Principal Machine Learning Engineer

About the job.

As part of the development of our Digital Services function, we are recruiting to strengthen our internal digital capability. These roles are central to building sustainable in-house expertise that supports the design, development, and delivery of digital solutions across the transport network.

A key focus of this campaign is creating new opportunities. As a result, we are recruiting a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to play a leading role in shaping the future of digital services across National Highways.

Our Digital Lab designs and manages innovative data products and services in-house, while building external partnerships and increasing adoption of our digital assets to improve customer journeys, support the Strategic Road Network, and enable emerging technologies such as connected and autonomous vehicles.

As Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you will lead the strategic direction, risk management, and continuous improvement of production AI/ML products and services that support critical business decision-making. Working closely with Digital Services teams and senior stakeholders, you will define and deliver machine learning strategies that maximise adoption and unlock value from our £69 billion data assets. You will ensure solutions are commercially sustainable, technically robust, and designed around user needs and experience.

This is a hybrid role based at any National Highways office location, with an expectation to attend the office for two days per week, including weekly travel to collaborate with the team

• Lead the Machine Learning Engineering team in the safe and effective operation of AI/ML products and services in production, maximising the value and adoption of data-driven decision making across the business.
• Own service performance and continuous improvement, ensuring robust IT Service Management, regulatory compliance, model risk management, ethical AI standards, and ongoing enhancements to user experience, efficiency, scalability, and cost of operation.
• Define and deliver the AI/ML Ops platform strategy and roadmap, implementing modern engineering practices and leading-edge techniques to enable rapid, scalable, and cost-effective delivery of machine learning services.
• Build and lead senior stakeholder relationships across directorates, working with Directors and business leaders to manage service performance, prioritise demand, shape delivery backlogs, and influence future digital strategy both internally and externally.
• Provide effective operational leadership of the team, ensuring adherence to governance and compliance frameworks including budget management, forecasting, business planning, delivery controls, data governance, audit, communications, and people policies.

About you.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credible relationships at senior levels, navigate complex environments, and secure positive outcomes across multiple priorities.
• Proven experience leading data innovation and systems integration, including developing and improving AI/ML products, platforms, or digital services that deliver measurable user and business value.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to turn insight into action, using evidence, data, and organisational priorities to shape plans, inform decisions, and drive successful outcomes.
• Excellent understanding of governance and risk management, with experience applying controls and standards across areas such as model risk, data governance, security, audit, and responsible or ethical AI.
• Commercial and operational leadership experience, including managing budgets, supplier performance, financial governance, and delivering cost-effective services or large-scale programmes that achieve value for money. 

About us.

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England’s motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership. 

The Digital Services Directorate is helping to reshape the way National Highways operates by delivering digital, data, and technology services across all areas, from frontline to back office, in a modern and efficient manner. Our vision is to develop integrated information and technology that empowers our colleagues and provides real-time information to our customers, as well as integrating with intelligent vehicle and transport systems as they evolve, to enhance journey safety and reliability. 

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy. 

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.