We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that’s the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!
Are you a seasoned AI expert ready to take your skills to the next level? Do words like Azure OpenAI, Cognitive Services, prompt engineering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures, vector stores, and API integrations make you light up inside? If so, we want to hear from you!
At 1st Central, we’re on an exciting journey with AI and Generative AI - and we’re looking for a Senior AI Engineer to help us shape the future. This isn’t just about writing code or building models (though there’ll be plenty of that too!). It’s about bringing smart ideas to life and making a real impact.
You’ll be at the heart of our AI strategy - from initial concept and prompt design, through development and testing, to deployment, production, monitoring and continuous improvement optimising cutting-edge AI solutions across the business.
One day you might be collaborating with our Data Scientists, Software Engineers and Architects on a new GenAI capability. The next, you’re fine-tuning prompts or experimenting with Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing (NLP). You’ll stay sharp on emerging trends in AI and push us to keep evolving and delivering state-of-the-art AI capabilities.
We’re big on flexibility. Our teams are spread across Salford Quays, Manchester, Haywards Heath, West Sussex and Guernsey, but most of us work from home most of the time. We think collaboration is pretty great though, so we like to get together now and then - just to keep those creative sparks flying. Prefer being in the office more often? That works for us too. We’re even open to remote working - all we ask is that you join us in person about once a quarter to stay connected and keep those face-to-face vibes alive.
Skills that make you a great fit:
- Proven experience designing, developing, deploying, and managing production-grade AI and Generative AI systems – You’ve taken projects from whiteboard to real-world impact, building solutions that are scalable, secure, and actually deliver value in live environments.
- Supporting the organisation in the ethical and responsible adoption of AI solutions – You’re not just technically skilled; you understand the importance of fairness, transparency, and trust in AI, helping 1st Central make smart and ethical decisions about how we use this tech.
- Proactively identifying opportunities to drive efficiency and productivity through Generative AI – You stay curious, spotting where GenAI can simplify processes, enhance experiences, or save time—and you know how to turn those ideas into working solutions.
What’s involved:
- Lead the design and implementation of AI engineering frameworks and standards, emphasising API integrations, Azure infrastructure, and Azure security & networking.
- Architect and develop AI and Generative AI solutions using services like Azure OpenAI and Azure Cognitive Services
- Implement prompt engineering techniques and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures.
- Ensure scalability, security, auditability, and efficiency of AI solutions through detailed system design and development practices.
- Deploy and manage AI solutions via CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps, emphasising automation, version control, and continuous integration.
- Develop and maintain automated frameworks for testing, validation, and monitoring of AI model accuracy, performance, and reliability.
- Establish best practices for AI data pipeline development and integration with infrastructure to support scalable deployment.
- Collaborate closely with Data Scientists, Data Engineers, Software Developers, and Architects for seamless execution of AI initiatives from concept to deployment.
- Engage with business stakeholders to align AI solutions with strategic objectives and identify opportunities for new AI applications.
- Foster AI adoption through the development and delivery of comprehensive training tailored to varied audiences.
- Share expertise through active participation in team discussions, knowledge-sharing sessions, and mentoring across teams.
- Ensure compliance with the Group Code of Conduct, company guidelines, and relevant regulatory standards at all times.
- Comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times
- Ensure compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times
Skills, qualifications, experience & knowledge:
- Proven experience designing, developing, deploying, and managing production-grade AI and Generative AI systems.
- Extensive experience with Cloud-based AI and Cognitive Services, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures.
- Deep expertise in API integration, preferably within the Azure ecosystem.
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) across development, testing, and production environments.
- Solid understanding of Azure networking principles, security frameworks, and infrastructure best practices.
- Practical experience applying agile methodologies to AI and software development projects.
- Comprehensive knowledge of Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices and tools (Azure DevOps preferred).
- Experience with microservices architecture, RESTful API development, and system integration.
- Prior experience in financial services or insurance sectors advantageous.
- Familiarity with AzureML, Databricks, related Azure technologies, Docker, Kubernetes, and containerization is advantageous.
- Advanced proficiency in Python, and familiarity with AI frameworks such as LangChain
- Skilled in designing and operationalising AI Ops frameworks within cloud-based production environments.
- Exceptional communication skills, clearly articulating technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational, time management, and prioritisation skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of quickly diagnosing and resolving technical issues.
Behaviours
- Embrace, embed and incorporate the company values
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic
- An organised and proactive approach
- Strong stakeholder management
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- A flexible approach and positive attitude
- Strives to drive business improvements to contribute to the success of the business
1st Central isn’t your average insurance business. We're tech-driven, people-focused, and always looking for smarter ways to do things. You'll have the space to innovate, experiment, and grow - plus work with some genuinely brilliant minds. This is your chance to work on meaningful AI projects, in a role where your ideas really matter! So what are you waiting for, hit that Apply button!
What can we do for you?
People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here.
Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.
