At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and deploy cutting-edge AI systems for national security.
- Company: Pioneering sovereign AI company at the forefront of defence technology.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive contract rates, and hands-on experience in AI.
- Other info: Join a fast-growing team tackling complex challenges in a dynamic field.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security with innovative AI solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in AI, machine learning, and secure environments; UK SC clearance required.
The predicted salary is between 80100 - 97900 £ per year.
I'm currently supporting a pioneering sovereign AI company on the search for an experienced AI Engineer to join a fast-growing technical team developing and deploying advanced AI capabilities for some of the UK's most important defence and national-security programmes.
This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of AI and national security, building real-world AI systems that can operate in demanding, secure and mission-critical environments.
This is not a traditional data science or research role. You will be hands-on, taking AI capabilities from experimentation through to production, working across LLMs, agentic AI, machine learning and intelligent software systems.
You’ll work alongside experienced engineers, AI specialists, product teams and defence stakeholders, helping solve some of the sector's most complex challenges through innovative AI-enabled solutions.
The Role
- Contract Opportunity
- Hybrid Working – UK
- AI & Defence
- LLMs, Agentic AI & Machine Learning
- Sovereign & Secure AI
- Python and modern software engineering practices, Machine learning and deep learning and LLMs and Generative AI
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop and deploy production-grade AI systems for defence and national-security applications.
- Build and integrate LLM-based applications, agentic workflows, RAG pipelines and intelligent decision-support capabilities.
- Work closely with software engineers, data scientists and product teams to take AI capabilities from prototype through to production.
- Develop AI solutions that can operate securely within highly controlled and potentially classified environments.
National Security, Intelligence, Aerospace or another highly regulated environment would be highly advantageous. Active UK SC clearance is required.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, I’d love to hear from you. Simply reply with your latest CV to Matthew.Jury@Empiric.com.
FDE (Sovereign Defence AI) | Hybrid | Contract | UK in City of London employer: Empiric
Empiric stands out as an exceptional employer, offering a clear six-month roadmap for career progression and the opportunity to work with a globally recognised brand in technology recruitment. With a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and a commitment to excellence, you will thrive in an environment that values your contributions and fosters professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land FDE (Sovereign Defence AI) | Hybrid | Contract | UK in City of 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 Empiric 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
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Empiric.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Empiric.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
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We think you need these skills to ace FDE (Sovereign Defence AI) | Hybrid | Contract | UK in City of 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 Empiric.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Empiric 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 Empiric
✨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 Empiric 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.
