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 will 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.