Hybrid Lead AI Researcher

at Lloyds Banking Group

• Job title: Lead AI Researcher
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: £111,809 - £131,540 per year
• Degree requirement: Postgraduate Degree
• Tech skills: Cloud, Google Cloud Platform, Python, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn, Tensorflow
• Location requirements: Hybrid, London, United Kingdom

About the role

• Lead AI Researcher at Lloyds Banking Group advancing AI transformation through innovative technologies and ethical practices. Collaborates across teams to solve complex financial challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct hands-on, end-to-end research, developing novel AI, Machine Learning (ML), Generative AI (GenAI), and Agentic AI solutions and patterns.
• Set the technical direction and research roadmap for the AI team, translating complex business challenges and opportunities into a clear vision for AI development.
• Lead the full lifecycle of AI research projects, from formulating problems, ideation, proposing hypotheses, developing new algorithms/models to experimentations to validating outcomes and publishing results, ensuring high-quality impactful outcomes.
• Lead and work within cross-functional teams comprising of product managers, data scientists, ML/AI engineers, and business leaders.
• Act as a subject matter expert, present research findings at conferences and publish papers to advance the field.
• Coach and mentor junior AI researchers and engineers, helping to grow team capabilities and fostering a culture of continuous learning and curiosity.
• Partner with the Responsible AI team to embed robust ethical principles, bias mitigation techniques, and regulatory compliance into all AI development workflows.

Requirements

• Extensive experience developing and deploying AI systems and machine learning models in a production environment.
• Demonstrable experience in AI research, with a strong publication record in top-tier conferences and journals.
• Master’s or PhD (preferred) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or relevant STEM field.
• Deep knowledge of AI/ML concepts, algorithms, and techniques, including Generative AI, Agentic AI and reinforcement learning.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages, particularly Python.
• Expertise in AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch/TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, Statsmodels, LangGraph and ADK.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (preferably Google Cloud Platform and Vertex AI).
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with the ability to convey business information from technical subject matter.
• A high degree of ethical awareness, with an understanding of AI ethics, risk mitigation, and bias detection.
• Adaptability and a passion for continuous learning to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Benefits

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual bonus award, subject to Group performance
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• 30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top
• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies