O

Oxford Dynamics

Generative AI and autonomous defense robotics

Research Engineer

Full-Time
No salary listed
Expert
PhD
Remote in India
RemoteMust align working hours with UK office hours.
AI & Machine LearningAI Research

About the job

Requirements
  • A PhD in AI, machine learning or a closely related field, or a current postdoctoral research position in Machine Learning.
  • Strong grounding in Machine Learning and reinforcement learning, including RLHF.
  • Hands-on experience with multi-objective policy optimisation.
  • Solid knowledge of transformer architectures and LLM post-training, including fine-tuning, alignment and reward modelling.
  • Publications at top-tier AI conferences such as ICML, ICLR, NeurIPS or CVPR.
  • Experience using HPCs and CUDA for training large-scale models.
  • Ability to translate research into a product vision and carry it through to delivery.
  • Commercial thinking that connects research effort to product value and customer impact.
  • Ability to explain complex ideas clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including customers.
  • Calm, judgement-led decision making and comfort operating in ambiguity with fast-moving priorities.
Responsibilities
  • Apply and adapt machine-learning and reinforcement-learning research to the product roadmap, translating research direction into shippable capability.
  • Design, train and evaluate models using reinforcement learning, RLHF and multi-objective policy optimisation, balancing competing objectives such as accuracy, safety, latency and cost.
  • Work on LLM post-training, including fine-tuning, alignment, reward modelling and rigorous evaluation.
  • Prototype quickly, then work with engineering teams to harden successful approaches into production.
  • Define how frontier models can be evaluated and how decision making can be audited.
  • Engage directly with customers and stakeholders, explain technical approaches to non-specialists and feed real-world needs back into the research agenda.
  • Help shape the research and product vision, bringing a point of view on where the field is heading and what to build next.
Desired Qualifications
  • Computer vision experience, open-source contributions or applied research that shipped into a product.

About the company

Oxford Dynamics builds sovereign AI and robotic systems for space, security, and defence, developing core IP for both terrestrial and orbital use under government contracts. AVIS is an offline generative AI platform for secure data search, analysis, and summarization; SR-1 fuses sensor data to speed up the military decision cycle, and Strider is a semi-autonomous robot for hazardous environments that can operate beyond line of sight. The company differentiates itself by delivering on-premises, sovereign AI and autonomous capabilities tightly integrated for defense needs, with both land and space applications. Its goal is to unlock underutilized data for defence and national security, reduce human risk in dangerous missions, and build secure sovereign technology through long-term government contracts and partnerships, including backing from BAE Systems.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Harwell, United Kingdom

Founded

2019

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The DDAD Open Framework selection in February 2026 expands Oxford Dynamics' defence pipeline.
  • AVIS already processes thousands of submissions, proving repeatable demand for secure offline GenAI.
  • BAE's 2025 investment validates the product set and opens distribution into major platforms.

What critics are saying

  • MoD revenue dominates; losing ASGARD or EA Lite renewals would cripple 2026 growth.
  • BAE integration can crowd out independent sales and make Oxford Dynamics a captive supplier.
  • Strider still targets hazardous deployments; one field failure would damage procurement credibility immediately.

What makes Oxford Dynamics unique

  • AVIS won MoD trust in 2024, then supported the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.
  • BAE Systems invested in August 2025 and is integrating Oxford Dynamics into Prophesea.
  • Oxford Dynamics spans software, sensor fusion, and Strider robotics across contested defence environments.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

8%

2 year growth

-2%
Brown Brothers Media
Aug 7th, 2025
UK's Oxford Dynamics secures investment from BAE Systems to scale defence AI capabilities

Oxfordshire-based Oxford Dynamics, a deep-tech startup specialised in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, has secured a strategic investment from BAE Systems, a British multinational aerospace, arms and information security company.

Defence Industry Europe
Aug 7th, 2025
BAE invests in Oxford Dynamics AI

BAE Systems has invested in Oxford Dynamics, a UK deep-tech start-up specializing in AI and robotics, to enhance the UK's defence capabilities. The partnership will integrate Oxford Dynamics' AI technology into BAE's Prophesea platform, improving military solutions across various domains. This collaboration aligns with the UK Government's Strategic Defence Review, aiming to accelerate innovation and strengthen sovereign defence. The investment supports Oxford Dynamics' growth while maintaining its independence.

Daysack Media
Mar 10th, 2025
A 'golf bag' of robotics could take dangerous jobs from humans

Among the pioneers, Oxford Dynamics has developed a sophisticated tracked machine, known as Strider.

MA Business Ltd
Jul 22nd, 2024
Oxford Dynamics receives £1m for AI robot development

Oxford Dynamics receives £1m for AI robot development.

Akabo Media
May 9th, 2024
Oxford Dynamics secures £1m for robot

Harwell-based AI & robotics start-up Oxford Dynamics received £1m from the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) to develop a multi-terrain robot for DEFRA. The robot aims to replace humans in initial contact during chemical or biological incidents and assist in environmental remediation. It will operate beyond the line of sight and in difficult terrains, with future plans to integrate Oxford Dynamics’ AVIS generative AI for enhanced real-time data processing.