Junior Research Engineer

Thales
Reading
1 year ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Data Analyst

Senior Data Analyst

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer

Staff Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer (Manager)

Location: Reading, United Kingdom In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions. Junior Research Engineer Location: Reading Hours of work: 37 Hrs/Week (Monday-Friday) – Minimum 3 days at office Do you have an inquisitive and technical problem-solving mind? Are you a good communicator and a team player? Would you like to work in a supportive environment? Got your interest, then look no further… Our Opportunity We have an exciting opportunity in our Research, Technology and Innovation business. Due to a rapid period of growth we are looking to add a Research Engineer to the team. You will work in an applied research environment to investigate and develop new technologies and concepts across a wide range of Thales’s application areas. The type of activities will include: Fundamental feasibility studies, state-of-the-art surveys and modelling/simulation. Development of proof of concept demonstrators using appropriate software and hardware implementations Work within a research team to invent and explore new concepts and technologies and demonstrate their applicability to the Thales businesses. Key Responsibilities and Tasks: As a Research Engineer you will: Carry out fundamental feasibility studies, state-of-the-art surveys and modelling/simulation. Develop proof of concept demonstrators using appropriate software and hardware implementations Work within a group of other research staff, as well as being self-motivated to work individually, and be flexible to adapt into new research areas and ways of working. Effective Team Member, well-motivated and enthusiastic. Show initiative in the efficient and correct execution of the project and take responsibility for own project work. Innovate in developing solutions and meet team and individual objectives. Maintain professional and technical skills and be willing to learn new skills. Provide accurate estimates for own work and deliver it within budget. Follow processes and procedures as defined by the Project Management Plan. Presentation of technical information at reviews. Technical liaison with customer representatives to transfer technology. About You The successful candidate should have experience in some of the following: Mathematical modelling and simulation Numerical analysis of data and data science techniques Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques and methodologies MATLAB, Mathematica or other computer algebra system Signal and image processing techniques Algorithm development for sensor or other systems Sensor systems (e.g. optical, IR, video, radar, sonar) Software development (e.g. C++, Python) Embedded programming Solving problems using DSPs and/or FPGAs Radio or analogue electronics Whilst having some of these skills, the successful candidate must be flexible to move into/between these areas. Experience: The successful candidate will typically have some experience in a research or advanced development environment role and have a good awareness of the Thales businesses, structure, governance and processes. We also expect candidates to be proficient in the use of standard PC-based office tools. We currently use Microsoft tools: Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Access, Project & Visio Qualifications: Because of the advanced nature of our work, the successful candidate will typically have an honours degree (minimum 2.1), a master's degree, or a PhD in any of the following disciplines: Communications Engineering Computer Science Cybernetics, Information Technology Electrical & Electronic Engineering Electronics Electronics & Computing Mathematics Physics Software Engineering Telecommunication Security Clearance statement Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance- United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks. What We Can Offer We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation. Flexibility Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions. Benefits at Thales We offer a competitive base salary and benefits package, which includes; Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm Pension Scheme 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays) Life Cover Progression and Development Opportunities 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales. LI-RS1 In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency. At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles. Great journeys start here, apply now

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.

Neurodiversity in Machine Learning Careers: Turning Different Thinking into a Superpower

Machine learning is about more than just models & metrics. It’s about spotting patterns others miss, asking better questions, challenging assumptions & building systems that work reliably in the real world. That makes it a natural home for many neurodivergent people. If you live with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too disorganised” for a technical career. In reality, many of the traits that can make school or traditional offices hard are exactly the traits that make for excellent ML engineers, applied scientists & MLOps specialists. This guide is written for neurodivergent ML job seekers in the UK. We’ll explore: What neurodiversity means in a machine learning context How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to ML roles Practical workplace adjustments you can ask for under UK law How to talk about neurodivergence in applications & interviews By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in ML – & how to turn “different thinking” into a genuine career advantage.

Machine Learning Hiring Trends 2026: What to Watch Out For (For Job Seekers & Recruiters)

As we move into 2026, the machine learning jobs market in the UK is going through another big shift. Foundation models and generative AI are everywhere, companies are under pressure to show real ROI from AI, and cloud costs are being scrutinised like never before. Some organisations are slowing hiring or merging teams. Others are doubling down on machine learning, MLOps and AI platform engineering to stay competitive. The end result? Fewer fluffy “AI” roles, more focused machine learning roles with clear ownership and expectations. Whether you are a machine learning job seeker planning your next move, or a recruiter trying to build ML teams, understanding the key machine learning hiring trends for 2026 will help you stay ahead.

Machine Learning Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK machine learning hiring has shifted from title‑led CV screens to capability‑driven assessments that emphasise shipped ML/LLM features, robust evaluation, observability, safety/governance, cost control and measurable business impact. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for ML engineers, applied scientists, LLM application engineers, ML platform/MLOps engineers and AI product managers. Who this is for: ML engineers, applied ML/LLM engineers, LLM/retrieval engineers, ML platform/MLOps/SRE, data scientists transitioning to production ML, AI product managers & tech‑lead candidates targeting roles in the UK.