, model quality, deployment, monitoring, and engineering best practice Improve the speed and efficiency of taking models from raw data to production Work cross-functionally with Product and Engineering teams on long-term technical strategy Hire, mentor, and grow AI/ML engineering teams across multiple locations Establish scalable team structures, workflows, and delivery processes within an Agile environment Proven track record delivering ML or Computer Vision products into production at scale Strong expertise across modern Computer Vision techniques and deep learning architectures Excellent Python and C++ engineering skills Experience optimising training and inference pipelines for real-world deployment Strong systems and engineering mindset alongside deep ML knowledge MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field preferred The company offers a strong engineering culture, high levels of technical ownership, and the opportunity to work on difficult AI problems with direct real-world impact.