It sounds like you're in a challenging situation, balancing career, location, and family priorities. From my experience, these decisions are always tough and highly personal.

IMO, If your primary motivation for moving back to the UK is a better quality of life for your kids and education, that's a valid reason. However, since you currently have a secure role with strong career growth prospects (potential promotion to Principal Engineer), you might want to leverage that stability to build more financial savings while continuing to explore opportunities in the UK. Sometimes, it’s about positioning yourself for the right opportunity rather than rushing into one that doesn’t meet all your needs. Given that you’ve already moved once for personal reasons, taking a remote role might allow you to bridge the gap between your career aspirations and family needs without compromising too much financially. It could also give you the flexibility to be patient until the right UK-based role comes along, one that aligns better with your experience and financial goals.

Ultimately, waiting a bit longer might be wise, especially if you’re on the path to a promotion and can accumulate savings. This way, you’ll be in a stronger position to make the transition when the ideal opportunity presents itself.

Sr Staff AI Lead @ Udemy

Nishanth Gandhidoss

During a conversational AI project, I noticed that our LLM struggled with real-time user interactions, failing to handle context shifts and ambiguous queries effectively. While it performed well in static benchmarks, live data showed high drop-off rates and negative user feedback. I quantified that improving context handling by even 10% could significantly boost user retention and engagement, translating to a multi-million dollar revenue opportunity.

### Solving the Problem

I proposed a dual approach of fine-tuning the LLM using reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) and dynamic prompt engineering. We built a pipeline to adjust prompts based on conversation history and captured real-time interaction data to iteratively improve model performance. This required close collaboration with data scientists and engineers to ensure adaptability and responsiveness in user interactions.

### Gaining Buy-In

To secure buy-in, I framed the issue as a barrier to scaling the product. I proposed a phased pilot with a small user group to mitigate risk, emphasizing the business value of reduced churn and increased user engagement. This clear alignment with business outcomes made it easier to get leadership support.

### Outcome

Our efforts led to a 40% improvement in the LLM's handling of context, driving a 20% increase in user retention. This not only enhanced our conversational AI product but also established a foundation for scaling future Gen AI initiatives. The main takeaways were the value of continuous model adaptation, strategic prompt engineering, and framing solutions in terms of business impact.

## **Expanding on High-Impact Projects in Tech**

**1\. Strategic Alignment:** The most impactful projects are those that directly align with a company's strategic goals. For example, if a company aims to expand into a new market, projects focused on developing new products or services tailored to that market would be highly valued.

**2\. Quantifiable Results:** Projects that deliver measurable outcomes are often more impactful. This could involve increasing revenue, reducing costs, improving customer satisfaction, or enhancing efficiency. For instance, an engineer who develops a new algorithm that significantly improves search engine results would likely be considered for a substantial reward.

**3\. Cross-Functional Collaboration:** Projects that require collaboration across multiple teams or departments often have a broader impact. Engineers who can effectively work with designers, product managers, and other stakeholders to bring a product to market can demonstrate their versatility and leadership skills.

**4\. Risk Mitigation:** Projects that address significant risks or challenges can also be highly valued. For example, a security engineer who develops a new system to protect customer data from cyber threats would be seen as a valuable asset to the company.

**5\. Innovation and Creativity:** Projects that involve innovative solutions or creative thinking can be particularly impactful. Engineers who can develop new approaches to existing problems or introduce groundbreaking technologies can differentiate themselves and increase their compensation potential.

**6\. Company Culture and Values:** Some companies may prioritize specific types of projects that align with their company culture or values. For example, a company that emphasizes sustainability might reward projects that reduce environmental impact.

**7\. External Recognition:** Projects that receive recognition or awards from industry organizations or publications can also enhance an individual's reputation and compensation potential.

**In addition to the project itself, the individual's role and contributions within the project are also crucial factors.** For instance, an engineer who takes on a leadership role, mentors other team members, or provides technical expertise can demonstrate their value and increase their compensation potential. By focusing on projects that align with strategic goals, deliver quantifiable results, and demonstrate innovation and leadership, individuals can significantly increase their impact and negotiate for higher compensation in the tech industry.