AI/ML Researcher

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Al/ML Researcher

Location: Reading (Hybrid Working)

Do you have an inquisitive and technical problem-solving mind? Are you a good communicator and a team player? Would you like to work in a supportive environment? Got your interest, then look no further…

Our Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity in our Research, Technology and Innovation business. Due to a rapid period of growth we are looking to add AI/ML Research Engineers to the team. You will be a key member of the AI/ML research team within RTI and the AI Centre. The type of activities will include:

• Carry out fundamental feasibility studies, state-of-the-art surveys and modelling/simulation.
• Develop proof of concept demonstrators using appropriate software and hardware implementations.
• Work within a research team to invent and explore new concepts and technologies and demonstrate their applicability to the Thales businesses.
  
  
  

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Leading small teams accelerating AI/ML core research in-particular deep learning in Thales UK.
• Developing state-of-art AI/ML solutions to business problems
• Coordinating with other research groups namely AI V&V, Human-Machine Teaming and applied AI.
• Help grow AI/ML research team capability and personnel.
• Under the governance of the Thales corporate technical strategy, investigate and develop new technologies and concepts up to (Technology Readiness Level) TRL5 of relevance across multiple market domains and a wide range of application areas.
• The successful candidate will be expected to be at the forefront of defining our research and development strategy within the area of AI & ML, whilst being comfortable to work within and potentially lead a group of researchers to deliver this strategy.
• To deliver work to agreed milestones and deadlines
  
  
  

About You

• Be self-motivated to drive the work forward;
• Have excellent communication skills, with the ability to understand and convey complex concepts;
• Have an ability to listen to customers, interpret their needs, seek clarification and reach agreement, with a view to developing long lasting relationships;
• Be able to support higher management;
• Most importantly will be passionate for, and a demonstrable deep interest and continual hunger to develop in the area of ML/AI.
  
  
  

Skills and Experience:

• The successful candidate will typically have a minimum of three years of experience in an appropriate AI/ML research or advanced development environment role.
• Track record of working in, and delivering research in AI/ML roles.
• In-depth understanding of AI/ML research, in-particular deep learning techniques
• E.g. Understanding of what foundation models are, how they can be trained with self-supervised learning and how they can be adapted to various downstream tasks.
• Python with deep understanding of Pytorch (Tensorflow is OK but they would have to learn Pytorch).
• Ability to understand complex new data and adapt existing technology to work with new datasets
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to understand and convey complex concepts.
• We also expect candidates to be proficient in the use of standard PC-based office tools. We currently use Microsoft tools: Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project & Visio.
  
  
  

Desirable:

• Experience in deployment of deep learning into production (developing robust ML-OPs pipelines).
• C++, Matlab, Java experience.
• Deployment of deep learning into edge devices, GPUs and FPGAs.
• Domain knowledge in various Imagery, acoustic and time-series datasets.
  
  
  

Qualifications:

• The successful candidate will typically have an Honours degree (minimum 2.1), a Master’s degree, or a PhD in an appropriate scientific or engineering discipline.
  
  
  

Security Clearance statement

This role requires SC level security clearance without caveats/restrictions (Either current or ability to gain full clearance is essential). For more information and guidance, please visit the UKSV website.

What We Can Offer

We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

What the role has to offer:

• The opportunity to join a world-class company of 80,000 employees and with operations in 68 countries
• Working with a supportive and friendly team.
• The opportunity for development and progression at all levels of the organisation and the support to succeed wherever you want to take your career in the future
  
  
  

Benefits At Thales

Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a variable compensation plan bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm
• Hybrid working
• Pension Scheme
• 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)
• Life Cover
• Progression and Development Opportunities
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Development focused targets and relocation support can be provided if required along with a variety of learning, development and career enhancement opportunities.
  
  
  

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!