Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Chief Capabilities Officer

Romsey
9 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Head of AI Infrastructure & Machine Learning Operations

VP Machine Learning

Staff Data Scientist

Staff Data Scientist

The Company

Roke Manor is a multi-sector product and service development technology powerhouse. At the core of everything they do and value is the desire to improve people's lives and make the world a better and safer place. They pride themselves on being innovators and inventors; a company that believe in improving the world by delivering imaginative and highly specialised solutions. In short, they bring the physical and digital together in ways that revolutionise industries.

The business is built upon 4 major business units: Futures, Defence, National Security and Intelligence. Each business unit has a clear identity developed over time, and they have the trust and the freedom to embed themselves in problem-solving and providing first-class flexible solutions for their customers. They have been described simply as "An innovation business that creates products and services that they can leverage over their business units."

Role Overview

The Chief Capabilities Officer (CCO) will be given an unrivalled opportunity to support the redefining and positioning of this business unit's technical capability. They will be the senior technical expert within the business and will be responsible for collaborating across Roke to ensure that strategic planning, product /service investment, and the use of science, technology and engineering is coordinated in line with the NS business unit and its customer base. The successful candidate must be a leader, have the gravitas, confidence and entrepreneurial mindset to engage internal and external stakeholders, ultimately responsible for evangelising the technical strengths of the NS business.

Candidate Specification

Key Responsibilities
Provide clear, inspiring and visible technical leadership across the NS Business Unit, owning the effective coordination of science, technology and engineering disciplines to develop new capability for commercial exploitation.
Own the NS technology strategy to deliver the business outcomes and ROI from innovation.
Drive NS capability development to build products and services which meet the strategic goals for the Business Unit in terms of revenue growth and profitability.
Identify opportunities to invest in new capabilities capable of delivering a return on investment relevant to the market conditions in UK homeland security.
Manage the effectiveness and efficiency of science, technology and engineering processes including adoption of new systems or practices, to ensure NS stays relevant with market conditions and delivers strategic value for clients.
Work in support of the Roke brand to lead technical client engagement, help drive Roke's position in the market and champion development of Roke capability into the core mission of our accounts.
Take a leading role in shaping NS value propositions in terms of solution development, technology strategy and use of partners to win new business.
Work alongside NS Client Managers as 'voice of the end customer' and NS Commercial Lead to represent 'voice of the product' into capability build and the commercial exploitation of IP.
Provide strategic direction and leadership into NS science, technology and engineering teams to co-ordinate best practice, promote knowledge sharing and skills development.
Line manage the NS product development team, including career development, objective setting and performance management reviews.
Perform technical security risk assessment and assurance on behalf of the NSLT.
Own the technical direction for all engagements with internal and external stakeholders, evangelising Roke's position on latest trends and technologies relevant to our clients.
Oversee technical risk management for NS-delivered capability.
Ensure compliance with Roke policy and process based on deep appreciation of our client's business, technology and operational context. Requirements
Experience of pulling through early-stage technical capability, which resulted in the sale of products and services (s/w & h/w) into Government.
Deep technical skills and experience in a complex engineering environment, with depth and breadth in at least three of:

Cyber and networks exploitation
Data Science & AI
Radio Frequency
High assurance cyber
Future computing
Proven track record of engineering in UK National Security core missions with proven experience of relevant technologies to deliver product innovation as part of a market growth strategy.
Primary interface with Roke Corporate Services to assure infrastructure and capabilities required by the NS technical community.
Experience in delivering enterprise grade technology programmes with NS clients.
Knowledge of the NS supplier ecosystem and experience in partnering with or selling through high technology suppliers relevant to the core mission.
Demonstrate technical thought leadership and customer advocacy in the NS core mission.
Experience of leading teams to deliver complex engagements at high tempo across NS or law enforcement clients.

The Benefits and Perks
Flexi-time: Working hours to suit you and your life
Annual bonus: Based on profit share and personal performance
Private medical insurance: Includes cover for existing conditions
Holiday: You'll receive competitive annual leave plus bank holidays. We also offer the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave
Chemring Share Save: Monthly savings into a 3 or 5 year plan. Clearances

Due to the nature of this role, we require you to be eligible to achieve DV clearance. As a result, you should be a British Citizen and have resided in the U.K. for the last 10 years.

The Next Step

Click apply, submitting an up-to-date CV. We look forward to hearing from you

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

AI Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Must Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK AI hiring has shifted from titles & puzzle rounds to skills, portfolios, evals, safety, governance & measurable business impact. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews, and how to prepare—especially for LLM application, MLOps/platform, data science, AI product & safety roles. Who this is for: AI/ML engineers, LLM engineers, data scientists, MLOps/platform engineers, AI product managers, applied researchers & safety/governance specialists targeting roles in the UK.

Why AI Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Artificial intelligence is no longer a single-discipline pursuit. In the UK, employers increasingly want talent that can code and communicate, model and manage risk, experiment and empathise. That shift is reshaping job descriptions, training pathways & career progression. AI is touching regulated sectors, sensitive user journeys & public services — so the work now sits at the crossroads of computer science, law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design. This isn’t a buzzword-driven change. It’s happening because real systems are deployed in the wild where people have rights, needs, habits & constraints. As models move from lab demos to products that diagnose, advise, detect fraud, personalise education or generate media, teams must align performance with accountability, safety & usability. The UK’s maturing AI ecosystem — from startups to FTSE 100s, consultancies, the public sector & universities — is responding by hiring multidisciplinary teams who can anticipate social impact as confidently as they ship features. Below, we unpack the forces behind this change, spotlight five disciplines now fused with AI roles, show what it means for UK job-seekers & employers, and map practical steps to future-proof your CV.

AI Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern AI Department

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are no longer confined to research labs and tech giants. In the UK, organisations from healthcare and finance to retail and logistics are adopting AI to solve problems, automate processes, and create new products. With this growth comes the need for well-structured teams. But what does an AI department actually look like? Who does what? And how do all the moving parts come together to deliver business value? In this guide, we’ll explain modern AI team structures, break down the responsibilities of each role, explore how teams differ in startups versus enterprises, and highlight what UK employers are looking for. Whether you’re an applicant or an employer, this article will help you understand the anatomy of a successful AI department.