Head of CortAIx Lab UK

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.

Head of CortAIx Lab UK

Location: Reading (Hybrid Working)

We are seeking an AI Expert with proven experience of innovating AI solutions. This person will drive technical leadership for AI in the Thales UK cortAIx Labs - our innovation hub for AI algorithms & enabling capabilities.

About the role:
 

• In this pivotal role, you will maintain a profile and network as an AI thought leader both within Thales UK and externally. You will identify and master the most promising AI based technologies, engage with our customers to ensure AI is used appropriately for their problems and collaborate with the UK, European and International research ecosystems.

• You will provide specific leadership for AI R&D and innovation for reinforcement learning. With our ambition to develop and expand the team, will we expect you to identify new talent and partnering opportunities with industry and academia. The role is also critical to identifying and winning customer-funded projects, leveraging our internal investment and bringing customer requirements into our capability roadmaps

• Interdisciplinary working is critical to solving our customers’ problems, and you will benefit from the wider Labs’ expertise in human-machine teaming, autonomous systems and advanced signal
  processing, to lead the development of AI solutions.

• To support the strategic development and delivery of AI solutions applied into Thales’ portfolio of complex mission systems, you will collaborate with the Thales UK CortAIx Factory to develop AI within robust processes for assurance, integrity and in-service support.

• As part of the global Thales Group, Thales UK undertakes R&D challenges across its international
  network. This role will engage with the AI community in France, Canada, Singapore to ensure the continued contribution of UK AI R&D to the Group technical strategy.

What you will do:

• Strategic Leadership:

  • Be the face of AI R&D and innovation for Thales UK

  • Bring personal vision and ideas to the cortAIx Lab technical strategy and drive the capability development in your area

  • Interface with the Thales Group international cortAIx network to influence direction and grow UK activities, including but not limited to the PCC KTD

• AI delivery

  • Work with UK CortAIx Factory to develop and deliver new AI algorithms into Thales product offerings

• Design & Governance

  • Working with the UK CortAIx Factory, ensure the development of AI models, algorithms, and data architectures meets business, technical, and regulatory requirements.

  • Promote best practices in AI ethics, robustness, transparency, and governance.

• Market & Customer Engagement

  • Build customer intimacy to help secure customer-funded projects

  • Monitor industry trends, competitive landscapes, and benchmarks to maintain a technical edge.

  • Identify and engage third-party collaborators to enhance the capabilities of the AI Lab team as needed

• Team Leadership

  • Supervision and technical leadership of AI lab resources to deliver the agreed cortAIx Lab technical strategy

About You

• A degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, or a related field. And / or appropriate
  hands-on experience of practical AI engineering.

• Proven track record in developing and delivering novel AI solutions to satisfy customer needs.

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of delivering operational AI solutions.

• Familiarity with data analytics, technology, and governance.

• Excellent stakeholder and project management skills, with experience in client-facing roles.

• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance innovation with business needs.

• Experience in user interface design and user experience considerations.

• Understanding of the software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, quality
  assurance, design, scheduling, implementation, issue tracking, version control, and
  deployment.

• Strong profile in the UK Defence AI sector

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 Security Clearance (SC) . 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. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

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 matter 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, hybrid 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

Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a variable compensation plan bonus and benefits package, which includes

• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm

• Hybrid working

• 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

• Development focused targets and relocation support can be provided if required along with a variety of learning, development and career enhancement opportunities.

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!