Principal AI & Algorithms Engineer (Defence & Security)

Responsibilities

We are representing a confidential defence technology consultancy seeking a Principal AI & Algorithms Engineer to join their specialized team. In this senior technical role, you will:

• Architect algorithmic solutions for machine learning, AI, applied statistics, and sensor processing projects, employing techniques such as digital signal processing, simulation, and numerical optimization
• Serve as technical lead on large-scale, complex projects, owning the technical solution and ensuring delivery of client value
• Set technical direction across the department and act as technical reviewer, with your expertise sought by engineering colleagues
• Lead proposal development and create costed work programmes, translating client challenges into deliverable solutions
• Drive internal capability development and demonstrators that maintain competitive advantage and create new client opportunities
• Mentor engineers and participate in technical interviews to support team growth and recruitment
• Contribute to departmental processes and technical standards improvement

This role requires hybrid working, with some projects requiring full-time office presence. Security clearance is required from the outset, as much of the work involves defence and security applications.

What We're Looking For

Our client seeks an experienced engineer with the technical breadth to lead algorithmic work across multidisciplinary teams and the commercial acumen to help create and win new business.

Required qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience designing and delivering advanced algorithms for intelligent systems, including work on defence or security projects
• Technical expertise in one or more of: transformer models, diffusion models, reinforcement learning, machine vision, or perception
• Strong undergraduate degree in AI/machine learning, computer science, mathematics, physics, or related technical field (PhD welcome but not required; deep industrial expertise is what matters)
• Strong Python skills and solid software engineering judgment
• Proven ability to architect technical approaches on complex projects and review others' work, including working autonomously as the technical authority
• Experience mentoring and developing engineers
• Track record working with non-technical stakeholders
• Interest in working directly with clients and contributing to proposals and sales conversations
• Genuine affinity for working in the defence and security sector
• Must hold or be eligible to obtain UK Security Check (SC) level clearance; must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law

Valued additional experience:

• Signal processing, edge computing, statistical modelling, numerical optimization, or simulation
• Building client relationships and leading technical aspects of sales campaigns and proposals
• External profile through publications, conference presentations, or shareable project credentials
• PhD or published research in a data-driven field

How We Work with You

When you apply through Get A Job.ai, our talent team will carefully review your profile and conduct an initial screening to understand your background and career goals. If there's a strong match, we will submit your credentials to our client for consideration. Please note that you should not contact the client directly—all communication and coordination will flow through our recruiting team to ensure the best experience for everyone involved.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process based on experience and qualifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive recruiting practices. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and work to ensure fair consideration throughout our process.