At a Glance
- Tasks: Transform streaming data into actionable insights to combat piracy.
- Company: Join Friend MTS, a leader in content protection and anti-piracy solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days leave, enhanced pension, and flexible benefits.
- Other info: Access mentorship from senior data scientists in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on media security while developing your data science skills.
- Qualifications: Recent degree in a quantitative field and strong Python skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About Friend MTS
Friend MTS is the world’s leading provider of content protection and anti-piracy solutions. We help the biggest brands in media, sports, and entertainment - including global broadcasters and sports leagues - protect their high-value content. Through Emmy® Award-winning forensic watermarking and real-time monitoring, we disrupt piracy at its source.
The Role
As a Junior Data Scientist, you will join our growing Data Science team to help us turn vast amounts of streaming and network data into actionable security intelligence. This is a unique opportunity to work on real-world problems where your models directly contribute to identifying illegal activity. While we operate in a niche industry, we are looking for a generalist Data Scientist; no prior experience in anti-piracy or media security is expected. There is a wide variety of work across the business, ranging from data analysis and optimisation to modeling in multiple different areas. You should be comfortable pivoting between different types of data problems as the business evolves. This is a hybrid role that offers location flexibility, allowing you to be based at either our London or Birmingham office. You will be required to comfortably commute to your designated office location at least twice per week.
Key Responsibilities
- Data Analysis & Exploration: Clean and process large datasets to uncover insights and trends within the noise of global streaming traffic.
- Prototyping & Visualization: Build internal tools and interactive dashboards using Plotly and Streamlit to communicate findings to technical and operational teams.
- Modelling & Optimization: Develop and apply various machine learning and statistical models to solve diverse business problems.
- Collaborative Development: Partner with our engineering teams to ensure models are robust and ready for real-world application.
- AI Integration: Actively leverage modern AI coding assistants to accelerate development and maintain high code quality.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- AI-Assisted Development: Deep experience leveraging AI tools daily for co-pilot programming is a must (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.). You should be highly efficient at using these tools to write, debug, and optimise code.
- Programming: Strong, professional-level proficiency in Python is essential.
- Cloud Platforms: Familiarity with cloud environments, specifically AWS (S3, etc.).
- Education: A recent degree (BSc, MSc, or PhD) in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering.
- SQL: Solid ability to query and manipulate relational databases.
- Problem Solving: A structured approach to tackling complex problems and an ability to think "outside the box" when looking at varied datasets.
Desirable (But Not Essential)
- Anomalous Pattern Detection: Experience or interest in identifying outlier behaviour and suspicious trends.
- Computer Vision: General interest or experience in Computer Vision.
- Big Data: Experience with Big Data tools such as PySpark or Databricks.
- Communication: Ability to explain technical findings clearly to stakeholders.
What We Offer
- 25 days of annual leave (Incl. Bank Holidays) + 1 day off for your birthday
- Enhanced Pension - 5% employee and 5% employer contribution
- Life Assurance - on the successful completion of your probation (4x your salary)
- BUPA (on the successful completion of your probation)
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave (after a qualifying period)
- Various Learning and Development Platforms
- A flexible Benefits and Wellbeing Platform
- Full tech set up to ensure you have what you need to be successful in your role
- Weekly breakfasts in the office
- Mentorship: Direct access to senior data scientists and engineers in a supportive, high-growth environment.
- Impact: The chance to work on technology that protects some of the most valuable media rights in the world.
- Growth: A clear career progression path within a private-equity-backed, global tech company.
Here at Friend MTS, we are dedicated to nurturing and expanding a culture of belonging where everyone feels seen, heard, valued for who they are. By embracing the diversity of our people (and future people!) we achieve our best work, together. We ensure that at all stages of our hiring process, your education level, neurodivergence, background, race, religion, colour, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability will not influence your chances for selection.
If you are interested in applying for a role at Friend MTS and need special assistance, please make us aware and we will support you in accommodating this.
Junior Data Scientist in Birmingham employer: Friend MTS
At Friend MTS, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Junior Data Scientist, you'll benefit from a flexible hybrid working model, generous annual leave, and a clear career progression path within a supportive environment. With direct access to experienced mentors and the opportunity to work on impactful projects in the media security sector, you'll find meaningful growth and development in your role.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Data Scientist in Birmingham
✨Embrace Online Competitions
Get involved in online data science competitions like Kaggle or DrivenData. These platforms not only let you showcase your skills but also help you build a portfolio that stands out to hiring companies like Friend MTS when you're aiming for that entry-level role.
✨Join Data Science Meetups
Look for local data science meetups or workshops happening in your area. These are perfect for connecting with industry professionals and fellow newbies, giving us the chance to learn the ropes and get our foot in the door at companies like Friend MTS.
✨Networking Through University Career Services
Don't forget to leverage your university's career services! They often have exclusive internships and networking events specifically for entry-level data science positions. This is a golden opportunity to meet recruiters from companies like Friend MTS.
✨Spotlight Your Skills Online
Create a strong online presence by sharing your projects and insights on platforms like GitHub or LinkedIn. Make sure to apply directly through Friend MTS’s career page, where your unique skills can shine in their entry-level data science openings!
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Data Scientist in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Data Skills:As you're aiming for an entry-level data science role at Friend MTS, don't forget to highlight your proficiency in programming languages like Python or R. Dive into your CV and mention any relevant projects or coursework that demonstrate your data analysis skills or machine learning knowledge.
Include Relevant Projects:If you've done any data-related projects, whether in your studies or during a personal quest, showcase them in a portfolio. This gives us a tangible sense of your capabilities and shows your hands-on experience with data manipulation, visualisation, or model building.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:When crafting your cover letter, make sure to express your enthusiasm for data science and how this role at Friend MTS aligns with your career goals. Consider sharing why you’re drawn to data-driven decision-making and how you see yourself growing in this field.
Show Your Curiosity:In the data science world, curiosity is key! Mention any online courses or certifications you've pursued that complement your studies. This could be anything from a statistics certification to a data visualisation workshop. It shows us you're serious about learning and growing in this field.
How to prepare for a job interview at Friend MTS
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, the interview may involve some statistical questions or problems. Make sure you're comfortable with concepts like probability, distributions, and hypothesis testing. This will not only help you answer questions but also show your analytical thinking.
✨Get Hands-On with Tools
Familiarise yourself with popular data science tools like Python, R, and SQL. If you're asked about specific projects, be ready to discuss the tools you used and how they contributed to your analysis. Showing that you not only know the theory but can apply it is essential!
✨Showcase Relevant Projects
As an entry-level candidate, your portfolio is crucial. Bring along examples of data projects you've worked on, whether during your studies or personal projects. Discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them, highlighting your problem-solving skills.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Entry-level interviews in data science often include case studies where you'll have to analyse a dataset or solve a problem on the spot. Try out some practice case studies beforehand, so you're not caught off guard. It's all about displaying your thought process and how you tackle data-driven challenges!
