Lead Technologist - ML / AI
£85000 GBP
Hybrid WORKING
Location: United Kingdom (South West) Type: Permanent
Lead Technologist - Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Location: South East UK (Hybrid - Great Baddow base)
Full-Time | Up to £85,000 + Benefits | Security Clearance Required (UK EYES ONLY)
Shape the Future of Applied AI in Defence, Space & Autonomy
Are you ready to lead at the frontier of AI/ML research and application? This is your opportunity to steer innovation that matters-developing technology that underpins national security, space capability, and intelligent autonomous systems.
We're looking for a Lead Technologist to help guide a technically diverse AI/ML team tackling real-world, mission-critical challenges across reinforcement learning, natural language processing, computer vision, remote sensing, and signal intelligence. You'll play a pivotal role-blending deep expertise with technical assurance, mentorship, and strategic influence.
Why Join?
* Lead game-changing projects in AI for RF, radar, acoustics, LLMs, knowledge graphs, vision, and edge autonomy
* Work across research & delivery, helping ideas evolve from concept to operational capability
* Engage with top-tier academics and shape collaborative research with universities
* Mentor and elevate a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers
* Hybrid working -typically 2 days onsite with flexible remote options
* One-stage interview process -streamlined and respectful of your time
Your Role Will Involve:
* Leading the technical delivery of large-scale AI/ML research programmes
* Providing engineering assurance across bids, project outputs, and research publications
* Identifying and shaping new R&D themes in collaboration with partners and academic institutions
* Mentoring junior team members and guiding their development
* Presenting research to diverse stakeholders, from technical peers to non-specialist sponsors
What We're Looking For:
* PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant AI/ML field
* ~10+ years of AI/ML experience post-PhD, with a proven track record of leadership in R&D environments
* Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following:
o AI/ML for imagery (incl. remote sensing)
o Reinforcement learning or autonomous agents
o NLP, LLMs, or knowledge graph technologies
o AI for RF/EW, radar, sonar, or acoustic domains
* Strong Python skills and familiarity with ML toolkits (e.g. PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn)
* Experience with proposal writing (e.g. Dstl, NS, EPSRC)
* Prior involvement in engineering assurance, technical review, or QA of R&D outputs
Nice-to-Haves:
* Publications in top journals or conferences
* Experience in defence, aerospace, space, or cyber domains
* Graph-based neural networks, deep generative models, or edge AI exposure
Security & Eligibility
Due to the sensitive nature of this work, applicants must be eligible for UK SC clearance as a minimum. Preference given to those eligible for higher-level clearances (e.g. DV/UKIC ). UK EYES ONLY .
Your Impact Starts Here
This is more than a leadership role-it's a chance to steer AI/ML innovation where it truly matters. You'll be surrounded by world-class researchers, cutting-edge tech, and a purpose-driven mission. If you're seeking a role where your technical credibility, curiosity, and experience will shape national capability, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now to lead the next wave of AI innovation.
Reference: AMC/BCO4/LT
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