Principal Software Engineer, AI Innovation

Salary: £60,000 - 100,000 per year

Requirements:

• Extensive experience in software engineering and AI innovation with a broad full-stack skillset.
• Proven track record of working on early-stage or 01 products, shaping direction rather than only executing defined requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguity and collaborate cross-functionally with UX, Product, and external partners.
• Proven track record in partner co-development and technical delivery.
• Deep expertise in software architecture, cloud, and emerging AI technologies.
• A career history showing adaptability across products or problem spaces.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to identify, assess, and co-develop AI-driven innovation opportunities.
• Shape and prototype early-stage ideas, taking undefined problems and helping define what gets built.
• Lead technical feasibility reviews and shape architecture for enterprise-scale AI initiatives.
• Decide how projects are executed — whether built internally, handed off to partners, or scaled through dedicated delivery teams — and drive that execution.
• Build and prototype across the full stack using modern tools and infrastructure.
• Guide multiple engineering squads, ensuring execution of the co-innovation strategy and measurable business impact.
• Collaborate closely with UX and Product to deliver differentiated, cross-functional solutions.

Technologies:

• AI
• Cloud
• UX UI Design
• AI Agents
• API
• Architect
• Backend
• DevOps
• Frontend
• Machine Learning
• Security

More:

We are building a new, innovation-focused team from scratch within Pearsons Enterprise Innovation function. Our mission is to drive early-stage, high-impact innovation initiatives by solving customer problems, supporting strategic deals, and co-innovating with external partners. This is a full-time founding engineer role for a Principal Software Engineer, AI Innovation, at our E35 Principal, Expert Track level, with a focus on advanced AI solutions, architecture decisions, and cross-functional delivery.

last updated 36 week of 2026