Principal Data Scientist

Job Title:       Principal Data Scientist
Location:       Malvern or Farnborough + Adaptive Working Arrangement
Package:       Competitive Salary + Benefits Package
Role Type:     Full time / Permanent
Role ID:         SF15250

Be part of the QinetiQ journey. We are looking for a skilled Principal Data Scientist to join our teamsof Data Scientists and Engineers, based at our Malvern or Farnborough sites. 

The teams undertake a wide variety of exciting, innovative and leading edge research in the areas of Data Science, AI, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision and Tracking for Security, Defence and Commercial customers. Our capabilities cover machine learning and data science specialists, human science practitioners and software developers. We have the ambition to grow our leading-edge Data Science capability to support projects across the whole breadth of QinetiQ’s global portfolio of programmes.

The Role
As a Principal Data Scientist you will be a proven SME in data science techniques, with a demonstrable record in designing solutions, leading bids for complex programmes and successful delivery of large teams. You'll be part of the technical leadership in this area, contributing to defining strategy and identifying direction of travel for the data science skills area.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading data science projects.
• Leading areas of expertise within our team.
• Keeping up with state of the art technologies and working practices within a broad and high profile technical area.
• Looking for opportunities to further improve our software tools.
• Designing new tools and software components/services.
• Understanding customer requirements, identifying, evaluating, and recommending tools and algorithms, and generating insights from data.
• Influencing colleagues and customers in a high-paced, leading-edge technology environment.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience of the Principal Data Scientist

• Significant, demonstrable post graduation track record of delivery of data-science projects
• Experienced and knowledgeable in some aspects of at least one of the following:
  • Machine Learning
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Computer Vision
  • Signal Processing
  • Tracking
• Experienced and knowledgeable in some aspects of the engineering of data processing pipelines
• Supervision of less experienced technical staff.
• Writing technical proposals in a competitive environment.

Desirable Experience of some or all of the following:

• Working with multi-lingual text.
• Agile or scaled Agile teams.
• Data association and inference techniques.
• Virtualisation and cloud technologies.
• Full product development lifecycle from requirements to user testing.
• More general engineering design and implementation processes.

Qualifications for the Principal Data Scientist

• Qualified to at least University Honours Degree in a STEM subject or equivalent and ideally a PhD in a Science subject.

Technologies we use:

• Languages include: Python, Matlab, SQL, C++, JavaScript, and Bash.
• Operating systems include: Linux (various flavours) and Windows.
• Libraries include: BERT, Gensim, Hugging Face, Keras, NLTK, NumPy, Matplotlib, Pandas, Scikit-learn, SciPy, SpaCy, Stanford CoreNLP, TensorFlow, USE.
• Cloud environments include: AWS, Azure.
• Tools include: Conda, Git, Jupyter.

The successful candidate will be a sole UK national who holds SC security clearance,and ideally a DV, or the ability to apply for DV in due course if necessary. 

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our Benefits

• Adaptive and flexible working
• Generous holiday allowance
• Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows most employees to buy up to 5 days’ additional leave
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant
• Payroll Giving and Volunteering - helping charities and local community

Our volunteering programme enables our people to use their professional skills to make a positive difference in our local communities, for example STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) ambassador days in schools. We support a number of charities that are important to our people, including those which help the defence community. 

Why Join QinetiQ?
As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

You’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. 

About QinetiQ
As a company of thousands of dedicated professionals, we are a world-centre of excellence in research and development and act as a catalyst for fast-track innovation, offering outstanding experimentation facilities, and technical, engineering and scientific expertise. QinetiQ is made up of dedicated experts in defence, aerospace, security and related markets, all working together to explore new ways of protecting what matters most. Being part of QinetiQ means being central to the safety and security of the world around us. Partnering with our customers, we help to save lives; reduce risks to society; and maintain the global infrastructure on which we all depend. Come and find out how you can play a role.

Security
Please note that many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting. Applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment, subject to approval. A number of roles are also subject to restrictions on access to information, which mean factors such as nationality, previous nationalities held and the country in which you were born may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Application Guidance
If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please contact your regional recruiting team in strictest confidence. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.