Machine Learning Engineer (Forward Deployed) in Oxford

Security / Eligibility: You will need to hold existing or be eligible for UK Developed Vetting (DV), details of which can be found on the Gov UK website.

Overview: We’re looking for a Machine Learning Engineer (Forward Deployed) to join a supportive, multidisciplinary team delivering real-world AI/ML systems into operational environments. In this role, you’ll lead software deployments, working closely with users and stakeholders to translate their problems into robust, production-ready machine learning solutions. You’ll rapidly explore, prototype, and deploy ML approaches both within and beyond our core product offerings, taking ownership from initial concept through to live operation. Working at the forefront of applied AI alongside experts across multiple disciplines, you’ll help users defend against Defence and National Security threats, directly contributing to safer, more resilient systems deployed where they matter most.

Mind Foundry works on some of the most complex and urgent challenges in Defence and National Security. We specialise in supporting customers across the community to make sense at the speed of relevance from the ever-increasing volumes of data collected by sensors and systems. We often find ourselves working at the edge in complex environments where power, compute, and bandwidth are in short supply. The work is challenging, the customer needs products and applications they can trust, and the sense of achievement is therefore substantial. This is an opportunity to innovate at the forefront of applied machine learning, tackle high-impact real-world problems, grow your technical skills, and shape the way AI/ML solutions are delivered to critical operational environments.

Because of the nature of this work: You will be required to travel to and work from client sites and partner locations. When not working onsite, this role can be office-based or hybrid from our Summertown, Oxford office.

Key day-to-day activities:

• Moving models from research/prototype to live, high-impact production environments, adapting those solutions to client-specific data, systems, and interfaces.
• Resolving unforeseen edge-cases and challenges, providing on-site fixes or relaying them back to the product team.
• Troubleshooting integration issues with existing systems.
• Working directly with product teams to maintain deep technical expertise in Mind Foundry's products, capabilities and workflows.
• Engaging directly with defence customers to translate their needs and goals into technical requirements.
• Providing hands-on support to end users.
• Extending and improving internal ML platforms, tooling, and best practices, incorporating learnings from deployments back into shared frameworks.

Core Skills & Experience:

• A Degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or a related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Strong engineer with demonstrated proficiency in programming languages such as Python, producing clean, reproducible, well-tested, and well-documented code suitable for long-term ownership and handover.
• Hands-on experience with production infrastructure, including Docker, Linux, CI/CD, MLOps, cloud platforms, and model serving architectures.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and comfortable solving technical problems with limited internet access.

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience working with government customers, defence contractors, or in military environments.
• Experience in areas of model development, data processing and streaming (Spark, Kafka), microservices in python (Flask or FastAPI), and interactive visualisations and User Interfaces (Streamlit, Plotly, Gradio etc).
• Broader software engineering experience (e.g. Java, Node.js, React, PostgreSQL, system architecture, DevOps).

Note: While we think the above experience is important, we’re keen to hear from people that believe they have valuable skills, ideas, or perspectives that will make an impact in this role. If our team and mission resonate with you, but you do not necessarily meet all of our requirements, we still encourage you to apply.

What do we offer? We believe in investing in our people by encouraging career and personal development that aligns with your goals and ambitions. We make sure all staff have the tools, time and support they need to shape their own professional development. We want to help you excel at what you do and support your growth within the company. You’ll enjoy a competitive compensation package and great benefits such as:

• Flexible hours
• Professional and personal development
• 25 days of annual leave (plus Bank Holidays and a company-wide break over Christmas)
• Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme with a 5% employer contribution (5% employee contribution)
• Private Healthcare (including dental and optical cover)
• Group Life Cover at three times your annual salary once you pass your probation period
• Enhanced Parental and Sickness Leave
• Workplace Nursery Scheme
• Dog-friendly office!

Interview Process:

• Initial discussion with the People team
• TestDome coding exercise
• 1 hour interview with two members of the Science & Engineering Team
• 90 minute technical interview, including a 10 minute presentation and live coding exercise
• In person meet the team at our Summertown office