Senior Machine Learning Engineer (National Security)

TL;DR

Senior Machine Learning Engineer (National Security): Developing and deploying robust AI/ML systems to solve critical National Security challenges with an accent on production-ready machine learning solutions and onsite client engagement. Focus on rapid prototyping, architectural decision-making, and ensuring system reliability in complex operational environments.

Location: Must be based in or able to commute to Gloucestershire, UK. Role requires UK Developed Vetting (DV) clearance or eligibility to obtain it.

Salary: £78,800–£95,200 per annum

Company

Mind Foundry specializes in building applied AI solutions for complex and urgent challenges in Defence and National Security.

What you will do

• Lead technical scoping and make architectural decisions for professional-level ML solutions.
• Design and build robust, production-ready ML prototypes and applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product Managers and ML Scientists.
• Write maintainable production code and promote best practices for code quality.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide training to customers on ML solutions.
• Explain core ML concepts to stakeholders and partners.

Requirements

• Must hold or be eligible for UK Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.
• Must be able to work primarily onsite in Gloucestershire.
• Strong proficiency in Python and production-grade software engineering.
• Hands-on experience with Docker, Linux, CI/CD, MLOps, and cloud platforms.
• Degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or equivalent experience.
• Ability to work in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.

Nice to have

• Experience with government, defence, or military environments.
• Knowledge of NLP, LLMs, or Image Processing.
• Experience with data streaming (Spark, Kafka) and microservices (Flask, FastAPI).
• Ability to create technical documentation and published papers.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary with salary sacrifice pension scheme.
• Private healthcare including dental and optical cover.
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.
• Enhanced paid parental and sickness leave.
• Professional and personal development support.
• Pet-friendly office environment.

Hiring process

• Initial discussion with the People team.
• TestDome coding exercise.
• Technical interviews including a presentation and live coding.
• In-person meeting with the team in Oxford.