Job description

Principal Research Engineer

Location: London
Reports to: Head of R&D
Line Reports: Senior Research Engineer
Key Linkages: CTO, Principal Legal Solutions Engineer, Head of Product

As the Principal Research Engineer for our esteemed client, you wil an ultimate legal AI platform. You will lead the R&D function's efforts in leveraging advanced data science techniques, particularly focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs), to drive innovation and pioneer cutting-edge legal technology products.

You will play a crucial role in shaping and executing our client's R&D strategy, leading impactful projects, and collaborating closely with their product and engineering teams to seamlessly transition prototypes into product-ready solutions.

Key Responsibilities

As the Principal Research Engineer, you will:

Establish and lead the R&D function's research engineering team, collaborating with the Head of R&D to define the vision and strategic direction for leveraging AI in product innovation.
Conduct pioneering research and development utilizing LLMs and other technologies to create innovative prototypes addressing critical user needs within the legal domain.
Engage directly with customers to deeply understand their needs and challenges, utilizing this insight to drive our client's R&D program forward.
Collaborate with legal solutions, product, and engineering teams to align R&D initiatives with broader development goals and ensure effective transition of prototypes into scalable solutions.
Mentor and develop the data science team, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, professionalism, and excellence.
Engage with internal stakeholders across the organization to share insights and ensure R&D priorities align closely with our client's strategic objectives.
Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of R&D projects.
Serve as a key advocate for the adoption of advanced data science and AI technologies within the legal research and legal technology community.

Qualifications and Experience

Master's-level degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.
Minimum of three years' experience in a legal environment, such as a law firm or legaltech company, with a deep understanding of the legal industry.
Proven experience leading teams of data scientists across diverse projects.
Extensive expertise in data science, particularly in natural language processing, LLMs, search, and retrieval.
Track record of successfully leading R&D projects from concept to productization.
Proficient in communicating technical concepts and ideas to various stakeholders.