Principal Data Scientist & Machine Learning Researcher

Location: Gloucester, South Gloucestershire

 Position Role Type: Hybrid Raytheon UK has a perm opportunity for a Principal Data Scientist and Machine Learning Researcher to join our Strategic Research Group (SRG). As a Principal Data Scientist and Machine Learning Researcher, you will work with high levels of autonomy and be responsible for the design, planning and technical leadership of multiple AI/ML projects. You will help lead and set technical and strategic direction for the group, support with customer and stakeholder engagement and deliver technical solutions on internal and external projects. The Strategic Research Group (SRG) is a team of Data Science, Machine Learning and AI specialists who develop novel AI solutions to mission focussed problems. This opportunity is available in our Gloucester, Manchester or London team, working in a hybrid capacity (average of 3 days a week on-site). You must already hold or be able to gain SC clearance (required on Day 1) and eDV clearance (once started).

Support the Head of Data Science & Machine Learning using your experience to contribute to the group strategy and stakeholder engagement. Bring ideas for novel research that will drive competitive advantage in across our customer community. Work with autonomy to develop complex, novel data science solutions. Support in triaging and responding to opportunities, aligning to the group and wider business strategies. Design and deliver data-centric solutions while working collaboratively across disciplines. Technical delivery of research and applied AI/ML tasks on both customer and internal research projects. Provide technical leadership across multiple projects. Manage more junior team members across the SRG. Deliver AI/ML/Data Science solutions to broad range of problems in defence. Work with customers and internal stakeholders to determine appropriate technical approaches and do the technical development required for delivery. Excellent communication skills, prepared to present and undertake practical demonstrations of work internally in the team, to senior stakeholders and at conferences with adaptability to audiences of different levels of technical expertise. Required Skills & Experience BSc in Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics or related field. Multiple years experience of delivering novel ML solutions to customers and internal stakeholders. Excellent coding practice using Python and associated ML packages (HuggingFace, TensorFlow, PyTorch), following best practices. Experience developing robust ML pipelines with MLOps tools for model training, monitoring and deployment. Experience of appropriate version control and environment management (such as venvs or Docker). Experience of writing technical project proposals. Experience of managing teams. This can be technical leadership and/or line management. Experience of leading teams following agile principles. Expert knowledge of AI/ML algorithms for different data types and tasks including Generative AI, NLP and computer vision, sufficient to be able to propose research beyond existing literature. Experience of training and developing AI models including Large Language Models. Ability to produce high-quality scientific writing for internal & external stakeholders as well as academic publications. Ability to work with high levels of autonomy, with awareness of appropriate business policies and strategy to dictate your actions. Desirable Skills & Experience PhD. or Masters degree highlighting experience of academic research. Experience of deploying AI models in a scalable way for external users. Experience developing supporting systems for AI deployments (e.g. backend databases, front end UIs) Working knowledge of Linux systems, using basic commandline functionality (e.g. AWS CLI, Docker CLI, Linux commands like ssh, ls, cd…) Experience working in Cloud,