Data / RAG Engineer – watsonx.ai & Data

Sanderson Government and Defence is seeking a Data / RAG Engineer – watsonx.ai & Data in South East London, London. This contract role (July‑December 2026) offers a competitive salary of £130,000‑£143,000 and is mostly remote with occasional onsite visits.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy AI‑driven solutions using IBM watsonx.ai and watsonx.data.
• Build and maintain Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines to integrate structured and unstructured data sources.
• Collaborate with data scientists, architects, and product owners to define MVP requirements and deliver prototypes on schedule.
• Implement data ingestion, transformation, and indexing workflows in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or IBM Cloud).
• Ensure data security, compliance, and governance, leveraging existing SC clearance where applicable.
• Provide technical documentation, code reviews, and knowledge transfer to internal teams.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience with AI/ML platforms, specifically IBM watsonx.ai and watsonx.data.
• Strong background in Retrieval‑Augmented Generation, LLM integration, and prompt engineering.
• Expertise in Python, SQL, and data engineering tools (e.g., Apache Spark, Airflow, Kafka).
• Hands‑on experience with cloud services and containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes).
• British‑born nationals or UK residents for at least 5 years, holding a single passport.
• Active or previous Security‑Clearance (SC) highly advantageous.

Contract Details

• Duration: July 2026 – December 2026 (contract)
• Rate: Up to £550 per day (inside IR35)
• Location: Mostly remote, based in South East London with occasional onsite requirements.

Why Join Sanderson Government and Defence?

Work on a high‑visibility AI MVP that will shape future government services, collaborate with leading experts, and enjoy a flexible remote working arrangement while contributing to national security initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of contract is offered for the Data / RAG Engineer position?

It is a fixed‑term contract from July to December 2026, paid up to £550 per day and inside IR35.

Do I need a security clearance to apply?

Previous SC clearance is highly advantageous but not mandatory; candidates with the right clearance will be given priority.

Is remote work possible for this role?

Yes, the role is mostly remote with occasional onsite meetings in South East London.