AI Engineer - competitive salary - Madrid, SpainA fast-growing technology consultancy is building its AI capability in Madrid and is seeking an AI Engineer to join the team. The organisation partners with clients across financial services and investment, developing robust, real-world AI systems that support complex, high-stakes analytical and commercial decision-making.This is an opportunity to join the business at an early stage, offering hands-on responsibility for developing and deploying AI solutions, close collaboration with end users, and meaningful influence over both technical direction and ways of working from day one.RoleAs an AI Engineer, you will play a foundational role in shaping both the technical architecture and working culture of a newly formed team. You will be hands-on from the outset, contributing to the design, development, and deployment of AI systems built for production use rather than experimentation in isolation. This role suits someone who values ownership, autonomy, and building scalable systems from first principles.Key ResponsibilitiesTake ownership of AI and machine learning initiatives from initial concept through to productionArchitect, build, and deploy ML-driven solutions to address complex business problemsTranslate commercial and operational requirements into scalable AI applicationsDesign and optimise systems using modern LLM-based approachesStay current with developments in AI research, tooling, and best practice, applying relevant innovations where appropriateCollaborate closely with business stakeholders, engineers, and product teams to deliver meaningful outcomesKey SkillsStrong grounding in machine learning fundamentals, with hands-on experience delivering ML systems in productionPractical experience deploying large language models in real-world environments (e.G. prompt design, retrieval-augmented generation pipelines, agent-based workflows)Understanding of LLM inference and performance concepts such as KV caching, speculative decoding, and parallelisationExcellent programming capability in Python, plus experience with at least one of C++, Java, or .NETExperience working with SQL-based databases and cloud infrastructure (AWS or Azure)Proactive, curious mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountabilityClear communicator who works well in collaborative, cross-functional environmentsStrong academic background, including excellent academic performance prior to university and a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (e.G. Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science)Exposure to financial services or related domains is beneficial but not essentialBenefitsWork on AI projects with clear real-world relevance and measurable impactHigh level of autonomy and influence from the outsetJoin a technically strong, intellectually curious team in a fast-moving environmentGain insight into how financial markets and economic systems operate in practiceHelp define the standards, culture, and direction of a growing Madrid-based teamIf you’re looking for a role where your technical decisions genuinely matter, and you want to help build AI systems and a team from the ground up, this could be a compelling next step. Applications are now open for those interested in exploring the opportunity further.If you would like to learn more please free to share your CV with Daniel(dday@chisquare-group.com) for a confidential discussion.By applying to this advert you agree to your personal details being held on file in relation to this and other future relevant opportunities.