Machine Learning Engineer – Defence & National Security

Locations: Poole | Hereford | Remote (UK-wide with travel)

Our client is a specialist AI consultancy delivering safe, impactful, and human-centric AI solutions to government, defence, and national security organisations. With over a decade of experience and a track record of supporting hundreds of global customers, they are at the forefront of applied AI — taking cutting-edge research into real-world deployment at scale.

They are now hiring a Machine Learning Engineer to join their Defence & National Security team. This role offers the opportunity to design, build, and operationalise production-grade AI systems that directly impact high-stakes projects in the UK.

What you’ll be doing

• Designing, building, and deploying software, infrastructure, and MLOps systems that leverage machine learning.
• Working in cross-functional teams with engineers, data scientists, product managers, and designers.
• Developing scalable, reusable tools that accelerate ML delivery.
• Providing technical expertise to customers and mentoring junior engineers.
• Contributing to the scope, design, and technical delivery of complex projects.
• Embedding best practices for AI systems in production, balancing technical, ethical, and operational requirements.

What we’re looking for

• Active SC clearance (minimum 5 years UK residency required).
• Strong software engineering skills, with proficiency in Python.
• Experience across the ML lifecycle, including deploying models built in PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Scikit-learn.
• Hands-on cloud experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Knowledge of Docker and Kubernetes, with practical containerisation experience.
• Understanding of probability, statistics, and ML techniques.
• Strong communication skills, able to engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience mentoring or leading junior engineers is an advantage.

Travel & Location

• Open to applicants from anywhere in the UK.
• Travel to Poole or Hereford up to 2/3 days per week
• Majority of work can be done remotely.
• Salary range: £60,000 – £90,000 depending on experience.
• Work on AI projects with direct impact in defence and national security.
• Join a high-calibre team working at the cutting edge of applied AI.
• Hybrid working with flexibility across the UK.
• Opportunity to shape how machine learning is operationalised at scale.