Machine Learning Engineer - 6-month Fixed Term Contract in Minehead

Machine Learning Engineer - 6-month Fixed Term Contract in Minehead

Minehead Full-Time 50000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Singer Instruments

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Transform cutting-edge computer vision models into commercial features for our AI platform.
  • Company: Join Singer Instruments, empowering scientists globally with innovative tech.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, paid time off, and a flexible work environment.
  • Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; all backgrounds welcome!
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in AI while working in a dynamic, supportive team.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in computer vision, strong Python skills, and AWS experience required.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.

Singer Instruments empower scientists in laboratories in over 60 countries to accelerate their research efforts on global challenges. We are looking for a Machine Learning Engineer specialising in Computer Vision to turn off‑the‑shelf foundation models into highly optimised commercial features for our new AI SaaS platform.

The Role:

  • Take state‑of‑the‑art, off‑the‑shelf computer vision foundation models and adapt, fine‑tune, or compress them to suit our specific product use cases.
  • Package and deploy machine learning models into production environments (ideally AWS cloud infrastructure), ensuring low latency, high throughput, and efficient GPU cost‑optimisation.
  • Architect scalable pipelines for data collection, automated data labelling, visual preprocessing, and dataset augmentation.
  • Actively evaluate newly released open‑source models, translating theoretical AI breakthroughs into practical, scalable features.
  • Partner with backend, frontend, and product teams to expose model outputs smoothly via high‑performance APIs.

Who you are (essential skills & attributes):

  • 3+ years of commercial experience, specifically training, adapting, and deploying computer vision systems.
  • Proven experience working with, fine‑tuning, and customising large off‑the‑shelf vision models, including: Meta SAM 3 (Segment Anything Model 3) or SAM 2 for advanced promptable object masking and real‑time tracking; modern architectures like YOLO 26, YOLO 11, or state‑of‑the‑art Real‑Time DETR (DETRs).
  • Self‑supervised backbones such as DINOv2.
  • Mastery of Python and deep learning ecosystems, specifically PyTorch or TensorFlow, alongside core toolkits like OpenCV.
  • Strong experience deploying vision models at scale using AWS tools (e.g., Amazon EC2 GPU instances, Amazon SageMaker) alongside model optimisation frameworks like TensorRT or ONNX.
  • Extensive experience working within fast‑paced Agile delivery teams using frameworks such as Scrum/Kanban, and expert‑level proficiency with project management tools, specifically Jira and Confluence.
  • Experience implementing modern MLOps pipelines for automated model retraining, version control (e.g., DVC, MLflow), continuous deployment (CD for ML), and real‑time model drift/performance monitoring.
  • Prior commercial or academic experience applying computer vision to Life Sciences, Biotech, Medical Imaging, or Digital Pathology (e.g., cell segmentation, tissue analysis, fluorescent imaging, or lab automation datasets) is highly advantageous.
  • Familiarity with Vision‑Language Models (VLMs) or fine‑tuning Multimodal Foundation Models for visual reasoning tasks.
  • Proactive use of advanced, modern development workflows and agentic coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor, or GitHub Copilot) to accelerate development and testing loops.

Mandatory Grant Compliance & Eligibility:

  • Sovereignty Status: Candidates must possess an absolute, unrestricted right to work in the UK (UK Nationals preferred). We cannot offer visa sponsorship or international remote working arrangements for these fixed‑term packages.
  • Geographic Restriction: Every hour of work, line of code, and data annotation must be executed strictly on UK soil. Working from overseas (including temporary remote working holidays) is contractually prohibited.

How to Apply:

If you are ready to deliver a critical work package for this high‑velocity technical automation project starting 1 July 2026, please submit your CV and a brief summary of your technical background. Please explicitly state your eligibility to work under UK Sovereignty Status guidelines.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:

We encourage applications from all individuals and respect and appreciate differences and unique ways of thinking. We are flexible and can adapt both our application and assessments by discussing your individual needs first.

Benefits:

  • Holiday: 25 days per year + 8 bank holidays (pro‑rated)
  • Paid time off for surf and sun (zero notice)

Location: Singer, Minehead, Somerset/Remote

Contract Type: Full‑time - Fixed Term Contract 6‑Month

Work Package Closing Date: 12/06/2026

Machine Learning Engineer - 6-month Fixed Term Contract in Minehead employer: Singer Instruments

At Singer Instruments, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Located in the picturesque Exmoor region, our team enjoys generous benefits including 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays, and the unique opportunity for paid time off to enjoy the local surf and sun. We are committed to employee growth, providing a supportive environment where diverse backgrounds are valued, and every team member can contribute to shaping the future of AI in scientific discovery.

Singer Instruments

Contact Details:

Singer Instruments Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Machine Learning Engineer - 6-month Fixed Term Contract in Minehead

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, or join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to computer vision and machine learning. This is your chance to demonstrate what you can do beyond just a CV.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and coding challenges. We recommend using platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to sharpen your skills and boost your confidence.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Singer Instruments.

We think you need these skills to ace Machine Learning Engineer - 6-month Fixed Term Contract in Minehead

Computer Vision
Machine Learning
Python
PyTorch
TensorFlow
OpenCV
AWS

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your experience with computer vision and machine learning. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects or technologies you've worked with!

Craft a Compelling Summary:In your application, include a brief summary of your technical background. This is your chance to shine! Tell us about your journey in machine learning and how it relates to the position. Keep it concise but impactful.

Show Your Eligibility:Don’t forget to explicitly state your eligibility to work under UK Sovereignty Status guidelines. It’s a must for us, so make it clear in your application to avoid any hiccups down the line.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at Singer Instruments!

How to prepare for a job interview at Singer Instruments

Know Your Models Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in the specific computer vision models mentioned in the job description, like Meta SAM and YOLO. Be ready to discuss how you've fine-tuned or deployed these models in past projects, as this will show your practical experience and understanding of their applications.

Showcase Your AWS Skills

Since deploying models on AWS is crucial for this role, brush up on your experience with Amazon EC2 and SageMaker. Prepare examples of how you've optimised GPU costs and ensured low latency in previous deployments, as this will demonstrate your ability to meet the technical demands of the position.

Prepare for Agile Discussions

Familiarise yourself with Agile methodologies, especially Scrum and Kanban, as they are key to the team’s workflow. Be ready to share your experiences working in Agile teams and how you’ve used tools like Jira and Confluence to manage projects effectively.

Emphasise Your Unique Journey

Remember, the company values diverse backgrounds. Share your unique experiences and how they’ve shaped your approach to machine learning and computer vision. This could set you apart from other candidates and align with their belief that skills can come from various paths.