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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # AI Technical Lead - **Company:** London Construction Jobs - **Location:** Greater London, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems, Cloud Engineering, Data Governance, AI Infrastructure, Large Language Models, Multi-Agent Systems, Prompt Engineering, IT Architecture, AI Platforms - **Published:** September 10, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.collegerecruiter.com/job/2859572966-ai-technical-lead ## About the Role * Hands-on experience with large language models, retrieval systems, and agent frameworks * Exposure to insurance or another regulated industry * Cloud-native AI architecture experience * Experience with enterprise AI platform governance * Track record writing architecture or security design documentation * Familiarity with AI evaluation and quality assurance approaches * Ability to assess AI vendors and tooling rigorously and independently * Experience overseeing third-party AI delivery * Strong communication - equally comfortable with engineers and senior leaders * Previous work in an architecture review or governance context * Intellectually curious, low-ego, and comfortable moving fast in ambiguous conditions * Experience in a small, high-output team ## Description * Architecture governance: Own the technical governance process for AI tools and platforms across the Group. Lead Architecture Review Board submissions, produce architecture and security design documentation, and work alongside Enterprise Architecture as the AI function's technical representative. The goal is coherent, well-governed AI infrastructure - not a patchwork of unconnected tools. * Vendor and tooling assessment: Lead the technical evaluation of inbound AI vendors and tools. Build a repeatable assessment framework that gives the Head of AI a clear, evidence-based view of what to adopt, what to decline, and where to build instead. Ensure that tooling decisions are grounded in architecture fit, security, data governance, and commercial sense - not just functionality. * Oversight of AI delivery: AI initiatives are running across multiple divisions, and external partners are actively involved in delivery. This role provides the technical oversight that ensures quality, protects Howden's IP, and prevents the organisation from becoming dependent on third parties for capability it should own internally. This isn't a hands-off review role - it requires enough depth to challenge, guide, and take accountability for outcomes. * Technical enablement: Set and maintain technical standards for how AI is built across the business - covering areas like agent development, knowledge retrieval, prompt engineering, and evaluation. Support colleagues and divisional AI leads who are building or deploying AI, and translate technical constraints into practical guidance that people can actually use. * Technical partnership to the Head of AI: Provide the technical grounding that allows the Head of AI to make well-informed decisions quickly. This means flagging risks, pressure-testing proposals, and being a genuine thought partner - not just an executor. The function is small and the relationship needs to work closely., Over the first year, success in this role means: Architecture governance runs smoothly - new tools are assessed, documented, and reviewed without creating bottlenecks or risk. A repeatable vendor assessment process is in place and being used consistently. Technical oversight of external delivery partners is formalised and effective. AI standards and best practices are being adopted across the business, not just documented. Howden is demonstrably building internal AI capability rather than outsourcing it. The Head of AI has a technical partner who makes decision-making faster and better., The Group AI Function is deliberately small. We work directly with senior stakeholders, operate across the whole Group, and move between strategy and execution without much ceremony. The Head of AI reports to the Group CTO and works closely with divisional leadership. The pace is real and the problems are interesting. The culture values getting things right over looking right. Direct, honest, curious - and not precious about hierarchy or process for its own sake. The role carries real scope from day one and genuine influence over how the function and the broader AI capability develops., We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*. If you'd want to know more, reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more. ## Related Videos - [This App Reached 10,000 Users in One Week. 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