NSL - Machine Learning Engineer

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is home to 4,500 digital, cyber and intelligence experts. We work collaboratively across 10 countries to collect, connect and understand complex data, so that governments, nation states, armed forces and commercial businesses can unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments.

Are you passionate about working with cutting‑edge AI/ML technology? Are you self‑motivated to find innovative solutions to complex challenges as part of a team who help keep the UK safe? Join BAE Systems as an experienced Machine Learning (ML) Engineer.

As part of our AI team, you will work with our National Security customers to understand their business challenges and identify where AI/ML‑based solutions can add value. You will lead prototype development and be responsible for designing, implementing, and deploying AI solutions. This cross‑functional role requires a strong foundation in software engineering, statistics, and AI/ML concepts, and you must stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI and ML technologies.

You’ll work as part of an empowered, multi‑disciplinary AI team focused on developing common AI propositions that benefit a range of customers. Working alongside a Data Scientist, AI Strategy Lead, and Delivery Management, you will focus on engineering activities within our AI Strategy, covering customer needs, market positioning, skill development, partner ecosystem, and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Prototype applications using ML models to test feasibility and impact.
• Engineer and implement ML‑based solutions, owning the end‑to‑end lifecycle of ML systems.
• Deploy models and handle technical aspects of making models operational to meet user needs.
• Integrate models within applications and into wider systems.
• Monitor model performance through regular evaluation of deployed models, identify performance gaps and optimization opportunities.
• Research techniques by continuously exploring the latest ML and AI advancements to enhance current systems.
• Adhere to policy and ethical AI standards, ensuring machine learning practices comply with compliance processes and guidelines.
• Provide technical guidance in implementation and integration of machine learning to other cross‑functional teams.
• Program in one or more of Python, Java, .NET, JavaScript, C++.
• Use MLOps tools and frameworks.
• Source control your code with Version Control Systems (e.g., Git, Mercurial, Perforce).
• Utilize containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

Qualifications

• Experience in prototyping applications using ML models and testing feasibility.
• Proven ability to own the end‑to‑end lifecycle of ML systems.
• Experience deploying models and operationalizing to meet user needs.
• Experience integrating models within applications or systems.
• Experience monitoring deployed models and optimizing performance.
• Strong research background in AI/ML advancements.
• Understanding of policy, ethical AI, and compliance processes.
• Technical guidance experience to cross‑functional teams.
• Programming experience in Python, Java, .NET, JavaScript, C++.
• Experience with MLOps tools/frameworks.
• Experience with version control (Git, Mercurial, Perforce).
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).

Desired Additional Skills

• Optimizing models from data scientists, refining and implementing models based on prototypes.
• Defining and improving MLOps processes to create a more efficient model development and deployment strategy.
• Ensuring quality and accessibility of data used for ML projects, collaborating with data engineers.
• Performing data analysis for ethics/bias assessments or exploratory data analysis to inform model development.
• Maintaining comprehensive documentation of model development, performance evaluations, and deployment details.
• Developing and running solutions in cloud‑based environments and cloud ML services (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Integrating with relational, document, search and graph database systems.
• Utilizing CI/CD tools (e.g., Bamboo, Jenkins, TeamCity, Bitbucket) to streamline delivery of new features and fixes.

Security clearance is required for this vacancy. If you are not currently security‑cleared, you will need to be eligible for clearance and willing to go through the process.

How we will support you

• Work‑life balance is important; you can work around core hours with hybrid working options.
• 25 days holiday a year, with the option to buy/sell and carry over.
• Flexible benefits package including private medical and dental insurance, a competitive pension scheme, cycle to work scheme, taste cards and more.
• Dedicated Career Manager to help you develop your career.
• Company bonus scheme.
• Access to diversity and support groups covering gender diversity, mental health, and wellbeing.

Help us secure a connected world. Apply now and be inspired.