Software Engineering Professional 2, AI Engineering

About the role

Software Engineering Professional 2 – AI Engineering supports the execution of BT/Openreach engineering strategy and transformation roadmap through the delivery of secure, scalable, and AI-enabled software solutions. Working within cross-functional Agile squads, the role helps modernize customer-facing and operational platforms through the adoption of AI-driven engineering practices, APIs, Microservices, and Micro Frontend architectures. The role focuses on improving engineering productivity, software quality, operational efficiency, and customer outcomes through intelligent automation and modern software engineering approaches.
This role is responsible for delivering legacy-to-modern technology transformation initiatives and leveraging AI throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) to accelerate analysis, development, testing, documentation, modernization, and support activities. Working closely with architects, engineers, product owners, and business stakeholders, the role contributes to building innovative solutions while promoting engineering excellence, continuous improvement, and adoption of emerging technologies aligned to BT/Openreach's strategic vision.

What you’ll be doing

•    Design, develop, modernize, and support enterprise applications using AI-enabled software engineering practices.
•    Drive legacy-to-modern technology transformation through application modernization, API-led integration, Microservices, and Micro Frontend architectures.
•    Apply AI tools across the SDLC to improve development productivity, software quality, testing, documentation, and delivery efficiency.
•    Integrate AI capabilities into business and customer-facing applications to enhance user experience and operational effectiveness.
•    Support AI Ops, automation, observability, and operational excellence initiatives to improve application reliability and service performance.
•    Collaborate with architects, product owners, engineers, and business stakeholders to deliver scalable, secure, and maintainable solutions.
•    Contribute to solution architecture, engineering standards, security, compliance, and software quality best practices.
•    Drive continuous improvement through automation, innovation, technical debt reduction, and adoption of emerging technologies.
•    Work within Agile teams to prioritize features, modernization initiatives, and business value delivery.

Essential Skills / Experience

Functional experience/skills
•    Understanding on Application Development, Application Modernization, or Digital Transformation initiatives.
•    Experience working across the full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
•    Strong stakeholder management, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to translate business requirements into effective technical solutions.
•    Customer-focused mindset with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.

Technical experience/skills
•    Experience in Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, Microservices, and Micro Frontend architectures.
•    Experience designing, developing, and integrating enterprise-scale applications and services.
•    Experience delivering legacy-to-modern technology transformation initiatives.
•    Strong understanding of software architecture, integration patterns, scalability, security, resilience, and performance optimization.
•    Experience with CI/CD, automated testing, DevSecOps, and modern engineering practices.
•    Ability to design and develop secure, scalable, and maintainable software solutions.

AI Engineering Experience
•    Strong understanding of AI and Generative AI concepts, including LLMs, SLMs, Agentic AI, Prompt Engineering, RAG, AI Ops, and enterprise AI adoption patterns.
•    Experience applying AI tools to improve engineering productivity, software quality, modernization, automation, and developer experience.
•    Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot, Amazon Q, Kiro, Cursor, or similar platforms.
•    Experience integrating AI-powered capabilities into applications and engineering workflows.
•    Understanding of Responsible AI, AI Governance, and Model Evaluation principles.

Learning Agility & Innovation
•    AI-driven mindset with a passion for leveraging emerging technologies and AI tools to accelerate delivery and innovation.
•    Quick learner with the ability to rapidly acquire new technical skills, frameworks, and technologies using AI-assisted learning approaches.
•    Adaptable and self-driven, with the ability to work across diverse technologies and transformation programmes.
•    Strong curiosity, continuous learning mindset, and enthusiasm for adopting new technologies and engineering practices.

Colleague Experience
•    Strong relationship skills – both internal/external.
•    Strong communications skills with the ability to communicate at all levels of the organisation – to both technical and business audiences.
•    Ability to understand various business perspectives as part of a Global organisation.

Problem Solving
•    Strong troubleshooting, analytical thinking, and root cause analysis skills.
•    Ability to solve complex engineering and business challenges using innovative and data-driven approaches.
•    Experience assessing modernization opportunities, technical risks, and transformation strategies.
•    Ability to balance immediate delivery priorities with long-term strategic objectives and business outcomes.