Principal Software Engineer (AI)

Department: Tech - AI and Data Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Oxford, UK

Please note that we are open to considering candidates who require visa sponsorship (subject to eligibility and company approval)

Aurora helps governments, investors, and utilities make billion-dollar decisions on the journey to net-zero. Based in Oxford, you will work in a dynamic and growing engineering organisation that builds cloud-based software to track and model power grids around the world.

As a Principal Software Engineer on the AI team you will build systems where LLMs autonomously plan, and call tools, to navigate large, multi-dimensional, fast-evolving data. Your work will amplify the value of Aurora's data, models, and forecasts to researchers, investors, and policy makers around the world, and directly impact the decisions that drive the decarbonisation of grids around the world.

You will work in a small, fast paced team that releases changes multiple times a day. The successful applicant will be an excellent problem solver, a strong team player, and a proven ability to take big projects from conception to production.

• Manage a team of Software Engineers and Data Scientists
• Own projects from end-to-end, from first conversations with users through to production systems
• Work with modelling and data teams to embed proprietary insights into production systems
• Deploy agentic systems that enable fast, multi dimensional, data driven decisions

Required attributes:

• 10+ years developing impactful, mission critical backend systems
• The ability to work in fast paced, high ownership environments
• Excellence in one or more language (we mostly use Python)
• Strong discipline in testing and automation
• Experienced, judicious user of AI coding tools
• Previous experience managing teams of 5+ engineers
• An exceptional team player - low ego, high initiative
• Genuine interest in the transformation of energy markets and infrastructure

Desirable attributes:

• Hands on experience building LLM based systems
• Experience testing non deterministic systems
• Understanding of statistics and inferential methods
• LangGraph, RAG, MCP, MLOps, IaaC, AWS

• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Parental Support
• Salary Exchange Pension
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Local Oxford Discounts
• Cycle to work Scheme
• Flu Jabs

At AER, we are committed to offering flexibility in the way we work. Most of our roles are hybrid with a mix of in office/home working and potentially adjustable working hours. Let's discuss what works for you and AER during the interview process.

The Company is committed to the principle that no employee or job applicant shall receive unfavourable treatment on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity.