Robert Half has partnered with an established engineering firm to recruit for a newly created role of Principal Data Scientist and Machine Learning Researcher. This is a permanent role, based in Gloucester or Manchester, with competitive salary and benefits.

As you will be working within a highly secure technology environment, the successful candidate will need to be able to obtain eDV and SC clearance.

The Role

• Supporting the Head of Data Science & Machine Learning to shape group strategy and engage stakeholders
• Generating ideas for novel research that create competitive advantage across the customer community
• Working autonomously to develop complex, novel data science solutions
• Helping triage and respond to new opportunities, aligned to group and wider business strategy
• Designing and delivering data-centric solutions in collaboration with colleagues across disciplines
• Leading the technical delivery of research and applied AI/ML work on both customer and internal projects
• Providing technical leadership across multiple projects
• Managing and developing more junior members of the SRG team
• Delivering AI, ML and data science solutions to a broad range of defence problems

About You

• Several years' experience delivering novel ML solutions to customers and internal stakeholders
• Proven experience as a Senior/Principal Data Scientist with ability to guide and coach the team
• Excellent Python coding practice, including ML libraries such as HuggingFace, TensorFlow and PyTorch
• Experience building robust ML pipelines with MLOps tools for model training, monitoring and deployment
• Experience with version control and environment management (e.g. venvs, Docker)
• Expert knowledge of AI/ML algorithms across different data types and tasks, including Generative AI, NLP and computer vision, sufficient to propose research beyond the existing literature
• Hands-on experience training and developing AI models, including Large Language Models

This is a permanent opportunity with a competitive salary package, additional clearance-related allowance and the chance to work on technically challenging, security-focused programmes. Due to the nature of the work, suitability and eligibility requirements will apply.

If you have the relevant background and would be open to a confidential conversation, please get in touch.

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