Senior Machine Learning Engineer - National Security (TIRE)

The Alan Turing Institute; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alan Turing Institute is seeking an experienced ML Engineer to join the TIRE team in Cheltenham, supporting national security partners by delivering production-ready AI and ML capabilities.

You will lead technical projects, mentor staff, and shape the future direction of the team while working across research and engineering to bridge theory with real-world impact. DV clearance eligibility is essential.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience building production-ready AI/ML solutions.
• Strong software engineering and cloud deployment skills.
• Experience mentoring staff and leading projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead domain challenge areas and drive technical outcomes.
• Perform experiments and develop capabilities including training and deploying models.
• Build and deploy microservices, data processing and visualization tooling.
• Present, document and disseminate capabilities and processes for reuse.
• Provide technical leadership for research strands and ensure successful outcomes.
• Line-manage team members and support their career development.

Skills

Machine Learning

Production ML

Software Engineering

Cloud Deployment

Mentoring / Leadership

Research to Deployment

Job description

THE ROLE

This position is working within the Turing Integrated Research Engineering (TIRE) team to support the Turing's national security partners by developing and deploying advanced machine learning, AI and data-driven capabilities. You'll work across a highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary team, delivering innovative technical solutions that bridge cutting-edge research and real-world impact. The role involves leading technical projects, developing new partner-focused capabilities, authoring research proposals and helping to shape the future direction of TIRE's work with national security stakeholders. You'll also play a key role in sharing technical knowledge, representing the team internally and externally, and supporting the development of colleagues through mentoring and leadership opportunities.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Understand the problems of the Turing’s National Security partners and develop appropriate approaches to solving these problems.
• Take ownership of a particular domain challenge area or methodology for the group.
• Perform experiments and develop capabilities, which might include: training and deploying machine learning models; applying data science, statistical and algorithmic techniques to data; building and deploying microservices, data processing/engineering systems and platforms, user interfaces and/or visualisations.
• Work at pace, using industry standard tooling for testing, version control and collaboration to create software artefacts that can be shared with Turing’s partners.
• Present, disseminate and explain our work including: Documenting capabilities, processes, and systems for effective and efficient reuse across multiple domains
• Provide technical leadership for research strands, ensuring successful outcomes aligned with the overall project goals.
• Line-manage other staff within the group, supporting their career development aspirations.

ABOUT YOU

We're looking for an experienced ML Engineer with a strong background in developing production-ready AI and machine learning solutions. You'll bring expertise in modern programming languages, software engineering, cloud technologies and scalable deployment approaches, alongside experience applying advanced analytical and ML techniques to real-world challenges. You'll enjoy solving complex problems and be comfortable engaging with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of national security, developing innovative AI capabilities that help address some of the UK's most complex challenges. Eligibility for DV security clearance is essential, with current or recent DV clearance highly desirable.

Terms and Conditions

This post is offered on a fixed term basis, at an annual salary of £57,000-£62,000 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies. Further information can be found on our website.

This role will be based at the Hub8 MX working space in Cheltenham.

Eligibility for Developed Vetting (DV) clearance is a requirement for this role. Eligibility criteria and further information on the process can be found on the UK Government security vetting website. Applicants should check if they are eligible for DV clearance before applying to this role.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

We value diversity of background, experience, and perspective, and are proud to be an inclusive employer. We warmly encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from groups currently under-represented in our sector. If you feel passionate about this role butdon’tmeet every single requirement, please apply–we recognise that great candidates may bring strengths beyond the criteria listed.