Machine Learning Engineer

We’re looking for a Machine Learning Engineer to join a supportive, multidisciplinary team developing AI/ML systems to solve critical Defence and National Security challenges. In this role,you’ll develop robust, production-ready machine learning solutions - taking ideas from early exploration and prototyping through to systems that can operate in complex operational environments. Working alongside specialists across science, engineering, product and delivery, you’ll play a key role in turning advanced ML into trusted capability that supports better decisions where they matter most.

Mind Foundry is at an exciting stage of growth, with increasing demand for AI-enabled capability across our markets. We specialise in helping customers make sense of the ever-increasing volumes of data collected by sensors, platforms and systems at the speed of relevance. We often find ourselves working at the edge in complex environments where power, compute, and bandwidth are in short supply. As a Machine Learning Engineer, you’ll work on problems that are technically challenging, operationally important and genuinely meaningful. You will help turn advanced AI and ML approaches into deployable capability that can support better, faster decision-making in demanding real-world environments. What makes the work distinctive is the combination of technical depth, practical engineering and responsible delivery. This is an opportunity to innovate at the forefront of applied machine learning, tackle high-impact real-world problems, grow your technical skills, and shape the way AI/ML solutions are delivered to critical operational environments. 

Because of the nature of this work:

• You will be required to travel to and work from client sites and partner locations. When not working onsite, this role can be office-based or hybrid from our Summertown, Oxford office.
• You will need to hold existing or be eligible for UK Security Vetting (SC), details of which can be found on the Gov UK website. 

Key day-to-day activities:

• Design, build and iterate ML prototypes and production-ready capability for complex, real-world Defence and National Security use cases.
• Translate research outputs, experimental approaches and customer problems into maintainable, testable and deployable ML systems.
• Work with real-world data sources, including noisy, incomplete, high-volume or streaming data, to develop approaches that are robust and operationally useful.
•  Collaborate closely with Machine Learning Scientists, Software Engineers, Product Managers and customer-facing teams to shape solutions that are technically credible and user-relevant.
• Write clean, maintainable and well-tested code, contributing to engineering standards, reproducibility and long-term ownership.
• Support evaluation, validation and assurance of ML models, including communicating model behaviour, limitations and trade-offs to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to deployment approaches for constrained or complex environments, including edge settings where compute, power and bandwidth may be limited.
• Provide technical input into bids, demonstrations, customer discussions and partner engagements where required.
• Keep up to date with emerging ML methods, tools and implementation approaches, and share relevant knowledge with the wider team.

Core Skills & Experience:

• A degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or a related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Strong programming skills in Python, with experience producing clean, reproducible, well-tested and well-documented code.
• Hands-on experience with production infrastructure, which may include Docker, Linux, CI/CD, MLOps, cloud platforms, and model serving architectures.
• Familiarity with modern ML libraries and tooling, with the ability to select pragmatic approaches for real-world problems.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-moving environments, including alongside delivery teams, partners or customers where required.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas, model behaviour and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience working with government customers, defence contractors, or in military environments.
• Ability to produce clear technical material, such as documentation, internal technical notes, reports or publications.
• Experience in areas of model development, data processing and streaming (Spark, Kafka), microservices in Python (Flask or FastAPI), and interactive visualisations and user interfaces (Streamlit, Plotly, Gradio etc).
• Experience or knowledge of signal processing, data fusion, model evaluation or AI/ML assurance.

While we think the above experience is important, we’re keen to hear from people that believe they have valuable skills, ideas, or perspectives that will make an impact in this role. If our team and mission resonate with you, but you do not necessarily meet all our requirements, we still encourage you to apply.

Why Mind Foundry? 

At Mind Foundry, people have the opportunity to work on problems that are technically challenging, operationally important and genuinely meaningful. We are a close-knit, multidisciplinary team working on complex problems where advanced AI has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the real world. Our work sits at the intersection of research, engineering, product, customer need and operational impact, which means everyone can contribute beyond their job title. 

What makes Mind Foundry different is the way we combine technical excellence with pragmatism, responsibility and partnership. We are ambitious about what AI can achieve, but thoughtful about how it should be designed, deployed and trusted. Our teams work closely together, challenging ideas constructively, learning quickly and staying focused on building capability that is useful, credible and operationally relevant. As a growing business, we offer the opportunity to have visible impact. You will be close to the customers, the technology and the decisions that shape our direction. We value people who ask good questions, bring others with them, and take ownership. 

This is an exciting time to join Mind Foundry. Demand for trusted, deployable AI capability is increasing, our products and partnerships are maturing, and our work is helping to shape how advanced machine learning can support Defence and National Security in challenging operational environments. If you are motivated by meaningful work, collaborative teams and the chance to help build something with real-world importance, Mind Foundry is a place where you can make a genuine contribution.  

Our Values

• We are one team: We share goals, responsibility and success. We support one another, value what fuels people and ensure no one is left behind.
• We work with purpose: We focus our effort where it matters most, we work hard, think smart and deliver meaningful results for our team, shareholders and customers.
• We laugh: We protect a positive environment. We have fun, feel safe, learn, grow and achieve more together.
• We move forward: We learn from setbacks and frustration, we support each other, solve problems together and don’t dwell on the past.
• We act with integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are trusted, discreet and reliable. We represent our clients with the same care as we represent ourselves.

What do we offer?

We believe in investing in our people by encouraging career and personal development that aligns with your goals and ambitions. We make sure all staff have the tools, time and support they need to shape their own professional development. We want to help you excel at what you do and support your growth within the company.

You’ll enjoy a competitive compensation package and great benefits such as:

• EMI options scheme
• 25 days of annual leave, plus Bank Holidays
• Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme
• Private Healthcare (including dental and optical cover)
• Group Life Cover
• Enhanced Parental and Sickness Leave
• UK Armed Forces Reservists Policy
• Workplace Nursery Scheme
• Volunteering Days
• Dog-friendly office

For more information, please visit our website www.mindfoundry.ai or email [email protected]

Interview Process:  

• Initial discussion with the People team   

• TestDome coding exercise 

• 60 minute interview with two members of the Science & Engineering Team   

• 90 minute technical interview, including a 10 minute presentation and live coding exercise 

• In person meet the team at our Summertown, Oxford office