Senior Machine Learning Engineer (MLOps)

Speech Graphics is the leading audio-driven facial animation provider in the video-game industry. Unlike other technologies, Speech Graphics employs detailed muscle maps for extremely accurate real-time lip-sync. 

The company trades under two brands - 'Speech Graphics' and 'Rapport'.

Rapport is an innovative platform that integrates AI with animated digital characters, enabling engaging and meaningful interactions in any language. The Rapport platform is being used to bring best-in-class digital experiences to multiple sectors, including corporate training, immersive learning, and virtual influencers. 

With a culture that thrives on collaboration, creativity and pushing technological boundaries, we are committed to providing a workplace where people can grow, innovate and make an impact. Our teams are diverse, passionate, and driven by a shared goal of building groundbreaking products that shape the future of digital animation. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer (MLOps) at Speech Graphics you will be responsible for driving the vision and implementation of MLOps pipelines and best practices. You will support the Research team by developing and maintaining the internal machine learning platform, ensuring seamless model deployment, and resolving technical issues or bugs as they arise. This role is critical in ensuring the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of our machine learning operations, which are essential for the development and deployment of our speech animation technologies. Note that this role doesn’t involve hands-on model training.

THE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive the vision and implementation of MLOps pipelines and best practices to ensure efficient and scalable machine learning operations.
• Assume a leadership role in projects, overseeing various project planning and management responsibilities.
• Develop and maintain internal tools, including the machine learning platform and python libraries.
• Collaborate closely with the research team to gather their requirements and provide technical support.
• Implement algorithms to support research needs.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve technical problems and bugs promptly.
• Maintain list of third party libraries dependencies to ensure compliance with information security and licensing standards.
• Write and optimise production-ready code for product deployments.
• Contribute to continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) for MLOps components.
• Provide guidance and maintain comprehensive technical documentation to ensure knowledge sharing and operational continuity.

Please note the above is illustrative, not exhaustive. Accordingly, there may be a requirement to undertake additional duties, consistent with the level of the post, as directed by management.

Requirements

Qualifications/ memberships or equivalent 🎓

• Degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Experience, skills and knowledge ✍️

• Proven experience in an MLOps role
• Expertise in ML platform development and model deployment
• Experience in establishing and improving MLOps processes
• Strong Python development skills
• Experience with a machine learning toolkit, preferably PyTorch

Personal qualities & attributes 💥

• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and convey technical concepts to a variety of stakeholders
• Excellent problem-solving abilities, with a logical and analytical approach to addressing complex technical challenges

Additional 💻

• Legal right to work in the UK
• Ability to communicate in English fluently

The 'nice to have' but not essential for applying...

• Strong experience with Python libraries - pandas or numpy
• Experience with CI/CD, including containerisation (Docker), test automation and cloud deployment
• Experience with neural rendering, computer vision and/or computer graphics
• Collaborating and supporting research teams
• Good understanding of Linux (Ubuntu)
• Familiarity with any of the following domains: signal processing, speech technology, linguistics, and mathematical optimization
• Strong math background, particularly linear algebra and 3D math
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying up to date with the latest trends and advancements in machine learning, MLOps and related fields

Benefits

This position will join an incredibly talented and diverse workforce as part of a pioneering and visionary technology start-up. In return, on top of a competitive salary you can expect:

Paid Time Off 🌴

• Annual 28 days’ holiday allowance
• Paid for holiday closure 24th December to 1st January inclusive

Free food and drink 🥤

• Fully stocked kitchen with hot and cold drinks, snacks and fruit daily
• Free soft and alcoholic drinks at social events

Fun socialising 🕺

• Board games nights
• Quizzes
• Staff-run sport clubs
• Variety of social events 

Self improvement and learning 🧠

• Annual L&D budget
• Established Employee Forum
• 'Made Easy' sessions on exciting topics 
• Chance to learn from diverse colleagues with heritage from around the world
• An amazing innovative working environment

Workplace upgrades 💻 📈

• Modern newly refurbished office in Edinburgh
• Standing desk
• Chill out areas
• Casual clothing attire when in the workplace
• Company branded swag

Positive health and wellbeing 💚

• Optional private healthcare
• Seasonal wellbeing activities
• Access to Mental health first aiders

Other info:

We value our staff and treat everyone with respect and without discrimination. We are committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from a diverse and multicultural workforce.

Please note this is an Edinburgh, UK based role and applicants will require a legal right to work in the UK.

The established company Speech Graphics Ltd has headquarters based in Edinburgh and with other workbases located in Hungary, Singapore and the USA.