Senior Technology Specialist - AI

Digital Catapult

Belfast

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Description

Digital Catapult is looking for a Senior Technology Specialist in AI to join our team of experts in applying cutting edge AI to real world challenges. In this pivotal role, you’ll be the technical bridge between complex requirements and high-impact designs, turning visionary concepts into robust digital realities for a diverse range of stakeholders. This initial focus of the role will be in our UK Digital Twin Centre programme where you will ensure that AI is best applied in our mission. Funded by the Belfast City Regional Deal and Innovate UK, the Centre is a powerhouse for accelerating the adoption of Digital Twins to give UK businesses a global competitive edge.

We are looking for an experienced applied technologist who understands intelligence as a system capability rather than standalone models. This is a senior hands-on role focused on how best to deploy machine learning into real world operational systems, solving what matters.

WHAT YOU’LL DO (Duties)

Design and demonstrate machine learning approaches for anomaly detections, behaviour baselining, clustering and predictive use-cases
Support the engineering of operational systems utilising intelligence; translating analytical outputs into actionable recommendations and supporting operational decisions
Ensure proposed intelligence approaches are grounded in reality, not unnecessarily complex and meet solution requirements around latency, safety, explainability and accuracy
Collaborate with solution architects and engineers to align intelligence approaches with the overall system architecture
Develop demonstrators, prototypes and technical collateral materials and to showcase solution approaches and communicate complex AI concepts to multidisciplinary stakeholders such as engineers, industry domain experts, business leaders, academics and government representatives.

Requirements

Demonstrable experience explaining complex AI concepts at the right level to different stakeholders
Strong practical experience applying intelligence techniques to time series and sensor data ideally within operational, resource constrained environments (e.g. edge AI, TinyML)
Hands-on use of unsupervised or semi-supervised methods in live or near real-time contexts
Understanding of data pipelines, APIs and event-driven systems
Strong software engineering discipline, with hands-on experience in Python or R for applied machine learning, including deploying, monitoring and maintaining models in production environments
Experience with incorporating intelligence into digital twin environments would be highly desirable

Salary £60 -75k depending on skills and experience

Deadline for Applications: 9th April 2026. (We reserve the right to close this role to applications before the deadline).

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We recognise and value the advantages and opportunities that come with having people from diverse backgrounds working with us and it is our ambition to build an organisation which is representative and reflective of UK society.

We welcome applications from neurodivergent candidates, candidates from minority and underrepresented groups and from candidates with more or less experience, provided the requisite skills can be demonstrated.

As members of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Please do speak with us about adjustments that could support you through our interview process.

Digital Catapult is an equal opportunities employer.

Benefits

We are in the UK’s Top 100 Best Workplaces and placed in the UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech and Large Organisations.
Digital Catapult is a Disability Confident Committed Level 1 Employer.
Excellent holiday package: 25 days annual leave, Bank Holidays and 3 days between Christmas and New Year:
Double-matched pension up to 10% of your salary;
Discretionary company bonus
4% of your salary to use towards selecting benefits that work for you, including health cash plan, Private Medical Insurance; buying holiday, topping up your pension;
E-Vehicle Scheme; Cycle2Work; Tech Scheme; Gym Discounts; Give As you Earn; PerkPal;
Life insurance 4x salary;
Free to access EAP & Financial Wellbeing advice;
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave;
Hybrid working - with great offices to work from 2 days per week with some roles needing to be onsite more regularly to ensure the successful delivery of our work;
Investment in your ongoing learning and development with us;
Company social events throughout the year and free office snacks!

We have a vibrant and engaging culture where all voices are heard and a variety of employee led affinity groups who champion initiatives and provide opportunities for feedback to be shared.

We use moments in the year to educate everyone at Digital Catapult on different aspects of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and to raise awareness.

We also enjoy socialising and having fun together through a variety of company-wide events held throughout the year including our football team, running and climbing groups and volunteering activities.

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