Head of AI Research in Milton Keynes

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space.

Your health and well-being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

We are seeking a Senior AI Leader to head cortAIx UK's research activities. Reporting to the Chief AI Officer (CAIO), Thales UK, you will own the AI research strategy for cortAIx UK, lead the AI research team, and ensure a strong, efficient pipeline from Lab to Factory to Sensors across Thales UK businesses. This role is focused on AI research leadership, strategy and delivery.

About the role

• Lead and grow cortAIx UK's AI research capability across a broad range of AI approaches (e.g. machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, generative models, optimisation, perception, knowledge-based and hybrid AI), aligned with Thales UK's strategic priorities.
• Define, own and execute the AI research strategy for cortAIx UK, ensuring research outcomes are relevant, mature, and ready for transition into cortAIx Factory and into sensors, platforms and mission systems.
• Work closely with the CAIO, Thales Group research organisations and UK business units to shape a coherent AI research portfolio that supports near-, mid- and long‑term business needs.
• Drive increased AI research funding through stronger collaboration with Thales Group entities and by securing customer‑funded research projects in key markets (e.g. defence, aerospace, transport, security, space).
• You will be responsible for co-creating, establishing and running an effective "Lab → Factory → Sensors" research and industrialisation pipeline, ensuring that promising AI concepts are rapidly matured, engineered and integrated into operational products and services.

What you will do

• Research Strategy & Portfolio Leadership

• Define and maintain the cortAIx UK AI research strategy, in alignment with the UK Chief AI Officer's vision and priorities.
• Build and manage a balanced research portfolio (exploratory, applied and translational research) across multiple AI approaches, not limited to reinforcement learning.
• Identify high‑impact research themes, use cases and demonstrators that can differentiate Thales in priority markets.
• Establish clear success criteria, roadmaps and KPIs for AI research activities and ensure alignment with product lines and engineering teams.

• Define and refine the end‑to‑end process for transitioning AI research outputs into industrial-quality solutions.
• Ensure research projects are scoped and executed with a clear path to integration into products, sensors and systems.
• Ensure research teams adopt robust engineering practices (MLOps/ModelOps, data management, experimentation, validation and verification, documentation).
• Champion reuse of AI components and platforms across programmes to accelerate time‑to‑market and reduce duplication.

• Partner with the CAIO to maximise use of Thales Group research funding streams and collaborative programmes.
• Position cortAIx UK as a key contributor in Group AI initiatives and key technical domains.
• Proactively build and manage relationships with Thales Group R&D centres and cortAIx entities in France, Canada, Singapore and elsewhere.
• Lead or support the preparation of research proposals to internal and Group-level funding calls, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and clear exploitation plans.

• Develop strong working relationships with UK customers and partners (e.g. MOD, agencies, primes, key industrial partners) in collaboration with account teams and bid teams.
• Shape customer‑funded research and technology demonstrator projects in AI.
• Translate customer challenges into well‑formed AI research programmes with measurable outcomes.
• Engage with academic and industrial partners as research collaborators.

• Ensure AI research and experimentation is conducted in line with Thales policies and best practice in AI ethics and responsible AI.
• Define and oversee research standards for data acquisition, curation and synthetic data generation.
• Collaborate with cortAIx Factory and relevant governance bodies to ensure research outputs can be certified or assured appropriately when deployed in safety‑ or mission‑critical systems.

• Lead the cortAIx UK AI research team (scientists, engineers and experts), including setting direction, priorities and resource allocation.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring.
• Identify future skills and capability needs in AI and related fields, and work with HR/talent teams to recruit and develop top talent.

About You

• Essential

• Degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, engineering or a related field, and/or extensive hands‑on experience in AI research and development.
• Proven track record of leading AI research or advanced development programmes.
• Deep understanding of multiple AI paradigms.
• Demonstrable experience of translating research into deployable AI solutions.
• Strong experience in building and managing a portfolio of research projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.

• Experience working in or with the UK Defence and/or National Security sectors.
• Experience with safety‑ and mission‑critical systems.
• Experience of leading research collaborations with academia or industrial partners.

Security Clearance

This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held; if not, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.

What We Can Offer

We're committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market‑leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry.

Flexibility

Your health and well‑being matter to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part‑time hours, job sharing, hybrid working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times.

Benefits at Thales

Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a variable compensation plan bonus and benefits package.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.