AI Platform Engineer

Barclays Group; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services organization in Glasgow is seeking an AI Platform Engineer to design and build a next-generation platform for AI-driven applications. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in Python, deep knowledge of AWS services, and expertise in scaling AI/ML workloads. This role is critical in shaping how AI is leveraged in financial services and offers an opportunity to work in a collaborative environment focusing on innovation and technical excellence.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Python engineering, focusing on backend and infrastructure tooling.
• Deep knowledge of AWS services and MLOps platforms.
• Hands-on experience with AI infrastructure and Large Language Models.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver high-quality software solutions using industry-aligned programming languages.
• Collaborate with product managers and designers to define software requirements.
• Implement effective unit testing practices for code reliability.

Skills

Python engineering

AWS services

AI/ML workload scaling

Secure software development

Communication of technical concepts

Guiding engineering teams

Tools

Databricks

SageMaker

Hugging Face libraries

Agentic frameworks

Job description

Join Us as an AI Platform Engineer – Shape the Future of AI at Barclays. We’re excited to launch a groundbreaking initiative at Barclays - building a next‑generation platform that empowers front‑office developers (Quants and Strats) to create high‑performance, AI‑driven applications. As an AI Platform Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in designing, building, and scaling robust platform components that enable advanced AI/ML workloads across both on‑premises and cloud environments.

This is a hands‑on engineering role where your expertise will directly influence how we deliver secure, scalable, and innovative solutions. You’ll collaborate with diverse teams, solve complex challenges, and help shape the technical direction of a platform that will transform how AI is leveraged in financial services.

Experience

• Proven experience in Python engineering, with a focus on backend and infrastructure tooling.
• Deep knowledge of AWS services (IAM, KMS, CloudFormation, API Gateway, S3, Lambda, ECS, Glue, Step Functions, MSK, EKS, Bedrock).
• Experience scaling platforms for AI/ML workloads and integrating generative AI tooling.
• Understanding of secure software development, cloud cost optimization, and platform observability.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrated capability to guide engineering teams and influence technical strategy.

Highly Valued Skills

• Experience with MLOps platforms such as Databricks or SageMaker, and familiarity with hybrid cloud strategies (Azure, on‑prem Kubernetes).
• Strong understanding of AI infrastructure for scalable model serving, distributed training, and GPU orchestration.
• Expertise in Large Language Models (LLMs) and Small Language Models (SLMs), including fine‑tuning and deployment for enterprise use cases.
• Hands‑on experience with Hugging Face libraries and tools for model training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Knowledge of agentic frameworks (e.g., LangChain, AutoGen) and Model Context Protocol (MCP) for building autonomous AI workflows and interoperability.
• Awareness of emerging trends in GenAI platforms, open‑source MLOps, and cloud‑native AI solutions.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job‑specific technical skills.

This role can be based out of our Glasgow or Canary Wharf office.

Purpose of the role

To design, develop and improve software, utilising various engineering methodologies, that provides business, platform, and technology capabilities for our customers and colleagues.

Accountabilities

• Development and delivery of high‑quality software solutions by using industry aligned programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Ensuring that code is scalable, maintainable, and optimized for performance.
• Cross‑functional collaboration with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define software requirements, devise solution strategies, and ensure seamless integration and alignment with business objectives.
• Collaboration with peers, participate in code reviews, and promote a culture of code quality and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed of industry technology trends and innovations and actively contribute to the organization’s technology communities to foster a culture of technical excellence and growth.
• Adherence to secure coding practices to mitigate vulnerabilities, protect sensitive data, and ensure secure software solutions.
• Implementation of effective unit testing practices to ensure proper code design, readability, and reliability.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.