Senior Agentic AI Engineer

Senior Agentic AI Engineer

Join the Digital Engineering Team at University of Exeter to shape the future of AI and digital technology in higher education, research, and professional services.

This full‑time role is available from 19/01/2026 to 17/01/2028 on a fixed‑term basis and offers hybrid working – some time on campus in Exeter and some from home (one day per week e’s campus).

• Lead the development and optimisation of AI applications and agentic tools that enhance university services and operations.
• Embed AI agents into existing platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Moodle) using secure APIs and integrations.
• Collaborate with IT and Digital colleagues, academic leads, service owners, and external partners to create innovative AI solutions.
• Maintain clear documentation for agent design, logic, inputs/outputs, and monitoring processes.
• Support ongoing monitoring of technology performance, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to technical documentation, risk assessments, and data protection impact assessments.
• Test for performance, inclusivity, accessibility, and compliance, working closely with Security, Information Governance and HR.
• Communicate the value and impact of complex AI and digital services to senior stakeholders.
• Mentor and coach team members, sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Stay up to date with industry advancements and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

• Degree‑level education (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field.
• Strong experience with at least one cross‑platform development framework (React Native or Flutter preferred).
• Demonstrable coding and digital development abilities.
• Understanding of prompt engineering, fine‑tuning foundation models, and responsible AI principles.
• Experience developing with AI tools such as CoPilot Studio, AWS Bedrock, OpenAI, or similar platforms.
• Experience embedding AI agents into platforms and maintaining technical documentation.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex AI concepts to non‑technical audiences.
• Proven ability to work in agile teams and contribute to iterative delivery.
• Commitment to ethical AI use, user empowerment, and community engagement.
• Industry‑standard IT certification or professional qualification.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), Dev Ops workflows, and accessibility/inclusive design in AI/UX.
• Experience in higher education, academic research, or complex public‑sector environments.

• 41 days leave per year.
• Options for flexible working.
• Numerous discounts at leading retailers.
• On‑site gyms on all campuses and a cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• Sector‑leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to six weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy.
• Stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England.

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces. While all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

Please contact Lead Developer David Hyde,  Additional background screening may be required.

The starting salary will be from £43,482 on Grade F, depending on qualifications and experience.

Apply by 22/12/2025.