Job Title: Director, Research Platform Engineering and AI

We are seeking a dynamic, visionary, and innovative professional to join our research technology team. In this role you will manage an established team of 20-30 engineers to manage and evolve our data science, business intelligence and Quantitative Portfolio platforms across AWS and On-prem environments. You will oversee usage analytics, data engineering, data product development, publication support, data science deliveries, while driving the GenAI initiatives.

This role requires a dynamic individual who can spreadhead AI innovation, and collaborate closely across lines of business to design, implement, and deliver AI-Driven solutions to enhance existing research data science platform capabilities. 

 As a technology manager, you will be responsible for both technical leadership, and people management, ensuring the team’s success in meeting research business goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership and Management:Lead and mentor a team of 20-30 developers and data engineers, providing guidance, fostering collaboration, and promoting a culture of innovation and continuous learning. Manage team performance, career development, and growth.Manage budget allocation for the team, tools, and cloud, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with project goals.Platform management and support:Oversee the operation, optimization, and scaling of data science and usage analytics platforms, both on AWS and On-prem, ensuring high availability and efficient resource utilization to support research analytics needs.Lead data engineering efforts to design and maintain efficient data pipelines, storage solutions, and large-scale data processing systems to support data-driven products and publications.Collaborate with research teams to productionize and deliver data products produced by various Research teams, including Quantitative Portfolio Strategy, Data & Investment Sciences and fundamental research analystsDesign, propose, develop, and establish key performance indicators to measure the success and impact of research solutions. Provide thought leadership on emerging technology trends and applications in CIB research.GenAI:Lead initiation, design, development, and execution of GenAI initiatives, including large language models and other AI technologies, while ensuring alignment of AI initiatives with broader business goals, regulatory standards, and data privacyCollaborate with research analysts to identify opportunities where AI can optimize data gathering, sentiment analysis, recommendation, and publication. Provide thought leadership on emerging AI trends and applications in CIB research.Collaborate with Dart (Rapid application development platform) engineering team to integrate GenAI models into existing templates and build repeatable, scalable infrastructure blueprints for rapid research application deployments.Define and implement best practices for AI models lifecycle management, including data ingestion, model training, validation, and monitoring.

Qualification and skills:

Proven experience managing large tech teams, with focus on monitoring, coaching, and developing talent in data engineering, data science and platform engineering.Strong background in managing, migrating, and scaling cloud-based data platforms and on-prem solutions.Proven experience in leading AI/ML projects, ideally within financial services or CIB research, with focus on Generative AI, LLM, NLP, and related technologies. Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and translate business needs into technical solution deliveries. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing technical execution with various teams and stakeholder needs.Strong experience in collaborating with rapid application development teams to build agile, scalable solutions. Expertise in Python, SQL, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or other related data science frameworks. Excellent leadership, communication, and project delivery skills, with a focus on cross-functional collaboration. 

This role offers a unique opportunity for an innovative and forward-looking professional ready to shape the future of research Data Science,  quantitative portfolio, and GenAI Platform. 

As a leader, you’ll guide the development and evolution of existing platforms while managing a diverse, talented team of engineers. You’ll be at the forefront of integrating GenAI and other cutting-edge technologies into our research technology footprint, influencing the future of our platforms.

Purpose of the role

To  lead and manage engineering teams, providing technical guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure the delivery of high-quality software solutions, driving technical excellence, fostering a culture of innovation, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align technical decisions with business objectives. 

Accountabilities

Lead engineering teams effectively, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture to achieve project goals and meet organizational objectives.Oversee timelines, team allocation, risk management and task prioritization to ensure the successful delivery of solutions within scope, time, and budget.Mentor and support team members' professional growth, conduct performance reviews, provide actionable feedback, and identify opportunities for improvement.Evaluation and enhancement of engineering processes, tools, and methodologies to increase efficiency, streamline workflows, and optimize team productivity.Collaboration with business partners, product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions and ensure a cohesive approach to product development.Enforcement of technology standards, facilitate peer reviews, and implement robust testing practices to ensure the delivery of high-quality solutions.

Director Expectations

Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.