Lead Technologist - AI & ML

BAE Systems; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a lead technologist to join their innovative Data and Decision Support Capability. This role offers the chance to work on cutting-edge AI and Machine Learning projects, engaging with diverse teams across various sectors including defence and security. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in AI/ML, along with strong communication skills to mentor others and present complex topics to varied audiences. With a commitment to hybrid working, this role provides flexibility and the opportunity to contribute to impactful research while maintaining strong academic partnerships.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Employee share plan

Flexible health benefits

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Annual incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• 10+ years in AI/ML roles, preferably in Defence sector.
• Experience leading R&D teams of 5+ developers.
• Evidence of publication in relevant journals.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of large AI projects and technical reports.
• Mentor junior staff and present research topics.
• Identify novel research opportunities in AI/ML.

Skills

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

Statistics

Mathematics

Technical Communication

Education

PhD in relevant discipline

Tools

Graph-based neural networks

Natural Language Processing

Reinforcement Learning

Job description

Location(s):UK, Europe & Africa : UK : Great Baddow

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is home to 4,500 digital, cyber and intelligence experts. We work collaboratively across 10 countries to collect, connect and understand complex data, so that governments, nation states, armed forces and commercial businesses can unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments.

The Role:

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is seeking to recruit a lead technologist to join our rapidly expanding Data and Decision Support Capability. We are looking for a candidate who is adaptable, enthusiastic and highly-motivated.

You should have existing skills in the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. You are also likely to have a strong background in the mathematics, statistics and computational techniques which underpin AI/ML.

The Data and Decision Support Capability has teams working in: reinforcement learning; NLP/LLMs; knowledge graphs and graph based neural networkss; AI for RF and EW, radar, sonar, acoustics, AI for image and video recognition tasks. The latter includes both computer vision and remote sensing application areas.

What We Are Looking For

As a lead technologist you will demonstrate deep expertise in at least one area of interest of the capability, but also a good level of knowledge over all areas, allowing you to assist and mentor colleagues in their everyday activities. You will have excellent written and oral communication abilities, whilst the engineering assurance activities associated with lead technologist role will require you to have the attributes of a skilled and experienced reviewer.

Candidates will have the opportunity to mix technical challenges with customer-facing and project support tasks. You will engage with and undertake assurance for a wide range of AI/ML research topics for customers across the space, defence, security and commercial sectors as well as into our internal BAE Systems programmes. You will also have the opportunity to maintain strong links with academic partners and to grow technical research areas of interest to you.

It is common for multi-disciplinary teams to be assembled from across the capability, and also with other departments within BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and the wider BAE Systems business units. You will be expected to have the skills required to both contribute to, and to lead these teams on occasion.

Typical Responsibilities:

• Lead technical delivery of large AI projects. Leading and assuring the preparation and delivery of technical reports, technical proposals and supporting material.
• Identify novel research in given topic areas, with the potential for partnership with leading UK Universities or other parts of BAE Systems. Direct research activities in key areas.
• Effectively present research topics to both technical and non-technical audiences in house and to external customers.
• Undertake technical mentoring of more junior staff.
• Provide engineering assurance on bids, publications and project deliverables, improving the quality of these outputs using your skill and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

You will have a PhD in a relevant discipline and over ten years of demonstrable experience in an AI/ML role in industry or academia, preferably in the Defence sector. Of particular interest are candidates with experience in one or more of the following domains:

• AI/ML for imagery including applied to remote sensing applications.
• Reinforcement learning.
• Natural Language Processing.
• Large Language Models.
• Knowledge graphs and graph-based neural nets.
• AI/ML for RF and EW, radar, sonar, acoustics.
• Autonomy

In addition:

• Current right to work in the UK is essential.
• Ability to work in a secure environment is essential
• Evidence of publication in relevant journals and conferences is highly advantageous.
• You will have experience of previously leading R&D teams with a minimum of 5 developers.
• You will have experience of previously undertaking Engineering Assurance activities.
• Proposal writing (e.g. Dstl, NS, EPSRC) experience is essential.

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme and 25 days annual leave, BAE Systems also offer employee share plan, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits including including a green care scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

Security Clearance

Only those with the permanent and unrestricted right to live and work in the UK will be considered for a position within BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. Due to the nature of our work successful candidates for this role will be required to go through Government SC clearance prior to starting with us. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/security-vetting-and-clearance

Life at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence

We are embracing Hybrid Working. This means you and your colleagues may be working in different locations, such as from home, another BAE Systems office or client site, some or all of the time, and work might be going on at different times of the day.

By embracing technology, we can interact, collaborate and create together, even when we’re working remotely from one another. Hybrid Working allows for increased flexibility in when and where we work, helping us to balance our work and personal life more effectively, and enhance well-being.

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. We are proud to have an organisational culture where employees with varying perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds – the best and brightest minds – can work together to achieve excellence and realise individual and organisational potential.