National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Machine Learning Engineer

Leonardo
Bristol
3 weeks ago
Create job alert

The Opportunity

Leonardo is one of top ten largest defence companies globally, we make everything from helicopters to radios and have significant technological investment and products across Defence, Transport, Energy, Aerospace, Space and Manufacturing.

The Leonardo Cyber & Security Division, one of the three divisions in Leonardo UK, is a pivotal innovator, helping customers deliver and secure their digital transformation. The Cyber & Security Division is at the forefront of supplying technology and services for both civil and defence markets, in both the UK and around the world, to enhance the capabilities of its Customers. Within the Cyber & Security Division is our Data Practice which is where this role is positioned.

Leonardo’s Data practice works across a diverse array of sectors including Defence, Telecommunications, Energy and Finance to help secure national infrastructure in the UK and beyond

What you will do as a Machine Learning Engineer:

This is a highly rewarding and hands on role with exposure across both traditional and cutting edge enterprise IT as well as bespoke Operational Technology systems. You will be working in a dynamic environment with a team that is motivated to deliver innovative solutions to customers within defence, government and commercial sectors. We are after creative, passionate, technically savvy and personable people to help grow our practice and solve some of the most challenging, exciting and critical challenges to the UK’s digital landscape.

Skills in Python and machine learning are critical to this role as well as exposure to the data lifecycle.

The role will include:

Building, integrating, testing and scaling models including NLP and Computer Vision Take ownership of developing, training and productionising machine learning lifecycles, adhering to best practices, security needs and quality assurance Development of neural networks Implementing and maintaining MLops workflows Work alongside Data Engineers and DevOps Engineers to ensure continuous integration and deployment of machine learning models in production. Proactive learning and researching new technologies and software versions Working with cloud technologies and different operating systems Working closely alongside Data Engineers and DevOps engineers Working with big data technologies such as spark Demonstrating stakeholder engagement by communicating with the wider team to understand the functional and non-functional requirements of the data and the product in development and its relationship to the models.

What we are looking for:

Essential:

UK SC Clearance or the ability obtain it Demonstrable experience developing a variety of machine learning models Strong grasp of machine learning frameworks (e.g. PyTorch, Tensorflow) Knowledge of machine learning architectures, loss functions, tools and techniques Experience training machine learning models, including hyperparameter tuning and optimizing model performance Experience with (or at least exposure to) MLops workflows Experience with Python Experience with SQL Critical thinking and ability to problem solve Experience with data warehousing and database systems Exposure to working with CI/CD Knowledge of developing data pipelines Exposure to ETL (Extraction, Transformation and Load) Willingness to learn Solid understanding of software engineering principles

Desirable:

UK DV Clearance or the ability to obtain it A degree or similar in a STEM, Data, AI or a Programming related subject (such as Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence) is preferable Proven track record of successfully completing AI projects that deliver tangible business results Experienced writing production level code Experience developing neural networks into production Experience with Docker Experience with NLP and/or computer vision Exposure to cloud technologies (eg. AWS and Azure) Exposure to Big data technologies Exposure to Apache products eg. Hive, Spark, Hadoop, NiFi Programming experience in other languages

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you don’t tick every box. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

At Leonardo UK, we believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment unlocks our people’s full potential and drives innovation and creativity. We work hard to offer a welcoming, accessible and inclusive place to work for all of our people, creating a culture where everyone can thrive, feel safe and have a sense of belonging and connection. We therefore welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly encourage sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry, including women, Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities and LGBTQI+ individuals to apply.

There is scope for those with greater experience to take on a Senior position which can be discussed on application.

Security Clearance

:

Life at Leonardo

With a company funded benefits package, a commitment to learning and development, and a flexible approach to working hours focused on the needs of both our employees and customers, a career with Leonardo has never offered as many opportunities or been more accessible to as many people.

Flexible Working:Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to usCompany funded flexible benefits:Access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance)Holidays:25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per yearPension:Award winning pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme with access to free mental health support, financial wellbeing support and network groups to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Reservists, Carers)Lifestyle:Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work schemeTraining:Free access to more than 4000 online courses via CourseraReferral Incentive:You can earn a reward for successfully referring a friend or family memberBonus:Scheme in place for all employees at management level and below

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Machine Learning/AI Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer, London

Machine Learning Engineer, London (Basé à London)

Machine Learning Engineer - Up to £150k + Equity

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Find Hidden Machine Learning Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like BCS, Turing Society & More

Machine learning (ML) continues to transform sectors across the UK—from fintech and retail to healthtech and autonomous systems. But while the demand for ML engineers, researchers, and applied scientists is growing, many of the best opportunities are never posted on traditional job boards. So, where do you find them? The answer lies in professional bodies, academic-industry networks, and tight-knit ML communities. In this guide, we’ll show you how to uncover hidden machine learning jobs in the UK by engaging with groups like the BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT), Turing Society, Alan Turing Institute, and others. We’ll explore how to use member directories, CPD events, SIGs (Special Interest Groups), and community projects to build connections, gain early access to job leads, and raise your professional profile in the ML ecosystem.

How to Get a Better Machine Learning Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Redundancy in machine learning can feel especially frustrating when your role was technically advanced, strategically important, or AI-facing. But the UK still has strong demand for machine learning professionals across fintech, healthtech, retail, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and generative AI. Whether you're a research-oriented ML engineer, production-focused MLOps developer, or applied scientist, this guide is designed to help you bounce back from redundancy and find a better opportunity that suits your goals.

Machine Learning Jobs Salary Calculator 2025: Figure Out Your True Worth in Seconds

Why last year’s pay survey is useless for UK ML professionals today Ask a Machine Learning Engineer wrangling transformer checkpoints, an MLOps Lead firefighting drift alarms, or a Research Scientist training diffusion models at 3 a.m.: “Am I earning what I deserve?” The honest answer changes monthly. A single OpenAI model drop doubles GPU demand, healthcare regulators release fresh explainability guidance, & a fintech unicorn pays six figures for vector‑search expertise. Each shock nudges salary bands. Any PDF salary guide printed in 2024 now looks like an outdated Jupyter notebook—missing the gen‑AI tsunami, the surge in edge inference, & the UK’s new Responsible‑AI framework. To give ML professionals an accurate benchmark, MachineLearningJobs.co.uk distilled a transparent, three‑factor formula that estimates a realistic 2025 salary in under a minute. Feed in your discipline, UK region, & seniority; you’ll receive a defensible figure—no stale averages, no guesswork. This article unpacks the formula, highlights the forces driving ML pay skyward, & offers five practical moves to boost your value inside the next ninety days.