Senior AI/ML Security Engineer

Dstl; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Dstl in the United Kingdom is seeking a capable researcher to join the Advanced Dependable Autonomy team. You will apply maths and machine learning to deliver project research objectives across air, land, maritime, space, and effectors, contributing to robust autonomous systems for defence.

You will evaluate safety and vulnerabilities, understand system behaviors, and support ethical considerations while collaborating with MOD, industry, academia and international partners.

Qualifications

• Experience in AI/ML and evaluating performance metrics.
• Apply mathematical or statistical rigor.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Prepare and deliver technical reports for non-technical audiences.
• Break problems into components and propose holistic solutions.
• Desire to learn about autonomy, AI vulnerabilities and resilience risks.
• Broad interest in AI and ML applications.

Responsibilities

• Deliver project research objectives across domains (Air, Land, Maritime, Space and Effectors) using maths and ML.
• Develop approaches to evaluate safety and vulnerabilities in AI-driven autonomous systems.
• Understand behaviours of autonomous and AI systems to maximise safety, security and trustworthiness.
• Support ethical considerations of AI and autonomy-enabled systems.
• Collaborate with MOD, Government, and partners in Industry, Academia and abroad.
• Lead technical tasks and adapt to changing directions while motivating others.
• Maintain strong relationships and deliver collaboration on delivery outcomes and strategic direction.

Skills

AI & ML experience

Mathematical/statistical rigor

Communication skills

Technical reporting

Critical thinking

Autonomy vulnerabilities interest

Broad ML understanding

Job description

Autonomous systems are becoming increasingly important for Defence, but they don’t always behave as designed in the complex and contested environment of the modern battlefield. The Advanced Dependable Autonomy team is multi-disciplinary team applying experience in AI, Resourcing & Recruitment Process software engineering, cyber security and autonomy who are dedicated to making AI and autonomous systems robust and trustworthy. In this role you will be expected is will keepabreast of latest developments in autonomy vulnerabilities and develop robust solutions towards this goal.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

In this role you will:

• Work as part of a team to Deliver project research objectives across all domains (Air,Land, Maritime, Space and Effectors) deploying maths and machine learning skills to support Dstl Programme outcomes.
• Develop approaches to evaluate, demonstrate, and advise on safety and vulnerabilities in AI-driven and autonomous systems, reducing the risk of accidental or deliberate harm to Defence and Security capability and users.
• Understand the behaviours of autonomous and AI systems to maximise their effectiveness considering safety, security and trustworthiness in benign or contested environments.
• Support the ethical considerations of AI and autonomy-enabled systems.
• Work across MOD, Government, and with our partners in Industry, Academia and abroad across a range of technical areas.
• Be aware of the downstream impact of their actions and the actions of their direct reports on those outside of their immediate control.
• Confidently lead technical tasks, with the ability to adapt quickly to changing direction and priorities. Positively, motivating, inspiring, encouraging and influencing others through effective communication and engagement.
• Maintain and manage strong, effective relationships with peers, role modelling Enterprise Leadership to deliver collaboration on delivery outcomes and strategic direction.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience of AI, machine learning and associated performance metrics.
• Applying mathematical or statistical rigor. Be able to review machine learning approaches and outputs ensuring that outputs are technically robust.
• Excellent communication skills. Communicating complex concepts and results to a variety of audiences.
• The ability to prepare and deliver technical reports, by written and verbal presentations, with clear and persuasive explanation of complex processes to a non‑ technical audience.
• Ability to break problems / issues into component parts and to provide realistic, holistic solutions. Critical thinking and problem solving applied to a variety of problems.
• A desire to learn about autonomy and AI vulnerabilities, machine learning security and resilience risks to apply your skills within this field.
• A strong interest and broad understanding in the application of all AI and Machine Learning.