Data Science and AI Industrial Placement (Leeds)

At Lloyds Banking Group, data isn’t just something we store in the cloud. It’s the juice that keeps ideas flowing, decisions sharper, and progress unstoppable. Our Chief Data & Analytics Office has one mission: weave data, analytics and AI into every decision we make. The goal? Simple. Every choice, everywhere, driven by data.

As a Data Science & AI Graduate, you won’t be on the sidelines watching the algorithms run the show. You’ll be training models, crafting algorithms, deploying scalable solutions, and showing exactly what AI can do in the real world. Whether you’re optimising performance, unlocking insight or making predictions, everything you do will be rooted in data literacy, ethics and genuine business impact.

One year. Real impact

Throughout this placement, you’ll do everything a Data & AI Scientist does. And while you build out your technical expertise within a specific team from the outset, your impact will be felt throughout the business.

You’ll be placed in a team working on

• Cloud-native AI engineering and large-scale data platforms, leveraging Google Cloud technologies and modern coding practices to design, build and deploy intelligent solutions, helping the Bank innovate rapidly and deliver value at scale.

• Advanced analytics, statistical learning and decision intelligence, applying quantitative techniques to uncover patterns, generate insights and optimise outcomes, enabling more informed decisions for both the business and its customers.

• Machine Learning, predictive modelling and applied AI, developing, evaluating and operationalising models using state-of-the-art libraries and frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch and XGBoost, helping tackle complex challenges including in areas like fraud prevention, credit risk management and customer personalisation.

• Generative AI, Large Language Models and autonomous agent systems, building next-generation AI applications using foundation models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures and agent frameworks such as Google ADK and LangChain, helping transform how the Bank serves customers and empowers colleagues.

• Data engineering, MLOps and intelligent automation, creating resilient data pipelines, scalable deployment architectures and automated machine learning workflows using contemporary engineering and CI/CD practices, enabling AI solutions to operate reliably across the enterprise.

• AI assurance, evaluation science and model governance, designing rigorous testing, monitoring and validation frameworks for machine learning models and agentic systems, ensuring AI solutions remain robust, trustworthy and aligned to the Bank’s strategic objectives.

• Responsible AI, explainability and algorithmic governance, applying principles of fairness, transparency, interpretability and risk management throughout the AI lifecycle, helping maintain customer trust while delivering innovative AI capabilities.

Your skills toolkit

You’ll gain experience in:

• Python & SQL

• Cloud platforms like GCP

• Data Analysis

• Machine learning techniques, both theory and application

• Generative and Agentic AI

• AI Solution design and evaluation techniques

• CI/CD and DevOps

…all delivered through a commercial lens

Support in your corner

You’ll get:

• A chance to not just build on your existing knowledge but also grow in areas you’re interested in

• The opportunity to learn directly from software engineers and technical specialists who know what they’re doing

What you need to apply

• Be in your penultimate year at university.

• While we do not require a set minimum projected degree achievement, we strongly recommend the ability to be able to demonstrate sound knowledge, understanding and technical skills aligned to the role. Some aspects of this will be assessed through the application process.

• Knowledge of at least one modern programming language or framework.

• A genuine passion for technology and the drive to keep learning.

At Lloyds Banking Group, we’re driven by a clear purpose; to help Britain prosper. Across the Group, our colleagues are focused on making a difference to customers, businesses and communities. With us you’ll have a key role to play in shaping the financial services of the future, whilst the scale and reach of our Group means you’ll have many opportunities to learn, grow and develop.

We keep your data safe. So, we’ll only ever ask you to provide confidential or sensitive information once you have formally been invited along to an interview or accepted a verbal offer to join us which is when we run our background checks. We’ll always explain what we need and why, with any request coming from a trusted Lloyds Banking Group person.

We’re focused on creating a values-led culture and are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Together we’re building a truly inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.