Contract AI Software Engineer - SC Cleared

I’m currently working with an organisation delivering innovative AI and data solutions within the UK public sector, who are looking for an experienced AI Software Engineer to join an initial 3-month engagement on a part-time basis.

This is an opportunity to help shape how a new public sector organisation operates using AI from the outset, combining hands-on engineering with the design of AI-enabled workflows, governance and operating models.

THE ROLE

You’ll work as part of a collaborative engineering team, helping design and build practical AI solutions that can be tested with real users and developed to production standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and building LLM-based applications, AI agents and automated workflows.
• Developing AI infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code and establishing production-ready foundations.
• Evaluating cloud platforms, including AWS and Azure, and recommending appropriate solutions.
• Contributing to AI operating models, agent governance and decisions around human-led versus AI-assisted processes.
• Using agentic coding tools to accelerate development, while reviewing and maintaining code quality.
• Working directly with stakeholders, presenting technical solutions and demonstrating progress throughout delivery.
• Supporting discovery activities and turning research, interviews and documentation into useful, searchable evidence.

• Proven experience building and deploying LLM-based applications or AI systems in production.
• Strong Python or TypeScript development skills.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure.
• Hands-on experience with RAG pipelines, AI agents, tools and evaluation frameworks.
• Confidence engaging with clients and explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience delivering within government, defence or another regulated environment.
• Understanding of security, data handling and responsible AI practices.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Experience with AI operating models, enterprise architecture or AI governance.
• Background in service design, UX, user research or interaction design.
• Experience with human-in-the-loop systems and evaluating AI behaviour with users.
• Previous experience in law enforcement, defence, justice or wider public sector environments.
• Existing SC or DV Clearance (NPPV3 clearance is nice to have), * SC Cleared
• NSD
• Outside IR35
• AI Software Engineer
• LangChain
• LangGraph
• Python
• TypeScript