> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3880862-data-and-ai-engineer-director-market-lead](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3880862-data-and-ai-engineer-director-market-lead). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Data and AI Engineer Director Market Lead - **Company:** ThoughtWorks - **Location:** Kettering, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £62,400.0 - £145,600.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Data Governance, Generative AI, Agentic-AI, Data Management - **Published:** October 23, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.totaljobs.com/job/data-engineer/thoughtworks-ltd-job108224834 ## About the Role Significant senior experience in data and AI consulting, typically 15+ years, with a track record in leadership roles. You are neither a pure solution architect nor a pure sales profile. Commercial track record History of selling multiple large-scale data and AI deals, ideally including recent GenAI or agentic engagements, and able to discuss deal shape, pricing structure, trade-offs and delivery and business value delivery in concrete terms. Technical expertise Strong solutioning background in complex ecosystems: data platforms and data products, data governance, and AI systems in production, including agentic and LLM-based systems. You understand failure modes, evaluation, cost and risk, not just architecture diagrams. Data/AI balance Roughly 70/30, with demonstrable recent depth in AI (last 2-4 years), for example AI agents, AI advisory or AI foundations with large UK clients. Data depth is the foundation, but hand on AI credibility is required. Tech stack . Commercial acumen Comfortable with P&L, business cases and ROI conversations, and able to negotiate with CFO-level stakeholders. Leadership Experience leading and scaling teams of this size, in a matrix, through change. * UK-wide remit. London-based candidates (or within about a two-hour commute) are preferred, with 1-2 days a week in the London office for collaboration and leadership visibility. * Weekly once or twice travel to customer location in UKI. ## Description Our delivery model is shifting from large time-and-materials teams to small, AI-first pods working against a business outcome. As Market Lead, you will shape how we take that model to UKI clients: what we sell, how we price it, and how we staff and deliver it. You will lead a core team of 5-6 direct reports and a wider matrix of around 50-75 people across UKI, and you will help them build the skills this shift requires. We are developing these ways of working together., * Drive commercial success on complex Data & AI deals across UKI, from shaping the opportunity through to a signed deal. This includes structuring fixed-price and outcome-linked commercial models, and understanding delivery cost, margin and risk. * Partner with tech advisory and industry domain leads from pre-sale through delivery, so the commercial story, the architecture and the sector insight reinforce one another. * Frame and test business-outcome hypotheses with executives, and define thin slices of delivery that prove value quickly. * You stay close enough to delivery to know what is realistic, and you share accountability for outcomes on the deals you sell. Practice leadership * Spearhead growth of the UKI Data & AI practice: build, lead, scale and mentor a high-performing team. * Work with delivery and talent leads to match demand with capacity, so the right people and pods are available when deals land. Keep specialist skills sourced and bench waste low. * Shift the practice's capability mix towards production AI engineering and agentic delivery, through hiring, reskilling and role-based onboarding. Client engagement * Manage executive-level relationships with CDOs, CIOs, CISOs and other CXOs. Act as a sparring partner on AI strategy: challenge assumptions, size the opportunity, and help clients decide where agentic automation and AI can move the P&L. * Build and manage robust sales pipelines and lead strategic client workshops. * Advise clients on responsible AI, covering risk, governance and regulatory expectations in the UK and wider markets. * Expected to lead and drive P&L with TCV of 50 -75 M GBP and ACV of 45-50 M GBP/ * Expected experience and capabilities in driving all P&L criterias including sales, margin, utilization, bench management, training, learning, partnership based sales etc.