Lead, Data Science

Job Summary

• We seek a senior AI software engineer to architect and develop the technical foundation of our AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE). This role focuses on hands‑on engineering of Python‑based AI platforms and products, from secure development through model deployment and production operations in a regulated banking environment. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to transform prototypes into compliant, scalable, reliable systems that deliver measurable business value.

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Define the AI engineering vision for the AI CoE; translate business priorities into executable, value‑driven delivery plans.
  • Help establish standards for AI software engineering excellence: secure SDLC, architecture, technical design, coding conventions, documentation, and inner‑source practices.
  • Drive a product mindset: clear backlogs, fast iteration cycles, and outcome‑based KPIs.
• Platform & Architecture (Python Full‑Stack)
  • Design and implement reusable Python modules in the backend.
  • LLM, RAG/Graph
    
    RAG services, agent orchestration, prompt/version management, evaluation frameworks, guardrails, and content moderation.
  • Data/feature/vector stores; retrieval pipelines;
    Text‑to‑SQL and tool‑calling services.
  • Develop API and event‑driven architectures (REST/gRPC/FastAPI; Kafka/Pub Sub), microservices, and front‑end integration (React/Type Script/Next.js).
  • Engineer for non‑functional excellence: performance optimization, cost efficiency, resiliency, observability, and operability (SLOs, error budgets).
• E2E Productionization in Banking
  • Execute technical implementation from PoC → MVP → production, including code development, testing, and deployment automation.
  • Build robust CI/CD & Git Ops pipelines (build/test/scan/sign/release) for Python services, models, and data pipelines across hybrid infrastructure (Kubernetes/Open Shift; on‑prem & cloud).
  • Implement evaluation frameworks (offline/online A/B tests, drift/guardrail monitors) and model validation systems.
  • Develop automated testing suites, performance benchmarks, and monitoring solutions.
• Security, Risk & Compliance
  • Ensure data privacy, secrets, access control, and lineage; enforce SAST/DAST/SCA, container/image signing, SBOMs, data contracts, and audit trails.
  • Align delivery with bank governance (model risk, data privacy, records retention, third‑party risk); streamline approvals with evidence‑backed automation.
  • Champion safe‑by‑design AI: red‑teaming, prompt‑injection defenses, eval suites, and incident playbooks.
• Operations & SRE for AI
  • Direct and help stand up AI‑SRE practices: golden signals, Open Telemetry instrumentation, autoscaling, canary/blue‑green deploys, shadow traffic, and rollback strategies.
  • Establish runtime cost/latency optimization (token budgets, caching, distillation/quantization, routing).
• People & Stakeholder Management
  • Build and mentor high‑performing teams (managers, leads, ICs) across backend, data/ML, and front‑end disciplines.
  • Partner with COE CPO, Data science team, CDO, AI platform, Security, Cloud, Data Platform, and Business Lines to unblock delivery.
• Strategy
  • Deep technical understanding of AI CoE strategy and ability to translate into engineering solutions.
• Business
  • Technical comprehension of AI model operations and their business applications within the Group.
• Processes
  • Hands‑on development and implementation of Machine Learning/GenAI models and supporting infrastructure.
• People & Talent
  • Technical mentoring and knowledge sharing with engineering teams.
• Risk Management
  • Technical implementation of ML model controls, monitoring systems, and risk mitigation measures.
• Governance
  • Engineering of Responsible AI controls and compliance automation for developed models.
• Regulatory & Business Conduct
  • Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
  • Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank; ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
  • Effectively and collaboratively identify, elevate, mitigate, and resolve risk, conduct and compliance…