As an AI Researcher Apprentice, you will develop the technical knowledge, analytical skills and professional behaviours needed to investigate challenging problems and advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Working alongside AI researchers, engineers and domain specialists, you will support research and experimentation on live projects, translating questions into evidence-based findings, prototypes and recommendations. Your responsibilities may include:
- Reviewing technical literature and summarising relevant methods and evidence
- Designing controlled experiments and defining clear evaluation criteria
- Preparing data and developing proof‑of‑concept machine learning models
- Analysing results, limitations, uncertainty and potential sources of bias
- Documenting methods and communicating findings through reports, demonstrations and reviews
- Working with experienced researchers and engineers on live research challenges
What You Will Learn
- Professional research behaviours, teamwork and industry best practice
- Research methods, literature review and development of testable hypotheses
- Statistics, experimental design and reproducible analysis
- Machine learning principles, algorithms and model evaluation
- Programming, data handling and rapid prototyping techniques
- Critical assessment of evidence, uncertainty, robustness and limitations
- Responsible AI, security, privacy, safety and ethical considerations
- Clear technical writing, presentation and communication of research outcomes
Requirements
- Grade B or above in Maths
- At least one other relevant subject (Physics, Computer Science, Software, ICT)
- Or Level 4/5 apprenticeship in a relevant discipline
- GCSEs
- Minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above
- Must include: English Language + Mathematics
Please note that Computer Science graduates are not eligible due to funding restrictions.
To be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment. To be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education history.
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Benefits
- Receive job‑specific training and development
- Achieve a recognised Level 6 qualification
- Secure a permanent role from the start of your apprenticeship
- Have your tuition fees fully paid, Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum
- Performance‑related pay uplifts
- Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)
- Contributory Company Pension
- Health Care Cash Plan
- Hybrid/flexible working options
- Employee assistance programme
- Learning and development support
- Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives
- Life Cover
- 80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)
- For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales. At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all.
The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring.
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2027 AI Researcher Apprentice - Level 6 Machine Learning in Crawley employer: Thales Group
Thales is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of Crawley. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive training opportunities, competitive benefits including private medical insurance and annual bonuses, and a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact the future of technology. Join us to be part of a team that values diversity, encourages creativity, and prioritises ethical AI solutions.
