Lead Technologist AI & Machine Learning

Lead Technologist - AI & Machine Learning
£85,000 GBP
+ Bonus
Onsite WORKING
Location:United Kingdom (East of England)Type:Permanent
Job Title: Lead Technologist - AI & Machine Learning
Chelmsford (Hybrid)
Up tp £85k + Bonus
We are seeking a highly skilled and experiencedLead Technologistto join a growingData and Decision Supportcapability, working on cutting-edge AI and ML applications across a diverse range of sectors, including defence, security, space, and commercial domains.
This role offers a blend of technical leadership, research direction, and hands-on assurance responsibilities, with opportunities to shape innovation in areas such as NLP, reinforcement learning, computer vision, graph neural networks, and sensor-based AI systems.
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the technical delivery of complex AI/ML projects, overseeing the preparation and review of technical reports, proposals, and supporting documentation.
• Identify opportunities for novel research and potential academic or industrial partnerships; direct research activities in strategic focus areas.
• Present technical content clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Mentor junior team members and provide guidance on research best practices and delivery standards.
• Conduct engineering assurance reviews on bids, publications, and project deliverables to ensure high-quality outputs.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• PhD in a relevant discipline with approximately 10+ years of experience in AI/ML, either in industry or academia.
• Demonstrated leadership in R&D settings, including line or technical management of teams of 5+ engineers or researchers.
• Strong experience in engineering assurance activities, including proposal and technical document review.
• Experience writing research or funding proposals (e.g., for government agencies, public sector innovation bodies, or academic institutions).
• Deep expertise in at least one of the following, with working knowledge across multiple areas:
  • AI/ML for imagery (including remote sensing)
  • Reinforcement learning
  • Natural Language Processing and Large Language Models
  • Knowledge graphs and graph-based neural networks
  • AI/ML applied to RF, EW, radar, sonar, or acoustic signal processing
  • Autonomous systems

Desirable:

• A track record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant AI/ML journals or conferences.
• Strong connections with academic communities and an interest in growing technical research areas aligned to organisational priorities.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior-level AI professional looking to combine technical depth with strategic influence in an organisation focused on innovation, security, and applied AI research.
Reference:SCU/BDI/LT/270625
Postcode:CM1
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