Data Scientist (ML Engineer) in Manchester

Do you want to do meaningful work that makes a genuine difference to society? Our main purpose here at The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is to improve health and wellbeing by putting science and evidence at the heart of health and care decision‑making. As an organisation we all collaborate to achieve this goal by empowering our workforce to do great things!

We're looking for a Data Scientist (ML Engineer) to help NICE apply machine learning and advanced analytics to real‑world health and care challenges. Working within the Architecture & Data team, you’ll design, build and deploy robust machine learning solutions that support evidence‑based decision making, improve data practices, and enable the responsible use of AI across the organisation. You'll combine strong technical expertise with clear communication, ethical awareness and a collaborative mindset to turn complex data into meaningful insight.

Main duties of the job:

• Design, build and deploy scalable machine learning models and pipelines, from data preparation through to monitoring and optimisation in production.
• Apply advanced analytical, statistical and machine learning techniques to solve complex business problems and support organisational priorities.
• Ensure all work meets high standards for data governance, ethics, privacy and security, championing responsible and transparent use of AI.
• Collaborate closely with data scientists, engineers and stakeholders to translate business needs into effective technical solutions.
• Evaluate model performance and outcomes, continuously improving models, data quality and analytical approaches.
• Contribute to building machine learning and AI capability across NICE through technical leadership, knowledge sharing, and support to colleagues.

About us: The Architecture & Data team sits at the heart of NICE’s digital transformation, setting the direction for how data, analytics and architecture are used across the organisation. As a centre of excellence, the team defines standards, embeds strong data governance, and enables high‑quality, impactful delivery. Working closely with teams across NICE, it supports responsible innovation and ensures data is used effectively to improve health and care outcomes.

Benefits:

• Generous NHS pension – Secure your future with one of the most rewarding pension schemes in the UK.
• Flexible working – Enjoy a healthy work‑life balance with options like remote working, compressed hours and flexible start/finish times.
• Exclusive discounts – Save on shopping, dining and more with a Blue Light Card.
• Time to recharge – Start with 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Inclusive staff networks – Join supportive communities like Women in NICE, Race Equality Network, Disability Advocacy and NICE and Proud – we celebrate diversity.
• Tailored development – Grow your career with personalised learning and development opportunities.

Job responsibilities:

To be considered for this role, you should be able to particularly demonstrate the person specification criteria in the job advert in your application. However, applicants should be able to demonstrate all essential criteria through the entirety of the recruitment process to be considered for the job.

Person Specification:

Education / Qualifications: Holds highly developed specialist knowledge and expertise acquired through a master’s degree level or equivalent qualification/experience. Additionally, holds specialist knowledge of the relevant area(s) of expertise as outlined in the person specification, acquired through relevant practical experience and training/development. Artificial intelligence certification.

Experience: Extensive hands‑on experience designing, building and deploying machine learning and AI solutions, with the ability to select appropriate techniques and evaluate model performance critically. Strong programming and data engineering capability, including writing complex code, working with large and complex datasets, and collaborating closely with data engineers and data scientists to deliver robust analytical products.

Skills / Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of applied mathematics, statistics, and numerical analysis, with experience using techniques such as optimisation, time series analysis, simulation or predictive modelling to generate insight and support decision making. Excellent communication skills, with experience presenting analytical outputs clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences and working effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.