VP of Machine Learning

Cathcart Associates Group Ltd; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading SaaS analytics company in Edinburgh is seeking a seasoned Machine Learning Leader to oversee the full ML lifecycle and drive innovation with a multidisciplinary team. The role offers flexible hybrid working, a highly competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits including private healthcare and a generous pension plan. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in ML and experience with optimizing systems for real-time performance.

Benefits

Private healthcare

Enhanced pension

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Seasoned professional with experience in leading teams and delivering production ML systems.
• Expert in diverse modeling techniques including tree-based and advanced neural networks.
• Experience optimizing ML for real-time serving.

Responsibilities

• Own the full machine learning lifecycle from research to real time production.
• Lead a team passionate about experimentation and rapid iteration.
• Influence business direction and technology with senior stakeholders.

Skills

Machine learning leadership

Diverse modeling techniques

Real-time optimization

MLOps practices

Python proficiency

Tools

GPU acceleration

Distributed computing frameworks

Job description

The Opportunity

A rare chance to take on a global ML leadership role in a high growth SaaS analytics company in Edinburgh, where machine learning is central to product and strategy.

This is a chance to lead the development of sophisticated machine learning systems that deliver real time, mission critical insights for clients around the world. You’ll tackle some of the most complex challenges in real time analytics and forecasting, driving innovation and delivering real world impact across global markets.

This isn’t just any ML leadership role. You’ll work with vast, complex datasets and deploy models with stringent latency requirements. You’ll be empowered to build an architecture that blends innovation with operational excellence, leveraging everything from tree based models and advanced neural networks all accelerated by the latest GPU and cloud technologies.

You’ll head up a high calibre, multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing machine learning capabilities, turning complex data into actionable insights that empower decision making at the highest level.

The Company

This is a modern, globally recognised SaaS company operating at the forefront of data analytics. With a strong focus on innovation, they deliver high value insights to clients making fast, high stakes decisions in complex markets.

The business has built a deeply technical, forward thinking engineering culture where machine learning isn’t just a function, it’s a core capability. Actively leading the way in applied ML development, they invest heavily in modern tools, infrastructure, and talent to stay ahead of the curve.

Why this role?

• Own the full machine learning lifecycle from research to real time production at scale.
• Solve complex challenges involving ultra low latency, distributed inference, and continuous model optimisation.
• Work with state of the art tooling and platforms in an organisation that invests heavily in innovation.
• Lead a team passionate about experimentation, rigor, and rapid iteration in a collaborative environment.
• Have a seat at the table with senior stakeholders and global clients, influencing the direction of the business and technology.

Who you are:

• A seasoned machine learning professional with experience leading teams and delivering production ML systems in demanding environments.
• Expert in diverse modeling techniques, including tree based models, advanced neural networks and hybrid models.
• Skilled in optimisng ML for real time serving think quantization, pruning, and distillation.
• Proficient with modern MLOps practices and tooling, handling everything from model governance to scalable deployment pipelines.
• Comfortable working hands on with Python, GPU acceleration, and distributed computing frameworks.
• A confident communicator and collaborator, able to bridge technical innovation with business impact.

The offer:

• You’ll receive a highly competitive salary plus bonus opportunity and a comprehensive benefits package including private healthcare, enhanced pension, generous annual leave, and wellbeing support.
• The role offers flexible hybrid working, with just two days per week onsite in a modern Edinburgh city centre office.
• It’s a unique opportunity to lead machine learning within one of the most advanced SaaS analytics platforms operating today where you will play a critical role in shaping word class machine learning capabilities.

If this sounds interesting, please apply or reach out to Murray Simpson.