Why this role matters
Are you passionate about cutting-edge research and the ethical application of AI in cybersecurity? We’re looking for a Technical Expert to join our Research and Network Strategy team, where you’ll apply your deep technical expertise to complex business challenges and opportunities.
In this pivotal role, you will:
Drive forward new research in high-impact technical areas.
Apply AI to offensive security operations, including ethical system breaches and advanced pentration testing.
Translate innovation into tangible business value, supporting our mission to protect and empower our customers.
You’ll be part of a collaborative environment, working alongside talented colleagues to explore and implement AI-driven solutions that push the boundaries of cybersecurity.
What We’re Looking For
Proven expertise in AI, cybersecurity, or penetration testing.
A strong research mindset with the ability to turn ideas into actionable outcomes.
Passion for ethical hacking and AI applications in security contexts.
Why join us?
1. Be part of a forward-thinking team shaping the future of secure systems.
2. Work on meaningful projects that directly benefit our customers.
3. Enjoy a flexible hybrid working model, with 3 days per week in our Bristol office.
4. Opportunity to lead cutting-edge research and contribute to thought leadership in your domain.
This role is based in Bristol and our hybrid working model means you are expected to be in the office 3 days per week.
You'll have the following responsibilities
5. Leading and managing one or more related research projects and activities comprising of matrixed resources both inside and outside BT, including university students and vendors.
6. Proactively leading engagement with working level stakeholders across the organisation as well as external partners as appropriate.
7. Proactive engagement with the relevant business units to downstream strategic technologies for commercial realisation.
8. Domain expert responsible for maintaining expertise in a specific technical domain.
9. Responsible for intellectual property creation, managing patent filing in their domain and supporting IPR exploitation where appropriate
10. Accountable for defining and performing research in a network threat and intrusion detection and deliver high impact and high value across multiple domains.
11. Responsible for authoring thought leadership technical papers, capturing intellectual property
12. Supervision of professionals, graduates and post-graduate student placements and secondments
13. Depending on business needs, may manage Research Specialists, Professionals or other Team members.
You'll have the following skills and experience
Skills
14. Technical domain expert: Deep technical or domain expertise and recognised as a technical expert in threat identification, threat detection, threat analysis and threat prevention .
15. Qualifications: Strong academic record in technology specialism with post-graduate qualification(s) (MSc, PhD or equivalent research experience).
16. Expert communicator: Regularly presents to peers and managers about their research and area of technical expertise
17. Experienced in open innovation: Skilled in patenting, technical publications, conference presentations etc.
18. Storytelling with data: strong skills in building the case for change, drawing on data and analytical techniques where appropriate, and communicating this to business audiences
19. Concept Evaluation: ability to spot relevant innovations, horizon scanning, determine relevance for the business, develop an effective conceptualisation and build trials to test the concept
Experience
20. Technical domain expert: evidence of significant knowledge and skill relevant to Network threat detection including threat identification, threat detection, threat data analysis and threat prevention including AI/ML based anomaly detection and novel threat mitigation(MANDATORY)
21. Significant delivery: evidence of significant business impact through delivery of research (MANDATORY)
22. Stakeholder management: evidence of managing project stakeholders across the business at a variety of grade and seniority levels (MANDATORY)
23. Innovative Thinker: ability to spot and identify new innovations and act to bring them in and capitalise and create value (MANDATORY)
24. Commercial Applicability: understanding the business case principals around relevant innovations and the real value to the business through value proposition build real value to the business through value proposition build.
25. Excellent awareness of industry trends, future direction and opportunities.
26. Self-starter, pro-actively working with minimal guidance
27. Problem solving, intellectually curious, comfortable taking ownership and responsibility
Benefits
• 10% on target bonus
• BT Pension scheme, minimum 5% Employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
• From January 2025, equal family leave: receive 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It’s for all parents, no matter how your family is made up.
• Enhanced women’s health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.
• 25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service
• 24/7 private virtual GP appointments for UK colleagues
• 2 weeks carer’s leave
• World-class training and development opportunities
• Option to join BT Shares Saving schemes
Our leadership standards
Looking in:
Leading inclusively and Safely
I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.
Owning outcomes
I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.
Looking out:
Delivering for the customer
I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.
Commercially savvy
I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.
Looking to the future:
Growth mindset
I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.
Building for the future
I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can be at their best.