Principal Mathematical Modeller

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

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.

Step into a senior technical role at the cutting edge of UK sonar innovation - where your expertise will shape breakthrough technologies for Royal Navy platforms and drive forward-thinking research in underwater defence!

What the role has to offer

• Be at the forefront of UK sonar research: General Sonar Studies (GSS) is a post-doc research group within Thales UK's Defence Mission Systems, delivering breakthrough innovations for Royal Navy platforms, particularly in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
• Drive low-TRL innovation: GSS leads exploratory studies and concept development for both internal and external customers, tackling the most complex and demanding challenges in underwater defence
• Collaborate with top-tier experts: Work alongside a fast-moving, forward-thinking team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of sonar technology and data exploitation

Our Opportunity

Join Thales, the UK’s leading sonar innovator, in a senior technical position at the heart of underwater systems research and development. Reporting to the Head of General Sonar Studies, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sonar and related technologies - applying advanced mathematical and analytical expertise across externally funded studies and internal R&D programmes.

You’ll provide strategic technical leadership, guide progress reporting to senior stakeholders, and produce high-impact reports, proposals, and scientific papers for both internal audiences and external conferences. Your work will drive innovation and excellence across system engineering, algorithm development, and modelling and simulation - ensuring best practices are embedded throughout the lifecycle.

This is a full-time, onsite role due to the classified nature of the work. Remote working is not available.

Building a Future, we can all trust.

Defence Mission Systems (DMS) supplies products, solutions and services in the field of electronic combat systems, airborne surveillance and reconnaissance systems, above water and under water combat systems. The Underwater Systems Business Line (UWS BL) specializes in underwater systems, focusing on sonars for submarines, surface vessels, helicopters, and maritime patrol aircraft; mine countermeasures systems; underwater security; and support services. With over 50 years of experience in undersea warfare, UWS is a global leader and key exporter of sonars and related systems for navies. The BL offers a diverse range of products for submarines, surface vessels, mine-countermeasures vessels, unmanned vehicles, and aircraft.

What we offer you

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:

• Annual bonus (VCP)
• Car allowance
• Pension – match like-for-like up to 7% of annual base salary
• Life Assurance – 2 x base salary minimum (8 x salary if part of the pension scheme)
• Income Protection – 50% of salary less state benefits for 5 years
• Annual Leave – 201 hours, bank holidays, plus 1 company day
• Private Medical Insurance - Couples cover
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 1:00pm
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• 24 hours paid leave for volunteering activities
• Access to flexible benefits and discounts – dental insurance, buying & selling annual leave, cycle to work, and many more

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Collaborate within the GSS senior technical management team to shape future research and development strategy, fostering connections across Thales (within export/security constraints), as well as with academic institutions and industry partners - from SMEs to major collaborators
• Lead innovation initiatives in designated areas, generating novel concepts and solutions that contribute to Thales UK’s expanding R&D programme
• Provide technical leadership in producing and reviewing reports, presentations, and scientific papers, showcasing innovation to both internal and external audiences
• Deliver a broad range of technical tasks, including sonar processing algorithm development, AI and autonomy solutions, underwater communications, data fusion and tracking, performance modelling, synthetic environments, and trial planning, execution, and analysis
• Lead and contribute to complex mathematical and analytical research activities focused on signal and data processing algorithm development
• Drive the creation of technical bids with a strategic, forward-looking approach—delivering world-class solutions tailored to customer needs
• Mentor junior team members and support the development of a robust GSS capability plan

About You

At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

• Advanced academic credentials - ideally a PhD in Mathematics or a related scientific, engineering, or computing discipline, supported by an MSc in Maths and deep expertise in algorithm development. A strong grounding in statistical and stochastic processes and/or linear algebra will set you up for success
• Passion for algorithms and modelling to solve complex challenges with curiosity and innovation
• Proven ability to tackle problems proactively - whether working independently or within a focused, agile team – to drive impactful outcomes
• Demonstrated experience securing research funding and leading technical project teams, shaping ideas into deliverable solutions
• A self-starter by nature, you’re confident working autonomously and taking initiative to move projects forward
• Familiarity with programming languages such as C/C++, MATLAB, or Python, along with an understanding of object-oriented principles, will be a valuable asset

Values & Behaviours:

The successful candidate will demonstrate behaviours that are consistent with the Leadership at Thales Model:

• THINK BIG - Imagine the Future and Inspire to Engage
• MAKE IT HAPPEN - Deliver User Centric Solutions and Act with Agility
• TOGETHER - Grow Others and Self and Include Others

Ready to shape the future of underwater defence? Apply now and bring your expertise to a team driving world-class innovation in sonar technology.

UKEO (UK Eyes Only)

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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

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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.

#LI-VG1

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!