Smith & Nephew

AI Tech Lead - Commercial

Smith & Nephew$125K — $188K *
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years in software engineering or technical leadership roles
  • Experience as a Senior Engineer, Tech Lead, or Solution Architect
  • Expertise in solution architecture for AI-enabled products
  • Hands-on experience with Java/JVM; Scala knowledge a plus
  • Strong grasp of cloud platforms, APIs, and DevOps practices
  • Background working with cross-functional agile teams
  • Excellent communication skills for technical concepts and stakeholder management
  • Proven ability to navigate ambiguity and champion continuous learning.

Responsibilities

  • Own and evolve technical architecture for AI solutions
  • Lead architectural and engineering decisions while communicating risks and trade-offs
  • Collaborate with Product Managers to align roadmaps and priorities
  • Provide technical leadership and drive engineering excellence
  • Engage in hands-on coding and problem-solving
  • Mentor engineers through reviews and technical guidance
  • Drive improvements in automation, quality, and delivery speed
  • Champion a culture of innovation and sustainable delivery.

Benefits

  • 401k Matching Program and Discounted Stock Purchase Plan
  • Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off and Paid Community Service Day
  • Comprehensive Health Benefits including Employer Contributions
  • Hybrid Work Model for professional roles
  • Customizable training and mentorship opportunities
  • Discounts on fitness clubs, travel, and more!
Full Job Description
Are you passionate about shaping the future of AI and building solutions that create real commercial impact? As our AI Tech Lead, you will play a pivotal role in defining technical direction, influencing architecture decisions, and leading the development of scalable AI powered products. This is an opportunity to combine strategic technical leadership with hands on engineering, working alongside talented product, design, and engineering teams to deliver innovative solutions that help drive business growth.

What will you be doing?
  • Own and evolve the technical architecture for commercial AI solutions, ensuring they are scalable, secure, modular, and maintainable.
  • Lead key architectural and engineering decisions, clearly communicating risks, options, and trade offs to stakeholders.
  • Partner closely with Product Managers to align roadmaps, backlogs, and delivery priorities with technical capabilities and opportunities.
  • Provide technical leadership across cross functional product teams, driving engineering excellence and best practices.
  • Contribute hands on through coding, technical problem solving, and removing delivery obstacles.
  • Mentor and coach engineers through code reviews, technical guidance, knowledge sharing, and continuous development.
  • Drive improvements in automation, testing, quality, reliability, and delivery speed across AI products and platforms.
  • Champion a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, collaboration, and sustainable delivery.


What will you need to be successful?
  • Approximately 8+ years of experience in software engineering, technical leadership, solution architecture, or related technology leadership roles.
  • Proven experience as a Senior Engineer, Tech Lead, or Solution Architect with responsibility for setting technical direction while remaining actively involved in delivery.
  • Strong solution architecture expertise across AI enabled digital products, commercial platforms, and customer facing technologies.
  • Hands on engineering experience with modern software development practices and strong knowledge of Java/JVM technologies. Experience with Scala is advantageous.
  • Deep understanding of cloud platforms, APIs, frontend and backend frameworks, DevOps, continuous integration, automated testing, and modern delivery practices.
  • Experience partnering with Product Managers, Design Leads, Scrum Masters, and engineering teams within agile product environments.
  • Strong communication, coaching, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business decisions.
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, apply sound judgment, and foster a culture of trust, transparency, and continuous learning.


You. Unlimited.
We believe in creating the greatest good for society. Our strongest investments are in our people and the patients we serve.
  • Inclusion and Belonging Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving on Inclusion
  • and Belonging.
  • Your Future: 401k Matching Program, 401k Plus Program, Discounted Stock Purchase Plan, Tuition Reimbursement
  • Work/Life Balance: Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flex Holidays, Paid Community Service Day
  • Your Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (Employer Contribution of $500+ annually), Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave, Fertility and Adoption Assistance Program
  • Flexibility: Hybrid Work Model (for most professional roles)
  • Training: Hands On, Team Customized, Mentorship
  • Extra Perks: Discounts on fitness clubs, travel and more!


The anticipated base compensation range for this position is $125,500 - $188,000 USD annually. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role at Smith + Nephew. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

In addition to base pay, we provide competitive bonus and benefits, which include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k, tuition reimbursement, medical leave programs, and a variety of wellness offerings.

We anticipate the application window for this opening to close on 08.24.2026.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology company headquartered in London, England. The company designs, manufactures, and sells medical devices and products for orthopedic reconstruction, sports medicine, and trauma. Smith & Nephew operates in more than 100 countries and employs over 17,500 people worldwide. The company was founded in 1856 by Thomas James Smith and his nephew, Horatio Nelson Smith, and has grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Smith & Nephew's products include joint replacement systems, wound care products, and surgical instruments. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Learn more about Smith & Nephew
Size
17,500 employees
Market Cap
$11.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$448 million
5 Year Trend
+2.2%
Revenue
$4.5 billion

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