Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist (Defence Sector) – Permanent Role

Location: UK-based (Hybrid) – Regular on-site presence required with travel as needed

Clearance: Eligibility for UK Security Clearance (SC/DV) required

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Scientist to join a high-impact team supporting critical programmes within the defence sector. This is a permanent position offering the opportunity to apply advanced analytics, machine learning, and data engineering techniques to real-world operational challenges in a secure and mission-driven environment.

The successful candidate will work across multidisciplinary teams, delivering insight-driven solutions that enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and strategic capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of advanced machine learning and statistical models to solve complex defence-related problems
• Work closely with stakeholders to translate operational requirements into analytical solutions
• Design and implement scalable data pipelines and robust data products
• Conduct exploratory data analysis and present actionable insights to technical and non-technical audiences
• Support the integration of AI/ML solutions into secure and regulated environments
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to best practice across the team
• Ensure all work complies with relevant security, governance, and ethical standards

Required Experience & Skills

• Proven experience as a Data Scientist in a complex or regulated environment (defence, government, aerospace, or similar preferred)
• Strong proficiency in Python or R, with solid experience in SQL
• Demonstrated experience with machine learning frameworks (e.g. scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Experience deploying models into production environments
• Strong understanding of statistics, data modelling, and experimental design
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to stakeholders
• Experience working with large, structured and unstructured datasets

Desirable Skills

• Experience within the UK defence or national security environment
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) in secure environments
• Familiarity with MLOps practices and tools
• Experience with geospatial, time-series, or signal data
• Active Security Clearance (SC or DV)

What We Offer

• Permanent position in a highly specialised and impactful sector
• Exposure to cutting-edge analytics and AI/ML applications in defence
• Structured career development and training opportunities
• Collaborative and mission-focused working environment