At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop advanced AI models to solve real-world problems and drive innovation.
- Company: Join Santander, a tech-driven organisation transforming the banking landscape.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 30 days holiday, private medical insurance, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with global growth opportunities and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in AI while collaborating with talented professionals.
- Qualifications: 6-8 years experience with datasets and a degree in Computer Science or related field.
The predicted salary is between 76000 - 114000 £ per year.
Country: United Kingdom
IT STARTS HERE
Santander is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.
Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.
The Chief Data & AI Office (CDAIO) at Santander is responsible for setting the strategic direction for data, analytics, and artificial intelligence across the organisation. It ensures that data is managed as a trusted enterprise asset and that advanced technologies are applied responsibly, securely, and effectively to create value for customers and the business.
THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE
The Chief Data & AI Office (CDAIO) is looking for a Senior Data Scientist based out of Milton Keynes. This role is a fixed term contract. As a Senior Data Scientist, you will work with vast datasets to develop models that solve real-world problems, collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines, and connect with the broader AI community to push scientific and practical boundaries.
We are looking for curious, driven Data & AI scientists who want their work to drive innovation with real impact. If you love tackling big challenges, banking offers some of the most complex and high-stakes AI problems, from risk management to financial inclusion, done responsibly and on a scale.
We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:
- Research, design, and implement advanced AI algorithms (ML, DL, NLP, and beyond) to solve complex problems.
- Leading the development and implementation of advanced analytics solutions, including predictive modelling, machine learning and statistical analysis to solve complex business problems.
- Translate business challenges into scientific problem statements and build impactful ML/AI prototypes and models that deliver business impact.
- Work with large-scale structured and unstructured data to develop models that are accurate, fair, and sustainable.
- Collaborate with Data Engineers, ML Ops Engineers, Product Owners, and Business Stakeholders to deploy solutions into production.
- Contribute to AI best practices, model governance, and responsible AI frameworks.
- Stay current with the latest AI research and integrate relevant tools and techniques.
- Communicate insights and results clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Foster collaboration with academia and the global AI community to bring cutting-edge research into Santander.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Professional Experience: Ideally, 6-8 years of experience working with vast datasets and developing models. (Required).
- Education: Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent work experience supported by professional certification/licences. (Required).
- Languages: English. (Required)
- Hard Skills: Knows the existing state-of-art advance analytics and analyses their different business applications. (Required).
- Participates in the design and development of data mining applications. (Required).
- Monitors the operation and performance of machine learning projects. (Required).
- Soft Skills: Conducts walkthroughs and monitors the quality of development activities. (Required).
- Provides management reports that identify potential business performance problems. (Required).
- Knowledge of the how's and why's of preparing and justifying business cases and value propositions; ability to justify business expenditures by identifying cost, benefits, ROI, opportunities, and risks. (Required).
- Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience. (Required).
WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT
At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.
Salary Range: £76,000.00 - £114,000.00 per annum (depending on experience). This salary range represents the expected remuneration for the role. Annual salary is based on a standard 35-hour working week. Actual salary offered will depend on skills, experience, qualifications and location.
30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, which increases to 31 days after 5 years service, with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year.
£6,000 car allowance per year.
Company funded individual private medical insurance. Protection for you and your family, with company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover.
Share in Santander’s success by saving or investing in our share plans. As a Santander UK employee, you are able to request staff versions of our products like our Edge Current Accounts and Credit Cards with no fees, as well as apply to many other deals and discounts in Santander products and services.
Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring.
Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.
Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support.
Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve.
Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network.
Ready to be recognised? It starts with you.
LOCAL COMPLIANCE
At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates. We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow.
To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location(s).
Right to work in the UK: All candidates must have the right to work in the UK to commence employment with Santander.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. If there’s anything we can do in the recruitment process to help you achieve your best, get in touch. Whether it’s a copy of our application form in another format or additional assistance, we’re available through email. You can contact us at resourcing@santander.co.uk.
Senior Data Scientist | S4 | Chief Data & AI Office | Milton Keynes employer: Banco Santander
Banco Santander is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where professionals can thrive in their careers while contributing to the success of clients in the natural resources sector. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous holiday allowances, Santander fosters a collaborative culture that empowers its team members to achieve their strategic goals and exceed income targets.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Data Scientist | S4 | Chief Data & AI Office | Milton Keynes
✨Tap into Online Data Science Communities
Join online communities focused on data science like Kaggle, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit threads. These are goldmines for temporary gigs, as you can network with professionals and potentially hear about opportunities at companies like Banco Santander before they're even advertised!
✨Show Off Your Skills With Projects
Got some cool data science projects? Showcase them on platforms like GitHub or create a personal portfolio website. This visibility is crucial for landing temporary roles—let recruiters see your actual skills in action, which can set you apart from the crowd.
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If you're currently at uni or recently graduated, tap into your school's career services. They often have connections with companies looking for temporary data science interns or contract workers, and they might even host job fairs with employers like Banco Santander.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Data Scientist | S4 | Chief Data & AI Office | Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at Banco Santander, make sure to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on. Whether it's a personal project, an academic undertaking, or contributions to an open-source initiative, detailing these experiences can really set you apart and demonstrate your practical skills.
Emphasise Your Analytical Skills:In your CV and cover letter, focus on the specific analytical skills that are key to data science. Mention any experience with statistical tools, programming languages like Python or R, and data visualisation software. Don't forget to include any certifications that may bolster your expertise!
Show Your Flexibility:Since this is a temporary role, it's important to convey your adaptability and willingness to learn. In your cover letter to Banco Santander, emphasise how quickly you can get up to speed with new tools or projects. Highlight any previous experiences where you've had to adjust to new environments or challenges.
Craft a Unique Data-Driven Cover Letter:Instead of the usual generic cover letter, spice it up with some data! Maybe you’ve improved a process by 20% in a past role or cleaned a dataset with over a million entries. Use these stats to your advantage to grab Banco Santander’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Banco Santander
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
For a data science gig, it's crucial to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Be ready to discuss previous projects and the methodologies you used. Think about how you can quantify your impact—did your analysis improve efficiency or save costs? These are the stories that will stick with interviewers at Banco Santander.
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
You might face technical questions on tools relevant to data science, like Python, R, or SQL. Prepare to solve a problem live—perhaps they'll ask you to write a simple query or code snippet. It’s cool to talk about them, but we need to show we can do it in practice, especially in a temporary role where quick results matter.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools or workflows. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments before, and how you can hit the ground running at Banco Santander.
✨Prepare a Portfolio of Your Work
Bring your portfolio to the table—showcase projects where you've leveraged data science techniques to solve problems. Whether it’s a GitHub repository or a set of case studies, having tangible examples of your work will help you stand out and show what you bring to the team at Banco Santander.
