Lead AI Researcher

Lead AI Researcher - Kangal AI (London)

Kangal AI (a new UK-based VC-backed defence startup) builds frontier artificial intelligence for missions where information decides the outcome. We provide governments, national security organisations and private corporations with information advantages. Joining us means doing the defining work of your career.

The Role

As Lead AI Researcher you will sit at the core of a small, exceptional team turning advanced deep-learning research into deployed capability. You will own hard problems end to end, from model design to production, in settings where performance, rigour and trust are non-negotiable. This is a founding role: the systems you build and the standards you set will shape the company.

What You Will Do

Design, train and deploy deep-learning systems at the frontier of what is possible.
Take ambiguous, high-stakes problems from concept to working capability.
Build the infrastructure, tooling and standards that a world-class AI team is built on.
Work directly with leadership to translate mission needs into technology.

What You Bring

• A strong track record in deep learning, in research or applied settings.

• Proven ability to ship production machine-learning systems, not only prototypes.

• Excellent engineering fundamentals and fluency with the modern ML stack.

• Fundamental LLM knowledge: transformer architecture, training and fine-tuning, and inference at scale.

• A founder mindset: ownership, pace and comfort with ambiguity.

• Discretion and integrity; our work demands the highest level of trust.

• Eligibility for UK security clearance is advantageous.

Why Kangal

• A defining, founding role in an early, venture-backed company, with a competitive salary and meaningful equity.

• Work that matters, for clients operating at the highest level.

• An exceptional team, and the chance to do the best work of your career.Provide a brief overview of the role, including the team and what the day-to-day looks like.