AI Technical Lead

About the role

Howden, a global insurance group, is moving from deploying AI tools to embedding AI into how the business works. The Group AI Function needs a technical authority: the AI Technical Lead owns architecture governance, leads the assessment of AI tools and vendors, and provides technical oversight of AI initiatives run internally and with external partners. It is an individual contributor role with direct access to senior stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Own the technical governance process for AI tools and platforms across the Group, lead Architecture Review Board submissions, produce architecture and security design documentation, and act as the AI function's technical representative alongside Enterprise Architecture.
• Lead the technical evaluation of inbound AI vendors and tools, building a repeatable, evidence-based assessment framework based on architecture fit, security, data governance and commercial sense.
• Provide technical oversight of AI delivery so quality is maintained, intellectual property is protected and the organisation builds internal capability rather than depending on third parties.
• Set and maintain technical standards for agent development, knowledge retrieval, prompt engineering and evaluation, and support colleagues and divisional AI leads.
• Act as a technical partner to the Head of AI, flagging risks and pressure-testing proposals.

Required profile

• Hands-on experience with large language models, retrieval systems and agent frameworks.
• Exposure to insurance or another regulated industry.
• Track record writing architecture or security design documentation.
• Ability to assess AI vendors and tooling rigorously and independently, and experience overseeing third-party AI delivery.
• Strong communication with engineers and senior leaders, and comfort working in a small, high-output team.

Required skills

• Cloud-native AI architecture experience.
• Experience with enterprise AI platform governance.
• Familiarity with AI evaluation and quality assurance approaches.

What we offer

• A permanent position in a small Group AI Function that works directly with senior stakeholders.
• Reasonable adjustments, including flexible hours or hybrid working where possible.