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.

Senior AI Researcher (Self-supervised learning) 

Location: Reading (Hybrid Working)

We have an exciting opportunity in the recently founded cortAIx Labs UK. The Labs team are responsible for conducting AI research to solve a wide variety of challenging problems related to the Thales businesses. We are currently growing the team and looking to bring in additional AI Researchers. You will be a key member of the cortAIx Labs, with the opportunity to develop interesting and novel AI solutions.

What you will do:

Apply state-of-the-art research to challenging problems within the defence and civil sectors, working with real data to solve customer problems

Work alongside an experienced team of researchers, and with our human-machine teaming group to solve user problems

Be at the forefront of defining our research and development strategy within the area of AI, whilst being comfortable to work within and potentially lead a group of researchers to deliver this strategy

Create proofs of concept, publications and inventions around multimodal and self-supervised AI

Drive applied AI research within this domain, crafting a niche in AI as you become a Thales Specialist or Expert

About You

Be self-motivated to drive the work forward

Have excellent communication skills, with the ability to understand and convey complex concepts

Have an ability to listen to customers, interpret their needs, seek clarification and reach agreement, with a view to developing long lasting relationships

Be able to support higher management

Most importantly will be passionate for, and have a demonstrable deep interest and continual hunger to develop in the area of ML/AI

Skills and Experience:

We appreciate that everyone’s background and journey is different. A suitable candidate for this role will likely have:

A deep understanding of AI fundamentals, and especially how they can be applied in limited data scenarios.

Software skills including Python, ML Libraries (including Pytorch) and use of Git

Experience with self-supervised learning, with knowledge of methods such as SimCLR

Experience with anomaly detection and few-shot learning

Worked with variety of sensor data, ideally making use of multiple modalities simultaneously

Confidence in explaining own work and surrounding AI topics

Any additional experience in the following is beneficial:

Experience with obtaining funding through bids or grants

Experience in the defence, aerospace or security industry

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will typically have PhD or equivalent experience in AI, as well as industrial experience

Security Clearance statement 

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance.  Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

What the role has to offer:

The opportunity to join a world-class company of 80,000 employees and with operations in 68 countriesWorking with a supportive and friendly team.The opportunity for development and progression at all levels of the organisation and the support to succeed wherever you want to take your career in the future

Flexibility

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.

Benefits at Thales

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

Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pmHybrid workingPension Scheme28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)Life CoverProgression and Development Opportunities24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing appEmployee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailersDevelopment focused targets and relocation support can be provided if required along with a variety of learning, development and career enhancement opportunities.

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

#LI-RS1

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!