Forward Deployed AI Engineer - Associate Director

Forward Deployed AI Engineer - Associate DirectorLocation: London Other locations: Anywhere in Region Salary: Competitive Date: Sep 6, 2026At EY, we're all in to shape your future with confidence. We'll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.Job DescriptionThe Opportunity As an Associate Director in EY's Forward Deployed Engineering team, you will support the design, development, and deployment of AI-driven, data-centric solutions within strategic client environments. This role blends strong technical expertise with emerging leadership capabilities to contribute to business impact through collaboration with client teams and internal stakeholders.Key ResponsibilitiesClient Engagement & Solution SupportForward Deployment & Engineering ExecutionCommercial & Growth EnablementLeadership & Team CollaborationSkills and Attributes for SuccessAbility to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced client environments. Strong hands-on AI/ML engineering skills combined with emerging solution leadership capabilities. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Commercial awareness focused on delivering measurable business outcomes. Passion for AI, cloud-native architectures, and emerging technologies.Required Qualifications6+ years in software engineering, data engineering, or AI/ML solution delivery.Proven experience delivering scalable AI/ML solutions in client-facing or collaborative roles.Solid expertise in machine learning, generative AI, NLP, computer vision, data platforms, and big data technologies.Experience with cloud-native development, microservices, container orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker).Proficiency with cloud platforms: Azure, AWS, GCP.Familiarity with DevOps practices including CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible), monitoring, and logging.Exposure to agentic architectures, multi-agent orchestration, or cognitive harness patterns.Consulting or technical delivery experience with enterprise clients.Demonstrated ability to contribute to complex technical engagements and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.Preferred QualificationsKnowledge of MLOps, LLMOps, AI governance, ethical AI frameworks, and model interpretability tools.Industry-specific expertise (financial services, healthcare, energy).Experience supporting sales, pursuits, or account growth initiatives.What we offer youAt EY, we'll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We'll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams.