ML Research Engineer - SC

ML / MLOps Research Engineer – National Security

Locations: Manchester, London, or Cheltenham (Hybrid)

Salary: £45,000 – £80,000 + Equity

Security Clearance: Minimum SC required

About the Role

Gravitas is proud to be partnering with a fast-growing, specialist technology consultancy that is at the forefront of MLOps and machine learning innovation.

Our client works across the full ML lifecycle combining cutting-edge research with production-ready engineering to deliver secure, scalable solutions. With strong growth in recent years, they are expanding their team to support high-impact national security programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a company shaping the future of ML systems in critical environments.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an ML / MLOps Research Engineer to work across research, prototyping, and production ML systems for national security customers.

This is a hands-on, end-to-end role where you’ll take ideas from research literature and turn them into robust, real-world solutions, working closely with both internal teams and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with clients to understand requirements and deliver impactful ML solutions
• Design, build, and deploy production-grade ML systems with strong engineering standards
• Translate cutting-edge ML research into repeatable, scalable implementations
• Contribute to agile ceremonies including sprint planning, retrospectives, and code reviews
• Deliver demos, workshops, and training sessions to stakeholders
• Maintain high standards of documentation, testing, and code quality
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies and share knowledge with the wider team

You will also have dedicated time to R&D and thought leadership, contributing to blogs, videos, and open-source initiatives, helping shape your presence in the wider MLOps community.

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

• Active SC clearance (minimum) with experience in secure/high-side government environments
• Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Strong Python programming skills
• Proven experience in ML research engineering, applying theory to real-world problems
• Experience working in agile environments and directly with customers
• Strong grounding in Git, Linux/Unix, and Docker
• Passion for machine learning, MLOps, and open-source ecosystems
• Ability to work in fast-paced environments and adapt to changing requirements

Desirable:

• Knowledge of ML security and safety considerations
• Understanding of ML model internals
• Exposure to modern ML tooling (e.g. LLMs, vector databases, retrieval systems)

Benefits

• 25 days holiday, rising to 30 with service
• Enhanced family leave (maternity, paternity, adoption)
• Healthcare cash plan
• £500 annual learning & development budget + AI tooling allowance
• Equity scheme – giving you a stake in the company’s success
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Paid volunteering days
• Regular company socials and events

Location & Working Pattern

• Hybrid working model (typically 3 days in-office)
• Roles available in Manchester, London, or Cheltenham

Due to the nature of the work, you may be required to:

• Work on secure customer sites
• Spend extended periods on-site (potentially up to 5 days/week depending on project demands)

Why Apply?

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Work on mission-critical national security projects
• Join a high-growth, specialist consultancy
• Develop at the cutting edge of machine learning and MLOps
• Build both your technical expertise and personal brand within the industry

If you’re an SC-cleared ML engineer looking to work at the intersection of research and real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you.