Machine Learning Engineer - National Security (London)

Mind Foundry; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private Healthcare

Group Life Cover

Pension scheme

Parental and Sickness Leave

Nursery scheme

Volunteer days

Pet friendly office

Professional and personal development

Job summary

Mind Foundry in London is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team developing AI/ML systems for Defence and National Security challenges. You will design production-ready ML solutions and deploy them from concept to live operation, working on edge environments where power and bandwidth are constrained.

You will need a degree in a STEM field, strong Python and Docker/Linux skills, experience with CI/CD and MLOps, and be eligible for UK DV clearance.

Qualifications

• A degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Proficiency in Python with clean, well-documented code suitable for long-term ownership.
• Hands-on experience with production infrastructure including Docker, Linux, CI/CD, MLOps, cloud platforms, and model serving architectures.
• Experience with state-of-the-art ML libraries and deploying ML solutions.
• Hold DV clearance or be eligible to apply for UK DV clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and build prototypes and robust, production-ready ML solutions.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Mind Foundry team to solve national security challenges.
• Maintain and develop knowledge of state-of-the-art ML methods, software tools and implementation methods.
• Write maintainable production code and promote best practices for a scientific codebase.
• Explain core ML concepts to customers and partners.

Skills

Python

Docker

Linux

CI/CD

MLOps

Cloud platforms

Model serving

NLP

LLMs

Education

Bachelor's or equivalent in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or related STEM field

Tools

Flask

FastAPI

Spark

Kafka

Plotly

Streamlit

Job description

We’re looking for a Machine Learning Engineer to join a supportive, multidisciplinary team developing AI/ML systems to solve critical National Security challenges. As a Machine Learning Engineer, you’ll develop robust, production-ready machine learning solutions, exploring, prototyping, and deploying ML approaches from initial concept through to live operation. Working at the forefront of applied AI alongside experts across multiple disciplines, you’ll help users defend against Defence and National Security threats, directly contributing to safer, more resilient systems deployed where they matter most.

Mind Foundry works on some of the most complex and urgent challenges in Defence and National Security. We specialise in supporting customers across the community to make sense at the speed of relevance from the ever-increasing volumes of data collected by sensors and systems. We often find ourselves working at the edge in complex environments where power, compute, and bandwidth are in short supply. The work is challenging, the customer needs products and applications they can trust, and the sense of achievement is therefore substantial.

This is an opportunity to innovate at the forefront of applied machine learning, tackle high-impact real-world problems, grow your technical skills, and shape the way AI/ML solutions are delivered to critical operational environments.

Because of the nature of this work:

• You will need toholdexistingorbe eligible for UK Developed Vetting (DV), details of which can be found on theGov UKwebsite.
• Be expected to workprimarilyonsite at our clients’sitesinLondon. Please consideryour commute when applying.

Key day-to-day activities:

• Design and build prototypes and robust, production-ready ML solutions.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Mind Foundry team (Product Managers, Machine Learning Scientists, Software Engineers) to solve critical National Security challenges.
• Maintain and develop a good working knowledge of state-of-the‑art ML methods, software tools and implementation methods.
• Write maintainable production code and promote best practices for code quality in a scientific codebase.
• Provide advice and explain core ML concepts to our customers and partners.

Core Skills & Experience:

• A degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or a related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Demonstrated proficiency in programming languages such as Python, producing clean, reproducible, well‑tested, and well‑documented code suitable for long‑term ownership and handover.
• Hands‑on experience with production infrastructure, including Docker, Linux, CI/CD, MLOps, cloud platforms, and model serving architectures.
• Be able to work with state-of-the‑art ML libraries to deliver powerful results quickly.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments, embedded with customers or delivery teams.
• Hold existing Developed Vetting (DV) level clearance, or willing and eligible to apply and obtain UK security clearance to Developed Vetting (DV) level.

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience working with government customers, defence contractors, or in military environments.
• Ability to write technical material (documentation, published papers, internal technical notes etc).
• Experience with Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Experience in areas of model development, data processing and streaming (Spark, Kafka), microservices in python (Flask or FastAPI), and interactive visualisations and User Interfaces (Streamlit, Plotly, Gradio etc).

What do we offer?

We believe in investing in our people by encouraging career and personal development that aligns with your goals and ambitions. We make sure all staff have the tools, time and support they need to shape their own professional development. We want to help you excel at what you do and support your growth within the company.

You’ll enjoy a competitive compensation package and great benefits such as:

• 25 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme
• Private Healthcare (including dental and optical cover)
• Group Life Cover at x3 your annual salary
• Enhanced Paid Parental and Sickness Leave
• Workplace Nursery Scheme
• Volunteer Days
• Pet friendly office
• Professional and personal development

For more information, please visit our website www.mindfoundry.ai or email [e-mail]

Interview Process:

• Initialdiscussion with the People team
• TestDome coding exercise
• 1 hour interview with two members of the Science & Engineering Team
• 90 minute technical interview, including a 10 minute presentation and live coding exercise
• In person meet the team at our Summertown, Oxford office