Machine Learning Engineer - SC (DV Clearable) - Perm

Sanderson Government and Defence; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EMI options

Pension scheme

Private healthcare

Group life cover

Parental and sickness leave

Nursery scheme

Volunteer days

Pet friendly office

Job summary

Sanderson Government and Defence is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to design and build robust ML solutions in a hybrid setup, based in Cheltenham or London. You will work closely with product managers, ML scientists, and software engineers to deliver high-impact ML systems in critical environments.

The role requires a STEM degree and strong Python/Docker/Linux experience, with DV clearance and UK national eligibility being essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in STEM field or equivalent practical experience.
• Proficient Python coding with clean, reproducible, well-tested code for long-term ownership.

Responsibilities

• Design and build prototypes and production-ready ML solutions.
• Collaborate with Product Managers, ML Scientists, and Software Engineers to solve challenges.
• Maintain knowledge of state-of-the-art ML methods and tooling.

Skills

Python

Docker

Linux

CI/CD

MLOps

Cloud platforms

Model serving

NLP

Spark

Kafka

Flask

FastAPI

Streamlit

Plotly

Gradio

DV Clearance

British National (UK)

Education

Degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or related STEM field

Tools

Docker

Linux

CI/CD

MLOps

Cloud platforms

FastAPI

Flask

Kafka

Spark

Streamlit

Job description

Salary: £60,000 - 60,000 per year

Requirements

• 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, with 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.
• Ability to work with state-of-the-art ML libraries to deliver strong results quickly.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-moving environments, embedded with customers or delivery teams.
• Ability to write technical material such as documentation, published papers, or internal technical notes is nice to have.
• Experience with Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs) is nice to have.
• Experience in model development, data processing and streaming (Spark, Kafka), microservices in Python (Flask or FastAPI), and interactive visualisations and user interfaces (Streamlit, Plotly, Gradio) is nice to have.
• Must be eligible and willing to go through DV Clearance.
• Must be a sole British National.

Responsibilities

• Design and build prototypes and robust, production-ready machine learning solutions.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the team, including Product Managers, Machine Learning Scientists, and Software Engineers, to solve critical challenges.
• Maintain and develop a strong 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 customers and partners.
• Develop AI/ML systems from initial concept through to live operation.
• Help users defend against threats and contribute to safer, more resilient systems deployed in critical operational environments.

Technologies

• AI
• CI/CD
• Cloud
• Docker
• Embedded
• FastAPI
• Flask
• Kafka
• Linux
• Machine Learning
• MLOps
• Model Serving
• Python
• Spark
• microservices
• Support

More

We are working with a specialist technology company that is driving cutting-edge technical solutions across a variety of sectors. We are looking for Machine Learning Engineers to join a supportive, multidisciplinary team developing AI/ML systems to solve critical challenges. This is a hands‑on role based in Cheltenham or London, with a hybrid working pattern of 4 days on‑site and 1 day at home. You will work at the forefront of applied AI alongside experts across multiple disciplines, helping to deliver high‑impact machine learning solutions for important operational environments. We offer a competitive compensation package and benefits including 25 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays, EMI options scheme, salary sacrifice pension scheme, private healthcare with 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, and professional and personal development. We value respect, equality, diversity, and inclusion, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives.

last updated 40 week of 2026