About us

Fuzzy Labs is a fast-growing, Manchester-based tech consultancy that helps a diverse range of clients productionise machine learning using Open Source MLOps. We exist to help our customers harness and channel the power of AI safely and effectively, to make positive change and use AI for good.

Our work sits across the whole development lifecycle, from prototyping new machine learning models to building scalable and secure production ML systems, and everything in between. Our work spans disruptive startups, multi-national organisations, policing, and secure government sectors, providing you with the unique opportunity to make a tangible, real-world impact.

We’ve had considerable growth over the last few years and we’re looking to continue with this momentum as we build on our reputation as Open Source MLOps experts, expand our role within the community, and continue to deliver high-quality solutions to our clients.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced leader with a strong technical foundation to run delivery and grow the engineering team. The ideal candidate began their career in engineering, becoming exceptional at their craft before moving into leadership. You’ll know what good looks like because you’ve lived and breathed it, and you’re able to identify greatness in both technology and people.

To date, our CTO has managed delivery alongside other responsibilities, but this approach doesn't scale as we grow. The Head of Engineering role exists to take ownership of delivery, along with leadership across the technical team, while the CTO focuses on technical strategy and external presence. This means owning project delivery, technical standards, hiring, and the development of our engineering leads.

The role will evolve as we do. In the near term, you'll be hands-on: close to delivery, close to the team, building the foundations of a scalable engineering organisation. You'll work in close partnership with the CTO, together translating technical vision into operational reality. As Fuzzy Labs grows, so does the scope of this role. We're looking for someone with the ambition and capability to grow with us.

As well as being a great engineering leader, motivated by the chance to be at the forefront of AI, you’ll also enjoy being part of a culture that values:

Loving what we do: a real passion for Open Source, MLOps, and taking pride in our work.
Just trying it: MLOps is an exciting new field. We love to develop new skills, solve new problems and thrive on a challenge.
Being greater than the sum of parts: we are a team, one that isn’t just us but our customers and our community.
Positive impact: AI is going to change the world. We choose to use it for good and leave a positive legacy.

A typical week

You’ll take on a range of responsibilities, leading the delivery team through technically challenging projects, owning the team’s growth and development, building client proposals, and partnering with the CTO on technical strategy.

Delivery and quality

Own delivery across our project portfolio, including team allocation and project lifecycle management.
Work closely with lead engineers to guide technical decisions, ensure delivery quality, and enable the team to deliver.
Build relationships with customers, understand their needs, communicate project status, support the customer on an on-going basis and identify new opportunities.
Own our engineering standards, ensuring that they are consistently applied and evolve as we grow.
Drive internal engineering initiatives that raise the bar across the team, whether that's capability development, AI tooling adoption, reuse and efficiency, or building the frameworks and tools that make Fuzzy Labs a better engineering organisation.

People and growth

Act as line manager to the technical team leads and be responsible for their growth and progression.
Own the broader learning and development framework for the engineering team, working with the Chief People Officer to ensure the team is developing as it grows.
Own hiring within the engineering team, working with the leads, managing the hiring panel, and ensuring we hit hiring targets while maintaining a consistently high bar.

Commercial and pre-sales

Own the technical side of our commercial development. Take the lead on scoping new opportunities, help to shape technical proposals, and build lasting relationships with senior client stakeholders.
Represent Fuzzy Labs with clients, partners, and the wider technology community, building the relationships and reputation that support our commercial and hiring ambitions.

Qualifications

We’re looking for somebody who brings deep experience in both technology and leadership. You don’t need to be a seasoned practitioner in MLOps, but the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong foundation in production-grade software engineering, and the drive to apply your experience to the emerging field of MLOps.

A strong foundation in production-grade software engineering. Ideally, you’ll have worked in AI, ML, or MLOps before. However, we know that experienced leaders in this space are rare, and that’s why we’re open to candidates from a variety of engineering backgrounds. What matters the most is that you see the potential in MLOps and you’re motivated to make the shift into a new field.
Knowledge of current AI technology, particularly generative and agentic AI, and experience with using AI in your day-to-day work.
Experience leading engineering teams, including line managing other leaders. We’re looking for someone who made a deliberate and successful transition from engineering to leadership, with strong people instincts that allow you to build trust, nurture people, and hire great talent.
Experience in a consulting, agency, or heavily client-facing engineering environment.
Ability to communicate with clarity, helping customers articulate their needs, and translating complex technical thinking for different audiences. Equally effective internally: motivating, direct, and able to give constructive feedback.
A passion for AI, ML and open source technologies. You’ll already use AI tools as a matter of course in your work, side projects, and in how you think about problems.
Experience with agile software delivery.
Based in Greater Manchester, UK and able to be in the office 3 days per week.
Eligible for UK government security clearance.

Desirable

Experience building with generative AI, large language models, and AI agents.
Familiarity with modern machine learning tools, for instance TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch or SKLearn.
Familiarity with the principles and tools of MLOps.
Experience building or contributing to open source projects.

Benefits

By joining a growing company you’ll have the chance to make a real impact on its future. There’s plenty of room for growth and we’ll work with you to help you realise your technical and personal ambitions because your success and the company’s success are one and the same.

25 days holiday rising to 30 with each year of service
Enhanced family leave, including maternity, paternity and adoption leave
Healthcare cash plan
£500 annual personal development budget and AI assistant of your choice
Equity option scheme, giving you a genuine stake in the business
Hybrid working in a vibrant, central Manchester office
Cycle to Work Scheme and secure bike storage
Paid time off for charity and volunteering
Company socials, summer and Christmas parties

Location and Eligibility

As a hybrid-working organisation, we bring the team together in the office three days each week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and work remotely on the remaining days. We have found that regular, structured time in person enables us to make decisions more quickly, collaborate more effectively, and build the strong working relationships that underpin our work.

For that reason, being able to join us in our central Manchester office on those set days is an essential part of the role. At the same time, we recognise that personal circumstances vary. We aim to approach individual situations with flexibility and openness, and we’re always willing to have a conversation where specific needs arise.

Some travel within the UK will be expected, with expenses and accommodation covered by the company.

Finally, due to the sensitive nature of some projects, you will be required to undergo UK government security clearance after you start (at SC level - see this link for more information). This will include a credit check and criminal records check. As a result, we’re only able to consider candidates who have been resident in the UK for 5 years or longer.

Interested?

If you’d like to work with us, please use the link below.

Please include a few words about yourself and what interests you about the role, and a link to your Github (or Bitbucket, etc). If you’re on Kaggle, or have a tech blog, cool side-project, or an Instagram for your cat, dog, etc, send us that too!
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Apply now

Head of Engineering