Programme Technical Lead - High Assurance AI

About CommonAI CIC

CommonAI CIC is redefining deep-tech AI solutions through collaborative engineering and shared infrastructure. Working at the intersection of AI, cloud and large-scale infrastructure, we partner with commercial, government and research entities to accelerate AI adoption across the UK and Europe. Backed by UK Government and private funding, our team of experienced founders and engineers is building the future of AI systems. Its members include ARIA, Barclays and a fast-growing group of deeptech startups.

The Opportunity

Highly regulated industries like financial services need guaranteed, predictable outcomes that today's large language models cannot provide on their own. Our High Assurance programme will develop AI systems which can be used safely in environments where accuracy and explainability are critical building blocks in creating a required level of trust.

The programme is exploring several approaches, including:

• Formal methods and verification: proofs that an AI system must satisfy before it can act.
• Domain-specific small language models for regulated use cases.
• AI control platforms that govern how AI systems behave in production.

The programme launched recently, with Barclays as its lead member and held its first workshop, "Towards Trustworthy Harnesses", with members, academics and domain experts.

The Role

We are looking for a Programme Technical Lead to drive execution of the High Assurance AI Programme. The programme already has an academic architectural lead; this role turns the programme's research direction into delivered engineering, working closely with the architectural lead, our Chief Science Officer and our members. You will report to the CTO and build and lead the programme's engineering team.

What you will do

• Own delivery of the programme's technical roadmap, from research direction to working infrastructure.
• Build, hire and lead an engineering team based in Cambridge.
• Translate the needs of regulated industries into clear technical requirements, making sure the programme solves the problems which matter to members.
• Bring members, researchers and partners together around a shared roadmap.
• Work with the architectural lead to evaluate approaches such as formal methods, AI control and small language models and decide what to build.
• Represent the programme technically with members and partners.

Requirements

We do not expect anyone to have all of the experience below. Deep expertise in one area, combined with the ability to work across the others, matters more than ticking every box.

Essential

• Understanding/experience of processes/workflows (and their associated constraints) in the financial services industry, particularly banks.
• Understanding of how AI is or might be used, governed or assured in a regulated industry, ideally financial services (for example model risk, AI governance or controls).
• Experience with PyTorch or other similar frameworks.
• Enough technical depth to engage credibly with ML researchers and understand the problems the programme needs to solve, without needing to be the person who writes the proofs or algorithms.
• Ability to bring together organisations with different priorities and build a shared plan.

Desirable

• Experience leading an engineering team and driving delivery in a technical, research-driven environment.
• Experience with formal methods, verification, AI safety, AI assurance or AI control.
• Experience with small or domain-specific language models.
• Relationships with banks, insurers or regulators.
• Experience in a startup, or building a new product, or independent project / research that has resulted in software used by others.

Benefits

• Lead a new programme at the boundary of research and industry, helping to solve tough challenges such as how AI can be used safely in critical industries.
• High-impact role in a rapidly growing, well-funded organisation.
• Mission-led work for the public good, released over time as managed open source.
• Competitive salary, pension, healthcare and benefits, including company share scheme.
• Networking opportunities with leaders across tech and academia.
• Vibrant office situated near to Cambridge train station.