At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and deploy cutting-edge AI systems for defence and national security.
- Company: Join Oxford Dynamics, a fast-growing UK deep-tech company in AI and robotics.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, rapid career growth, private healthcare, and 29 days holiday.
- Other info: Collaborative culture where every team member influences the future of AI.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in high-stakes environments while working with innovative technology.
- Qualifications: Active SC clearance and experience in building multi-agent AI systems required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Active SC clearance is required for this role. We are hiring for multiple positions. Permanent roles. We will consider contractors with existing clearances on an initial basis.
Salary: Market rate - depending on experience
A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDERS
Oxford Dynamics is at an inflection point. We operate in some of the most complex and high‑stakes environments in the world - defence, national security, AI and robotics. The decisions we make now will define not just how fast we grow, but who we become. You will work closely with the entire team. You will be trusted with judgment calls. You will influence the business. And you will see the impact of your work every day. If you are excited by ownership, pace and purpose - and by building something that genuinely matters - we would love to hear from you.
Who We Are
Founded in 2020, Oxford Dynamics is a fast‑growing UK deep‑tech company developing AI and robotic systems designed to operate in mission‑critical environments. Our flagship AVIS (A Very Intelligent System) AI framework fuses multi‑modal data - text, imagery, telemetry and sensor feeds - enabling operators to interrogate complex information at speed and make better decisions under pressure. Our STRIDER robotic platform performs autonomous tasks in hazardous environments, protecting people while extending operational reach. Our ambition is simple but demanding: to converge AI and robotics so machines can sense, understand and act in complex, real‑world environments. We work with defence and security organisations internationally to help protect nations, infrastructure and lives.
What You Will Be Doing
We are looking for AI engineers who build and ship agentic AI systems in production. You will work at the cutting edge of agentic and generative AI - designing multi‑agent pipelines, integrating large language models and vision‑language models into real workflows, and deploying them into secure and air‑gapped environments for defence and national security customers. This is a delivery role. You will own features end‑to‑end - from design through to deployment in constrained environments where reliability and security matter more than speed to market.
Key Responsibilities
- Architect, build, and optimise multi‑agent AI systems using frameworks such as LangGraph, Haystack, or equivalent
- Integrate LLMs and vision‑language models into agent workflows for reasoning, search, summarisation, and task execution
- Deploy AI systems into cloud, on‑premises, and air‑gapped environments
- Build production‑ready pipelines from data ingestion through to inference
- Experience with observability for AI systems, including agent behaviour, model performance, and failure modes
- Collaborate with engineers, product leads, and customers to translate requirements into working systems
- Contribute to evaluation frameworks, system integration, and performance tracking
- Act as a technical authority for agentic AI - setting design patterns for junior engineers
Required
- Active SC clearance
- Commercial experience building multi‑agent or agentic AI systems in production
- Strong Python skills and hands‑on experience with LLM frameworks (LangGraph, LangChain, Haystack, or similar)
- Experience deploying AI/ML systems into production environments
- Familiarity with Docker, Git, and cloud platforms (AWS preferred)
- Understanding of secure deployment patterns - air‑gapped, on‑premises, or sovereign cloud
Preferred
- Experience with multimodal reasoning
- Experience with edge or offline AI deployments
- Familiarity with Kubernetes (EKS/OpenShift) for monitoring and managing deployed applications
- MLOps experience - model evaluation, monitoring, reproducibility
- Observability tooling for agentic systems (model drift, agent behaviour, performance monitoring)
- Experience with agent orchestration patterns and inter‑agent communication protocols (e.g. A2A)
- Familiarity with MCPs for tool and context integration in agentic systems
- Familiarity with secure‑by‑design development principles (ISO 27001, NIST, OWASP)
- Experience in defence, national security, or similarly regulated environments
- Contributions to open‑source AI/ML projects
Soft Skills
- Delivery‑focused - you ship working systems, not prototypes
- Comfortable operating across the stack when needed
- Strong communicator - can present to technical and non‑technical stakeholders
- Thrives in small teams with high ownership
Why Oxford Dynamics?
Join the most exciting growth area in the UK: AI and Robotics! Every member of the Oxford Dynamics team has a major impact on the products and services we provide. Regardless of job title, you will get to make a real difference and learn from colleagues about all areas of our business.
Benefits include:
- Rapid career progression and personal growth
- Flexible working hours
- Opportunity to shape the future of a fast‑growing business
- Hybrid working model
- Company pension (NEST) with 4% employer contribution
- Private Healthcare
- 29 days holiday + public holidays
Oxford Dynamics is committed to creating an inclusive team experience for all. Regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or parental status, we believe our work is at its best when everyone feels free to be their authentic self.
AI Engineer - SC Cleared employer: Oxford Dynamics
At Oxford Dynamics, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and opportunities to lead impactful projects in the thriving biotech sector. Located in a vibrant area, we provide a supportive environment where your contributions directly influence our success and the future of biotechnology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI Engineer - SC Cleared
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already working at Oxford Dynamics. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info on what they're really looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got projects or contributions to open-source AI/ML work, make sure to highlight them in conversations. Real-world examples of your work can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical discussions! Brush up on your Python skills and be ready to discuss frameworks like LangGraph or Haystack. Being able to talk shop will show you're serious about the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Oxford Dynamics.
We think you need these skills to ace AI Engineer - SC Cleared
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your SC Clearance:Since active SC clearance is a must for this role, make sure to highlight it right at the start of your application. We want to know you’re ready to hit the ground running!
Tailor Your Experience:When you’re writing about your experience, focus on your work with multi-agent AI systems and any relevant projects. We love seeing how your skills align with what we do at Oxford Dynamics.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon unless it’s necessary. Let’s get to the good stuff without any fluff!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford Dynamics
✨Know Your Clearance
Since active SC clearance is a must for this role, make sure you understand the implications and responsibilities that come with it. Be prepared to discuss your clearance status and any relevant experiences that demonstrate your ability to handle sensitive information.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
This role requires strong Python skills and experience with frameworks like LangGraph or Haystack. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss specific projects where you've built or deployed multi-agent AI systems. Bring examples that highlight your problem-solving abilities in production environments.
✨Understand the Mission
Oxford Dynamics operates in high-stakes environments. Familiarise yourself with their mission and the impact of their work in defence and national security. Be ready to articulate how your skills and experiences align with their goals and how you can contribute to their ambitious vision.
✨Communicate Effectively
As a delivery-focused role, being able to communicate complex ideas clearly is crucial. Practice explaining your past projects to both technical and non-technical audiences. Highlight your collaborative experiences and how you've successfully worked within small teams to deliver impactful solutions.