Junior Machine Learning Research Engineer

Job Title: Junior Machine Learning Research Engineer

Salary: £40,000-£52,000

Location: Cambridge – Triangle/Hybrid (2 days per week in the office)

Contract: Full Time/Permanent (35 hours per week)

Shape the future of AI-powered learning solutions with Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

This is an exciting opportunity for two Junior Machine Learning Research Engineers to join our innovative Applied AI team. You\’ll contribute to developing, deploying, and maintaining cutting-edge AI capabilities that drive the success of Cambridge English\’s products and services.

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organization and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

About the Role
As a Junior Machine Learning Research Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in driving innovation and advancing AI-powered solutions that enhance Cambridge English products. Your expertise will contribute to the continuous improvement of existing models and the development of cutting-edge technologies that address future business needs.
Key Responsibilities:

• Help develop, deploy, and maintain scalable AI-powered solutions for Cambridge English products.
• Optimize and modularize models for reusability and performance.
• Collaborate with product, validation, and business teams to transform capabilities into impactful product features.
• Stay at the forefront of AI and machine learning trends to position Cambridge as a leader in AI-driven assessment and learning.
• Plan, prioritize, and manage own tasks aligned with business objectives.

We are also looking for 2 Senior Machine Learning Research Engineers (1x permanent, 1x fixed term) and 1 Machine Learning Research Engineer (permanent). Please visit the linked job postings to apply for these roles.

About You
To thrive in this role, you\’ll have a passion for AI-driven innovation and the ability to turn ideas into scalable solutions.
Essential Qualifications & Skills:

• First class Bachelor\’s or Master\’s degree (or equivalent qualifications and experience) in machine learning or AI/computer science with a substantial machine learning component.
• Excellent programming skills in languages such as Python and shell scripting with a strong focus on code optimization, modular design, and efficiency.
• Demonstrable experience in developing, training, and deploying models using frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow.
• Strong understanding of data analysis, model evaluation, and error analysis to drive continuous model improvement.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to continuous learning, staying current with state-of-the-art research and applying emerging AI techniques

Desirable:

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively in Agile/Scrum teams and contribute to cross-functional projects.Industry experience in applying ML to real-world problems.
• Experience applying machine learning to educational assessment and learning solutions.
• Hands-on experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) or foundation models, including fine-tuning and adapting models for specific, production-level applications.
• Knowledge of software DevOps practices, including experience with CI/CD pipelines, containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), and cloud deployment on platforms like AWS.
• PhD (or equivalent qualifications and experience) in machine learning or AI/computer science
• Exposure to research-oriented work or contributions to open-source projects in the AI domain.
• Internship experience in AI/ML
• Experience in contributing to patents, or academic papers related to ML.

Rewards and Benefits
We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Group personal pension scheme
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
• Green travel schemes

We also offer flexible and hybrid working options from day one. We will consider any work arrangements if you wish to work flexibly or require adjustments due to a disability.

Ready to pursue potential? Apply now.
To maintain a fair recruitment process, applications will only be accepted via our online careers page. Applications emailed directly to the recruiter may not be received by the hiring team.

We review applications on an ongoing basis, with a closing date for all applications being 28th September, although we may close it earlier if suitable candidates are identified. Interviews are scheduled to take place as deemed suitable before or after the closing date.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks, including a DBS check, due to working in a regulated industry.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to the gov.uk website for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.

Why join us
Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You\’ll belong to a collaborative team that\’s exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers, and researchers across the globe-for the benefit of individuals, society, and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development, and progress in an environment that embraces difference, change, and aspiration.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where everyone has a voice, and where we learn continuously to improve together. Ensuring that everyone feels they belong is essential to who we are and to the contribution we make to society and our planet.

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background, and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities. #J-18808-Ljbffr