2027 AI Researcher Apprentice - Level 6 Machine Learning

thales

Crawley

On-site

GBP 22,000 - 26,000

Full time

37 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Tuition fees paid

Hybrid/flexible working options

Health Care Cash Plan

Contributory Pension

Learning and development support

80 Hours Volunteering per year

Job summary

Thales is offering a 2027 AI Researcher Apprentice - Level 6 Machine Learning in Crawley. You will join a degree apprenticeship combining academic study with on-the-job AI research, supported by Corndel.

You will study towards a Level 6 ML qualification while contributing to real projects. The programme includes a competitive salary of £24,000 per year, hybrid/flexible working options, tuition fees fully paid, and a clear path to a permanent role from the start.

Qualifications

Three A Levels with Maths grade B or above.
GCSEs: English Language and Mathematics at Grade 4/C or above.
Alternatively Level 4/5 apprenticeship in a relevant discipline.
Not eligible: Computer Science graduates due to funding restrictions.

Responsibilities

Review technical literature and summarise relevant methods.
Design controlled experiments and define evaluation criteria.
Prepare data and develop proof-of-concept ML models.
Analyse results, uncertainty and potential bias.
Document methods and communicate findings through reports and reviews.
Collaborate with researchers and engineers on live challenges.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Teamwork

Adaptability

Education

A Levels

Maths (Grade B+)

GCSEs (English & Maths)

Level 4/5 apprenticeship

Job description

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

2027 AI Researcher Apprentice - Level 6 Machine Learning

Start Date: 06 September 2027

Salary: £24,000 per annum

Employee type: Permanent

Location: Crawley

Working Schedule: Monday - Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday - Thursday, 5 hours Friday)

Turn your curiosity into a career. If you're passionate about artificial intelligence, eager to learn, and looking for a degree apprenticeship that combines academic study with exciting on-the-job experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits of the programme:

Earn a salary while studying for your degree
Gain hands-on experience in a real AI and engineering environment
Receive job-specific training and development
Achieve a recognised Level 6 qualification
Secure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship
Have your tuition fees fully paid

About the Role

As an AI Researcher Apprentice, you will develop the technical knowledge, analytical skills and professional behaviours needed to investigate challenging problems and advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Working alongside AI researchers, engineers and domain specialists, you will support research and experimentation on live projects, translating questions into evidence-based findings, prototypes and recommendations.

Your responsibilities may include:

Reviewing technical literature and summarising relevant methods and evidence
Designing controlled experiments and defining clear evaluation criteria
Preparing data and developing proof-of-concept machine learning models
Analysing results, limitations, uncertainty and potential sources of bias
Documenting methods and communicating findings through reports, demonstrations and reviews
Working with experienced researchers and engineers on live research challenges

What You Will Learn

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will gain experience and knowledge in:

Professional research behaviours, teamwork and industry best practice
Research methods, literature review and development of testable hypotheses
Statistics, experimental design and reproducible analysis
Machine learning principles, algorithms and model evaluation
Programming, data handling and rapid prototyping techniques
Critical assessment of evidence, uncertainty, robustness and limitations
Responsible AI, security, privacy, safety and ethical considerations
Clear technical writing, presentation and communication of research outcomes

Degree Apprenticeship Programme

You will study towards a Level 6 Machine Learning qualification with Corndel , developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to build and apply artificial intelligence responsibly in an engineering environment.

The programme is delivered through a virtual learning model, combining:

Live virtual lecturers
Online learning resources
Self-directed learning activities

This programme covers the full AI lifecycle, from concept and design, through to deployment and governance to provide a strong foundation for your role at Thales.

Entry Requirements

A Levels