At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex software and AI projects in the Defence sector, delivering innovative solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company with a focus on collaboration and growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working, and a generous development budget.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in Defence while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Degree in a technical field and experience in software or AI project leadership.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Staff Engineer to lead the technical delivery of complex software, data, and AI projects, focusing on the Defence sector. This role combines deep technical expertise with project leadership and client engagement. You will quickly grasp new problem spaces, work with domain experts, and deliver robust, production-ready solutions to complex challenges across software engineering and specialised domains.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Technical Leadership and Engineering: Own the technical direction and architecture of projects, making sound engineering decisions. Oversee the delivery of high-quality, maintainable and production-ready code. Design and develop backend services, APIs, data pipelines and integrations. Build AI systems, including solutions using Large Language Models and machine learning. Review code and technical designs. Apply software engineering best practice including Git, Docker, CI/CD and cloud deployment.
- Defence and Domain Expertise: Rapidly understand unfamiliar and complex scientific, engineering, mathematical, operational and business domains to solve difficult client problems. Develop sufficient domain understanding to challenge assumptions, identify the underlying problem and make informed technical decisions. Work effectively with Defence clients and subject matter experts, understanding the importance of operational context, technical constraints and real-world application. Apply strong analytical and first-principles thinking to problems involving complex systems, data and physical or operational environments. Bring relevant experience and understanding of the Defence sector to help shape credible and practical technical solutions.
- Project and Client Delivery: Lead project delivery teams, providing technical direction and removing blockers. Build strong client relationships and lead client meetings, workshops and technical discussions. Collaborate with stakeholders to understand operational and business needs and translate these into appropriate technical strategies. Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Wider Contribution: Contribute to technical discovery, project scoping, bids and proposal writing. Contribute to technical standards, reusable approaches and engineering best practice. Actively seek out new opportunities to learn and develop.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
- Degree in a quantitative or technical field such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, statistics or data science.
- Experience of successfully leading complex software or AI projects from design to deployment.
- Experience working within the Defence sector, or in closely related technical, engineering or national security environments.
- Experience of rapidly developing an understanding of complex domain-specific problems and using this knowledge to inform technical solutions.
- Experience of leading client meetings and presenting technical concepts to senior stakeholders and subject matter experts.
- Experience of developing high-quality software in Python.
- Experience of developing backend services, APIs and data engineering pipelines.
- Experience of using cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, Docker, Git and CI/CD.
- Experience of designing or developing machine learning and AI systems, including Large Language Models.
- Experience of completing code and technical design reviews and applying software engineering best practices.
- Extensive knowledge of software engineering concepts, architecture and best practice.
- Strong understanding of backend development, APIs, databases and data engineering.
- Practical knowledge and experience of developing AI solutions, including Large Language Models and machine learning.
- Ability to rapidly understand complex scientific, engineering, mathematical and business domains.
- Ability to think strategically, solve complex technical problems and make sound engineering decisions.
- Ability to successfully lead technical project teams.
- Ability to work effectively with external stakeholders, understand business goals and manage expectations.
- Ability to mentor and provide technical guidance to other engineers and data scientists.
- Excellent organisational skills, including project planning and time management.
- Effective problem-solving and analytical skills, with high attention to detail.
INTERVIEW PROCESS:
- Stage 1: 20 min video call with a member of the hiring team.
- Stage 2: 45 mins live coding task in Python.
- Stage 3: 90 min F2F interview in our London office.
OUR BENEFITS:
- Competitive compensation package including annual performance bonus and equity.
- 26 days of annual leave, 8 bank holidays plus your birthday off.
- BUPA Private Healthcare.
- Enhanced family leave.
- £1,000 annual development budget.
- Flexible hybrid working (1 day a week in our modern Shoreditch office).
- Remote working from anywhere in the world for up to 4 weeks each year.
- Latest tech that suits your needs: high-spec Windows machine or a MacBook.
- Free snacks and drinks, and regular team socials.
- Supportive entrepreneurial environment offering a ton of autonomy and opportunity to work on a variety of projects, technologies and industries.
Join us and realise your full potential in a collaborative, forward-thinking team, where your work will help shape the future.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DEI: At ADSP, we are committed to fostering an inclusive hiring process and believe in creating an environment where all candidates have equal opportunities to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Staff Engineer (Defence) in London employer: Applied Data Science Partners
At ADSP, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for our Staff Engineer role in the vibrant Shoreditch area. Our supportive and entrepreneurial work culture fosters autonomy and innovation, while our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our generous development budget and flexible working arrangements. Join us to collaborate on cutting-edge Defence projects and enjoy a competitive benefits package that includes private healthcare and ample annual leave.
Contact Details:
Applied Data Science Partners Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer (Defence) in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Applied Data Science Partners or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
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We think you need these skills to ace Staff Engineer (Defence) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Applied Data Science Partners.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Applied Data Science Partners and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Applied Data Science Partners
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Applied Data Science Partners uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
