Role Overview
Ada Mode is looking for a Principal Engineer / Data Scientist to take a leading role in delivering high-impact technical work for our clients and helping shape the future direction of the business.
This is a senior position for someone who combines strong engineering or data science capability with leadership, commercial awareness, and the ability to build trusted client relationships. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, oversee the delivery of complex projects, act as a key account lead for important clients, and contribute to strategic decision making across the company.
You will be comfortable operating at multiple levels: providing technical leadership to project teams, working closely with senior client stakeholders, identifying new opportunities, and helping guide Ada Mode’s growth as a business.
Key Responsibilities
Technical and Project Leadership
- Lead the delivery of complex engineering, AI, data science, and software projects for clients working in challenging industrial environments.
- Provide technical direction and delivery oversight to multidisciplinary teams, ensuring work is delivered to a high standard, on time, and within budget.
- Shape technical approaches that are rigorous, practical, and aligned to client needs.
- Support teams in solving difficult technical problems and provide hands-on input where appropriate.
- Ensure projects are delivered in line with quality, safety, governance, and regulatory expectations.
- Identify and manage technical, delivery, and commercial risks throughout the project lifecycle.
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and support engineers, developers, and data scientists across project delivery.
- Help develop Ada Mode’s technical capability by promoting high standards and supporting the growth of colleagues.
- Contribute to recruitment, team development, and resource planning as the company grows.
- Foster effective collaboration across technical disciplines and create an environment in which teams can do their best work.
Client and Account Leadership
- Act as a trusted senior point of contact for key clients and major accounts.
- Build strong, long-term relationships with client stakeholders by understanding their priorities, challenges, and ambitions.
- Ensure Ada Mode’s delivery remains closely aligned to client needs and broader strategic objectives.
- Help resolve project, commercial, or relationship issues in a constructive and professional way.
- Identify opportunities for follow-on work and support the growth of strategic client accounts.
Business Growth and Strategy
- Contribute to business development activity, including proposals, tenders, and client discussions.
- Help shape Ada Mode’s service offerings, technical direction, and market positioning.
- Represent Ada Mode externally in meetings, workshops, and industry events.
- Provide input to company strategy, helping inform decisions on growth, capability development, and delivery priorities.
Essential Skills & Qualifications
- Significant experience leading complex engineering, digital, software, and/or data science projects.
- Strong technical background in one or more of the following: engineering analysis, machine learning, optimisation, modelling, software development, digital twins, or applied data science.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering projects through their full lifecycle.
- Strong client-facing skills, with the ability to build credibility and trust with senior stakeholders.
- Commercial awareness and experience managing scope, delivery, risk, and client expectations.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to work effectively across technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience supporting business development, account growth, or proposal writing.
- Degree in engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, computer science, data science, or a related discipline.
- Ability to combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.
Desirable Skills
- Experience working in nuclear or other highly regulated sectors such as energy, utilities, aerospace, defence, or infrastructure.
- Experience applying AI or advanced analytics in real industrial settings.
- Chartered status, or working towards equivalent professional recognition.
- Experience deploying production-grade software or data science solutions.
- Familiarity with cloud platforms, MLOps, optimisation, simulation, or industrial digital systems.
- Experience contributing to service development, company strategy, or operational leadership within a growing business.
- An established network within one or more of Ada Mode’s target sectors.
Benefits
- DOE
- Competitive pension
- 33 days (including Bank Holidays)
- Flexible working arrangements
- Opportunity to play a leading role in a growing company
- Opportunity to shape major client relationships, technical delivery, and company strategy
Application
To apply for this role or for more information, please email careers@ada-mode.com with your CV and cover letter.