Artificial Intelligence Developer Hiring Trends in United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Jul 13, 2025

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Artificial Intelligence Engineers job market in the United Kingdom has exhibited significant volatility, with job postings peaking at 125 in week 22, driven by an increasing demand for Artificial Intelligence Developer opportunities.
A total of 116 closed job positions in week 17 demonstrates the urgent need for qualified candidates, suggesting recruitment strategies for CTOs in the UK's tech sector must be both agile and proactive.
London dominates the Artificial Intelligence job market, representing 88% of openings, with 2,791 positions available, followed by Leeds at 4% and Cambridge at 2%, emphasizing the critical hiring landscape in major cities.
With 51% of positions at the Mid-Senior level and only 6% at the Associate level, hiring managers should focus on attracting experienced professionals while remaining open to emerging talent in the Artificial Intelligence domain.
The median time to hire for Artificial Intelligence Engineer roles in the UK is currently 28 days, highlighting the competitive nature of the market and emphasizing the need for streamlined recruitment strategies for attracting top talent.

Number of roles opened and closed for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

In the United Kingdom, the Artificial Intelligence Engineers job market has experienced notable volatility over the recent weeks, with job postings peaking at 125 in week 22. This surge reflects an increasing demand for Artificial Intelligence Developer opportunities in the UK, especially when compared to previous weeks where openings averaged around 40. However, closed job positions have also been significant, with a striking total of 116 in week 17 alone. The difference between newly posted and closed jobs indicates an urgent demand for qualified candidates, suggesting recruitment strategies for CTOs in the UK's tech sector should be agile and proactive. This trend contrasts with other European countries, where the hiring landscape for Artificial Intelligence roles has remained more stable, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for hiring managers in the UK.

Who else is hiring for ai Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Harnham	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2006	16
Meta	United States	Information Technology & Services	2004	10
Huawei Technologies Research & Development (UK) Ltd	null	null	null	10
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	9
Mistral AI	France	Information Technology & Services	2023	9
Oliver Bernard	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2010	8
PhysicsX	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2019	7
The Investigo Group	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2023	7
Understanding Recruitment	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2007	6
Sony Interactive Entertainment	United States of America	Entertainment Providers	null	5

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Talent pool vs job openings for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in United Kingdom

How competitive it is to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers in United Kingdom

The talent market for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in the United Kingdom presents a challenging environment for hiring managers, as indicated by the ratio of job openings to available talent. With a significant number of job openings, UK recruiters face stiff competition due to a relatively smaller talent pool compared to other European countries. For instance, Germany and France showcase a more favorable ratio, offering a larger pool of qualified candidates per available position, making it easier for hiring managers to attract top talent. In contrast, the UK's tighter market emphasizes the importance of developing effective recruitment strategies for CTOs and engineering managers to secure the best Artificial Intelligence Developer opportunities. As the future demand for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in the United Kingdom continues to rise, savvy hiring practices will be essential to navigate these emerging hiring trends.

Seniority distribution of Artificial Intelligence Engineer job openings in United Kingdom

Seniority Distribution of Artificial Intelligence Engineering Jobs in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom's Artificial Intelligence job market, the seniority distribution reveals that 51% of positions are categorized as Mid-Senior level, followed by 23% at the Entry level and 6% as Associate roles. This distribution indicates a robust demand for experienced professionals, while also highlighting opportunities for emerging talent. Hiring managers should consider these trends when developing recruitment strategies to attract the right candidates, particularly in the evolving field of Artificial Intelligence.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the employment type distribution for engineering roles illustrates a significant preference for full-time positions, comprising 91% of the total job market. Contract roles follow, accounting for 8% of opportunities, while part-time positions represent another 2%. This data highlights the strong demand for stable employment in the Artificial Intelligence job market in the United Kingdom and signals to hiring managers the need for robust recruitment strategies to attract talent effectively.

Time to Hire Distribution for Artificial Intelligence in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

The time to hire for Artificial Intelligence Engineer positions in the United Kingdom shows a notable distribution, with a majority of hiring processes falling within the 20 to 30-day range. Specifically, 260 positions were filled within 25 days, while 311 roles were secured within 30 days, indicating a robust recruitment pace in this segment. Conversely, there are fewer instances of extended hiring processes, with only five positions filled beyond the 100-day mark. These trends underline the competitive landscape for Artificial Intelligence talent in the UK, highlighting the importance of streamlined recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers in the tech sector aiming to secure top candidates.

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Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

In the United Kingdom's Artificial Intelligence job market, London stands out as a significant hub, accounting for 88% of job openings, with 2,791 positions available. Following London, Leeds constitutes 4% of the market, offering 336 opportunities, while Cambridge accounts for 2% with 184 roles. This concentration highlights London's dominance in attracting talent for Artificial Intelligence Engineers, making it a critical location for hiring managers and recruiters aiming to fill such roles.

Most sought after technologies in United Kingdom for Artificial Intelligence

Key technologies for Artificial Intelligence Engineers

In the evolving landscape of the Artificial Intelligence job market in the United Kingdom, certain technologies stand out due to their prevalence among job listings. Notably, Python emerges as the most sought-after programming language with a frequency of 9,798, reflecting its critical role in AI development. Following closely are Machine Learning technologies, with a combined usage frequency of 5,478, underscoring their importance in building intelligent systems. Data Analysis and Data Science also play significant roles, with frequencies of 2,453 and 2,043 respectively, highlighting the analytical skills required in AI positions. Additionally, SQL is crucial for managing databases, appearing in job descriptions with a frequency of 4,088. These trends underscore the essential competencies that hiring managers should consider when sourcing talent in the Artificial Intelligence sector, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

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