Lead AI Engineer - Contract

Lead AI Engineer - ContractSR2 is proud to be supporting a flagship UK government AI programme, delivering a first-of-its-kind, citizen-facing solution at a national scale. This is an opportunity to step into the Lead AI Engineer role, taking ownership of the architecture and delivery of advanced agentic AI backends.What you'll do

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable agentic AI systems using modern frameworks.
• Architect and develop autonomous agents with planning, reasoning, and execution capabilities.
• Build and experiment with multi-agent systems that collaborate effectively.
• Develop agent memory systems and knowledge management tools.
• Evaluate, prototype, and select emerging AI technologies for experimental use cases.
• Apply open standards (e.g. MCP) to ensure interoperability across platforms.

What we're looking for

• Proven experience in building agentic backends - able to describe the purpose of applications delivered, the tech stack/frameworks used, and your direct contributions.
• Strong Python development skills (5+ years), with solid software engineering foundations.
• Demonstrable track record in experimental AI research and applying emerging frameworks.
• Innovative problem-solver, comfortable leading technical direction in complex environments.
• Active SC clearance or eligibility to obtain.

Why this role? This is a unique, long-term programme at the cutting edge of government AI, combining innovation, scale, and meaningful public impact. You'll be at the heart of shaping a system that could transform citizen-facing services across the UK.