Lead Data Scientist

Lloyds Banking Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK financial institution seeks an experienced Lead Data Scientist to redefine cybersecurity using AI and machine learning. This role involves leading a team, developing anomaly detection models, and collaborating with various teams. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in cybersecurity data science and Python proficiency, with a focus on ethical AI practices. The position is hybrid with a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Generous pension contribution (up to 15%)

Annual performance-related bonus

Tailored lifestyle benefits

30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading data science projects in cybersecurity or fraud.
• Strong grasp of anomaly detection and deep learning architectures.
• Excellent communication and customer engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of anomaly detection models.
• Drive innovation in security automation using AI.
• Collaborate with teams to build scalable ML pipelines.

Skills

Leading data science projects

Python

Machine Learning frameworks

Anomaly detection

Stakeholder engagement

Generative AI

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Google Cloud Platform

Job description

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LOCATION: Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester & Bristol

HOURS: Full time

WORKING PATTERN: Hybrid, 40% (or two days) in an office site

About this opportunity

At Lloyds Banking Group, we’re moving to the next stages of our digital transformation. It’s our job within the Chief Security Office (CSO) to ensure that we keep our customers, colleagues, and assets safe from threats. The CSO’s Security Data Services lab has an excellent opportunity for an experienced and dynamic Lead Data Scientist to work with our Analytics and Data Management feature teams.

In this role, you’ll be at the forefront of redefining how we detect, mitigate, and prevent cyber threats using sophisticated AI and machine learning. This is a rare opportunity to craft the future of cybersecurity in one of the UK’s most data-rich environments.

What you’ll do

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of behavioural anomaly detection models using unsupervised learning, deep learning (e.g., auto-encoders), and novelty detection techniques.
• Lead a team of Data Scientists.
• Drive innovation in LLM-based security automation, including prompt engineering, RAG pipelines, and fine-tuning of models.
• Collaborate with Data Engineers to build scalable, secure, and production-ready ML pipelines on GCP.
• Partner with cyber defence, risk, and compliance teams to ensure models are explainable, ethical, and aligned with regulatory standards (e.g., SOC2, SWIFT, SOX).
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the Data Science Community of Practice, helping shape standard methodologies across the organisation.
• Translate sophisticated data insights into actionable intelligence for collaborators across the Group COO and CSO functions.

Why Lloyds Banking Group

We’re on an exciting journey to transform our Group and the way we’re shaping finance for good. We’re focusing on the future, investing in our technologies, workplaces, and colleagues to make our Group a great place for everyone, including you.

What you’ll need

• Proven experience in leading data science projects in cybersecurity, fraud, or behavioural analytics.
• Deep expertise in Python, ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), and cloud platforms (preferably GCP).
• Strong grasp of anomaly detection, time-series modelling, and deep learning architectures.
• Experience with LLMs and generative AI in production environments is highly desirable.
• A passion for ethical AI, model governance, and secure ML operations.
• Excellent communication and customer engagement skills.
• An innovator and change agent who keeps up to date with the latest trends in data engineering and cybersecurity.

Additional useful experience

• Understanding of emerging threats within Cyber Security.

About working for us

Our ambition is to be the leading UK business for diversity, equity, and inclusion. We support our customers, colleagues, and communities and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive, learn, and develop.

We offer reasonable workplace adjustments for colleagues with disabilities, including flexibility in office attendance, location, and working patterns. As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for applicants meeting the minimum criteria with a disability, long-term health, or neurodivergent condition.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce barriers—just let us know what you need.

Benefits include

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual performance-related bonus
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits you can tailor to your lifestyle, such as discounts
• 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Wellbeing initiatives and parental leave policies

Join us

Do amazing work that’s interesting and makes a difference to millions of people. Join our journey.

At Lloyds Banking Group, our purpose is to help Britain prosper. Our colleagues focus on making a difference to customers, businesses, and communities. With us, you’ll have opportunities to learn, grow, and develop.

We keep your data safe and only ask for confidential or sensitive information once you are invited to an interview or have accepted an offer. We explain what we need and why, from trusted Lloyds Banking Group personnel.

We are committed to a values-led culture and building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our customers and communities. Together, we’re creating an inclusive workplace where all colleagues can make a real difference.