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ML Research Engineer Jobs

Experts who push the boundaries of machine learning through cutting-edge research and development. A role that combines deep theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Open roles
23
Salary range
£100k – £632k
Hiring companies
9
View 23 live roles → Get an alert

ML Research Engineers are at the forefront of advancing machine learning technologies. They work on developing new algorithms, improving existing models, and ensuring that these innovations can be effectively deployed in real-world applications. These roles are typically found in research-heavy startups, scaleups, and the larger consultancies, where the focus is on pushing the boundaries of what's possible with machine learning.

What the role does

Inside the role of an ML Research Engineer

A typical week is split between theoretical research, coding, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

  1. 01
    Conduct literature reviews to stay updated on the latest research.
  2. 02
    Design and implement new machine learning algorithms.
  3. 03
    Collaborate with data scientists and engineers to integrate models into products.
  4. 04
    Optimise and test models to improve performance.
  5. 05
    Document findings and contribute to research papers or internal reports.
  6. 06
    Attend meetings to discuss project progress and next steps.
Salary on the board

£100k – £632k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 9 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility
6% of listings advertise a salary — up from 0% the year before.
By seniority
£k base
Mid
260
636
5 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 27 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

Python
81%
Machine Learning
52%
PyTorch
44%
Kubernetes
26%
Deep Learning
22%
AWS
19%
CI/CD
19%
Data Pipelines
19%
Docker
19%
Data Engineering
19%
JAX
19%
Reinforcement Learning
19%
Career ladder

From Junior to Principal

A typical UK progression for ml research engineers. Years are guidance — strong people move faster, and many senior folks sidestep into research, product or management.

  1. Level 1

    Junior ML Research Engineer

    0–2 yrs

    Assist in research projects, implement basic algorithms, and contribute to team discussions.

  2. Level 2

    ML Research Engineer

    2–5 yrs

    Lead specific research initiatives, design and implement complex models, and mentor junior team members.

  3. Level 3

    Senior ML Research Engineer

    5–8 yrs

    Oversee multiple research projects, drive innovation, and contribute to strategic decision-making.

  4. Level 4

    Principal ML Research Engineer

    8+ yrs

    Lead the research direction of the organisation, publish influential papers, and guide the development of new technologies.

Pathway

How to become a ML Research Engineer

There's no single route, but most people follow some version of these steps.

  1. 1

    Academic Foundation

    Gain a strong foundation in mathematics, computer science, and machine learning through a relevant degree.

  2. 2

    Practical Experience

    Participate in internships or research assistant roles to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings.

  3. 3

    Specialisation

    Focus on a specific area of machine learning, such as deep learning or reinforcement learning, through advanced coursework or projects.

  4. 4

    Professional Development

    Join a research team in a startup, scaleup, or consultancy to work on cutting-edge projects and collaborate with industry experts.

  5. 5

    Leadership Roles

    Take on leadership responsibilities, such as managing research projects and mentoring junior engineers.

  6. 6

    Thought Leadership

    Become a recognised expert in the field, publishing influential research and contributing to the broader machine learning community.

Live jobs

23 live roles

See all 23 roles →

Research Engineer, RL Scaling Science

This role involves designing and running large-scale reinforcement learning experiments to understand scaling effects across model size, compute, and task horizon. The engineer will build benchmarks for long-horizon RL, debug system-level issues at the research-infrastructure boundary, and translate validated findings into production training recipes. Work is highly collaborative with research and engineering teams, focusing on empirical science to advance steerable and safe AI systems.

Anthropic London, United Kingdom £375,000 – £640,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Research Engineer, Machine Learning (Reinforcement Learning)

This role involves collaborating with researchers and engineers to advance the capabilities and safety of large language models through reinforcement learning. Responsibilities include developing core RL infrastructure, designing novel training environments, and optimizing performance across the stack.

Anthropic London, United Kingdom £260,000 – £630,000 pa
On-site Permanent
Adecco logo

Research Scientist/Engineer - Multimodal AI & LLM

Research Scientist / Research Engineer - Multimodal AI & Large Language ModelsLocation: LondonSalary: £(phone number removed) per annum + permanent benefits + bonusJob Type: Permanent, Full-Time, On-siteAbout the OpportunityWe are partnering with an innovative research organisation at the forefront of...

Adecco London, United Kingdom

Research Data Engineer

Design and build scalable data systems for multi-modal scientific data, enabling efficient analysis and machine learning in a high-performance research environment. Focus on data pipeline architecture, storage optimization, and seamless integration between wet lab and ML teams. Work across cloud-native infrastructure to support large-scale, GPU-intensive model training and rapid iteration.

Relation Therapeutics London, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent
Synthesia logo

Staff Research Engineer - Multimodal Generative Modelling

This role involves advancing multimodal generative models that enable natural, real-time interactive conversations combining voice, text, and video. The engineer will lead research in streaming, low-latency systems, design novel architectures using diffusion and neural codecs, and ship end-to-end models into production. Emphasis is placed on emotional expressiveness, conversational realism, and tight integration across audio-visual modalities.

Synthesia London, United Kingdom
Remote Permanent
Ocado logo

Senior Robotics Research Engineer

Develop and optimize sensor-guided robotic manipulation systems for automated grocery fulfillment. Design real-time control algorithms and integrate advanced robotics solutions within the Ocado Smart Platform. Collaborate with research teams and production engineers to transition pre-production systems into scalable, high-performance applications.

Ocado Welwyn Hatfield, AL8 6TP, United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent
Synthesia logo

Senior Research Engineer - Video Foundation Models (Pre - Training)

Develop and scale latent video diffusion models for human-centric video generation, focusing on controllability, training stability, and inference efficiency. Work on conditioning mechanisms for pose, emotion, and script control while optimizing distributed training and evaluation frameworks. Deliver production-grade foundation models with direct impact on a widely used AI video platform.

Synthesia London, United Kingdom
Remote Permanent
Isomorphic Labs logo

ML Research Engineer, London

This role involves developing and optimizing cutting-edge AI models at the intersection of machine learning and drug discovery. You'll work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment to translate research into scalable, production-ready systems, focusing on foundational models like Transformers, GNNs, and Diffusion models. The position emphasizes innovation in computational biology and chemistry, with a strong focus on robust codebases, data pipelines, and full-cycle ML development.

Isomorphic Labs London, United Kingdom
On-site Permanent
See all 23 roles →
Top hirers

Companies hiring ml research engineers

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Hiring locations

Where this role is hiring

The locations with the most live listings for this role today.

London

Location
18 open

Southampton

Location
2 open

Cambridge

Location
1 open
FAQs

Common questions

  • A strong background in computer science, mathematics, or a related field is essential. Advanced degrees, such as a Master's or PhD, are often required for higher-level positions.

  • Key skills include proficiency in programming languages like Python, a deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, and the ability to conduct rigorous research and experimentation.

  • The typical progression starts with a junior role, advancing to a senior position, and eventually leading to principal or leadership roles within the organisation.

  • Common industries include tech, finance, healthcare, and academia. Research-heavy startups and scaleups are also significant employers.

  • Salaries can vary widely based on experience, location, and industry. For more detailed salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page.

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