---
title: 'Lead / Principal AI Engineer at AKQA'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lead-principal-ai-engineer-akqa-london-qg2jfj24rdpy'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-02'
---

# Lead / Principal AI Engineer at AKQA

- **Company:** AKQA
- **Location:** London, United Kingdom
- **Posted:** 2026-10-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-02
- **Apply:** https://www.akqa.com/jobs/8336911/?gh_jid=8336911

## Job description

At AKQA (part of WPP), we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to design a better future. Our Technology teams combine engineering excellence, creativity and innovation to build intelligent digital products, platforms and experiences for some of the world's most ambitious brands.

As a Lead / Principal AI Engineer, you'll design, build and deliver production-grade AI systems, intelligent workflows and agentic solutions that power modern digital experiences. From consumer-facing applications and connected digital products to intelligent marketing platforms and bespoke enterprise tools, you'll turn emerging AI capabilities into reliable, scalable and commercially valuable solutions.

This is a highly hands-on engineering role within AKQA's London studio, combining deep technical expertise with architecture and technical leadership. You'll spend the majority of your time designing and building solutions, while also working closely with clients, creative teams, strategists and engineers to translate ambitious ideas into production-ready technology.

You'll bring a strong background in backend or platform engineering, alongside recent, practical experience delivering generative AI and agentic systems into live environments. You'll understand that building a successful AI solution goes far beyond a prototype, requiring robust architecture, evaluation, security, observability and careful management of cost, performance and reliability.

## ROLE REQUIREMENTS

- Architect, develop and deploy production-ready AI systems, including agentic workflows, multi-agent orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and intelligent automation solutions.
- Lead the technical design and implementation of AI-powered digital products, applications and platforms, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, reliable and maintainable.
- Design and integrate agent tools, APIs and Model Context Protocol (MCP) interfaces, enabling secure and efficient interaction with enterprise systems, databases and external services.
- Develop compound AI architectures combining large language models with specialised models, semantic search, classification, re-ranking and deterministic workflows to improve accuracy, performance and cost efficiency.
- Build robust evaluation frameworks, automated testing, guardrails and observability capabilities to monitor model behaviour, output quality, hallucinations, latency and operational performance.
- Apply strong engineering judgement to model selection, prompt engineering, structured outputs, fine-tuning and retrieval strategies, balancing technical requirements with commercial objectives.
- Design and develop backend services, APIs and integration layers using Python, TypeScript, Node.js and modern cloud technologies.
- Collaborate with front-end, mobile and product engineering teams to integrate AI capabilities into modern web applications, including React, Next.js and headless digital platforms.
- Implement effective strategies for managing token usage, caching, latency, rate limits, fallback mechanisms and graceful degradation across AI services.
- Establish CI/CD practices for AI systems, incorporating automated evaluations, regression testing, version control and reliable deployment processes.
- Work with cloud and model platforms such as Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI, OpenAI and Anthropic to design and deliver enterprise-ready solutions.
- Partner with creative, strategy, UX and technology teams to explore innovative applications of AI and translate concepts into technically feasible solutions.
- Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to engineering teams, promoting high standards of software quality, security and engineering best practice.
- Engage with clients and senior stakeholders to communicate technical approaches, explain architectural decisions and shape solutions that deliver meaningful business value.

## QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

- Significant experience in backend, platform or software engineering, with a strong understanding of distributed systems, microservices, asynchronous processing, API architecture and cloud infrastructure.
- Proven hands-on experience designing, deploying and maintaining generative AI or agentic systems in production, with a strong track record of delivering commercially deployed AI engineering solutions.
- Advanced proficiency in Python and/or TypeScript/Node.js, with a commitment to writing clean, testable and maintainable production code.
- Strong practical understanding of LLM architectures, agentic workflows, tool calling, RAG, embeddings, vector databases and hybrid retrieval techniques.
- Experience with agent orchestration frameworks such as LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, Vercel AI SDK or custom-built orchestration solutions.
- Demonstrable experience developing AI evaluation and observability capabilities, using tools such as LangSmith, Arize Phoenix, Braintrust, Helicone or OpenTelemetry.
- Strong understanding of software architecture, security, authentication, data management and enterprise integration patterns.
- Experience implementing automated testing and CI/CD pipelines, including unit, integration and regression testing, with an understanding of how to evaluate non-deterministic AI systems.
- Practical knowledge of cloud infrastructure and AI model ecosystems, including the operational considerations involved in deploying and scaling intelligent applications.
- Understanding of modern digital product development, including web applications, headless CMS platforms, APIs and front-end technologies.
- Ability to balance technical ambition with practical considerations around cost, latency, performance, security and maintainability.
- A curious and pragmatic approach to emerging technologies, with the ability to distinguish meaningful innovation from experimentation and identify where AI can deliver genuine value.
- Confident communicating complex technical concepts to clients and non-technical stakeholders, contributing to solution design and technical decision-making.
- Comfortable taking ownership of technical architecture while remaining actively involved in hands-on engineering and delivery.
- Experience working within a digital agency, technology consultancy or product-led environment, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams and managing client expectations.
- Exposure to fine-tuning smaller or open-weight models, such as Llama or Mistral, for domain-specific applications would be advantageous.
- Experience with design-to-code workflows, Figma integrations, design systems or generative user interfaces would be beneficial.
- A collaborative, proactive and technically curious individual who enjoys solving complex problems and delivering high-quality engineering solutions.

Explore our extensive range of benefits [here](https://www.akqa.com/studios/london/benefits/).

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

## About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit [WPP.com](http://wpp.com/).

## About AKQA

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: AKQA is a creative agency that combines imagination and technology to design and build transformative products, services, and experiences for the world’s most respected brands.
- **Entity Type**: Private subsidiary (owned by WPP plc)
- **Headquarters**: Not explicitly stated on company site; widely reported as London, UK (global presence across 19 countries and 30 locations)
- **Founded**: 1995
- **Founders**: Not publicly available on company site

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Creative agency, digital agency, innovation consultancy, experience design
- **Target customers**: B2B, enterprise clients (global organisations and institutions)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Create a better future” – the company states its primary motivation is to imagine and create what matters next, using imagination, technology, craft and speed to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

## Products & Services
AKQA operates through several specialised companies and practices:
- **Experience Design**: Designing digital products, services, and interfaces that are intuitive, beautiful, and culturally resonant.
- **Brand, Industrial Design and Architecture**: Creating brand identities, physical products, and spatial experiences.
- **App Development (ArcTouch)**: Building mobile and connected applications for clients.
- **Brand Experience and Communications (Made)**: Developing brand storytelling, campaigns, and communications strategies.

In addition, AKQA offers consulting, engineering, and innovation services as part of its core agency offering.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private subsidiary of WPP plc, a public company with a market cap of ~£9B as of mid-2025)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding not applicable (subsidiary); revenue not publicly disclosed for AKQA standalone. WPP’s Global Integrated Agencies segment (which includes AKQA) reported £12.3B in revenue for 2024.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company WPP plc; long-term clients include many of the world’s most prestigious organisations (specific names not listed on site).
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 83 Agency of the Year awards
  - 616 Cannes Lions won in the last decade, including multiple Grand Prix awards (Innovation 2025, Glass 2024, Digital Craft 2023, Design 2021)
  - Ranked 9th Most Loved Workplace in the World by Newsweek
  - Named Campaign’s 2023 Digital Agency Global Network of the Year
  - Winner of Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards (2021, 2022, 2024)
  - Led Gartner’s independent evaluation of Global Marketing Agencies for four consecutive years

## Competitive Advantages
- **Award-winning creative culture**: Consistently recognised at the highest levels of global creative competitions (Cannes Lions, D&AD, Webby Awards).
- **Global scale with local depth**: 30 studios across 19 countries, enabling seamless cross-border collaboration – over 70% of clients work with teams in multiple regions.
- **Long-term client relationships**: Trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, with a focus on enduring partnerships rather than project-based work.
- **Multidisciplinary expertise**: Combines strategy, design, engineering, and communications under one roof, allowing for integrated, end-to-end solutions.
- **Culture of innovation**: Emphasis on disciplined experimentation and “zero-to-one” breakthroughs rather than incremental change.

## Strategic Focus
- **Continuing to lead at the intersection of imagination and technology**, with a strong focus on AI, digital craft, and emerging technologies.
- **Becoming the employer of choice** in the creative and innovation industry, as stated on the company’s careers page.
- **Driving growth for society, clients, people, and values** – the company describes itself as “ambitious, growth-oriented” with a commitment to sustainability and equity.
- **Expanding its global footprint** and deepening capabilities through its specialised companies (ArcTouch, Made, etc.).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture highlights**: Recognised as a Great Place to Work and a Best Workplace for Innovators by Fast Company. Newsweek ranked AKQA the 9th Most Loved Workplace in the World.
- **Employee Resource Groups**: Active communities including WE (Women’s Empowerment), BOLD (LGBTQIA+), MIND (mental health), API (Asian & Pacific Islander), and a DEI Council.
- **Learning and development**: AKQA Insight platform offers talks and courses from internal and external experts; formal training programs and WPP Professional Development are available.
- **Mental health and physical wellbeing**: Resources include yoga, meditation, self-care resources, and a focus on disease prevention and resilience.
- **Remote/hybrid policy**: Not explicitly stated on site; the company has physical studios worldwide and emphasises in-person collaboration, though some flexibility may exist depending on role and location.
- **Purpose-driven work**: The company’s stated goal is to “create a better future,” and it backs this with sustainability initiatives and community engagement (e.g., Future Lions competition, Future Academy internship program).
- **Diverse and inclusive environment**: The company is committed to “fostering a varied and equitable work environment” and takes active steps toward equity and representation.

## Sources
1. [AKQA Careers Overview](https://www.akqa.com/careers/)
2. [Working at AKQA](https://www.akqa.com/careers/working-at-akqa/)
3. [AKQA Companies](https://www.akqa.com/companies/)
4. [AKQA Culture](https://www.akqa.com/culture/)

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