{"id":2124678,"url":"https://alion.io/job/npl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer","title":"Higher Scientist - AI Scientist / Software Developer","company":{"id":1766463,"name":"NPL","domain":"npl.co.uk","url":"https://alion.io/company/npl-co-uk","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Eploy","truth_index":null},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Teddington, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":78000,"max_usd":206000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":131},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Git","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"PyTorch","optional":false},{"name":"Scikit-learn","optional":false},{"name":"TensorFlow","optional":false},{"name":"Computer Vision","optional":true},{"name":"MLFlow","optional":true},{"name":"Reinforcement Learning","optional":true},{"name":"Weights & Biases","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-23T09:59:59Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-11T03:08:01Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":17,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":17},"description":"About the Role\nAt NPL, we are looking for an experienced AI scientist or software developer with a real passion for tackling some of the biggest challenges in developing the measurement science needed to test, evaluate, and assure the quality and trustworthiness of AI systems to join the Data Science & AI department. As a Higher Scientist, you'll be expected to acquire new knowledge to find solutions to advance our research, build our capability and provide impact to our clients through project delivery.\nThe\nwork conducted within the Data science & AI department responds national\nchallenges in areas of prosperity (e.g. advanced manufacturing), security and\nresilience, environment, and health. Our AI Programme contributes to the UK\ngovernment commitment to support the AI assurance ecosystem to increase trust\nand adoption of AI. In this role, you will contribute to projects developing\nand applying methods for AI assurance, helping to build confidence in the\nsafety, reliability and trustworthiness of AI systems. Through a combination of\npractical and theoretical learning, you will gain experience aligned with the\nUK's vision for trustworthy and responsible AI innovation, becoming a technical\nauthority for building confidence in the trustworthy use of AI.\nAs a Higher Scientist, you will collaborate with a variety of teams, both internal and external to NPL, within academic, industrial and governmental sectors, and at national and international levels. You will be expected to use logical thinking skills for designing and following a work plan, along with developing technical documents including scientific publications. Additionally, you will contribute to project idea generation, bidding support and consideration of digital products and services that could be built upon your research.\nThe role can be based at either of our Glasgow or Cambridge hub offices, or at our main Teddington (London) site, with occasional travel required between these three sites. Additional opportunities to travel both nationally and internationally will become available as part of your role in delivery projects, collaborating with partners, and through conference attendance.\nAbout You\nWe are looking for an AI Scientist / AI Software Developer to support the development and deployment of test and evaluation processes for artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. This role is ideal for those with experience in developing or testing AI/ML applications and is looking to build their skillset, working closely with senior researchers and engineers.\nKey Responsibilities:\nDevelop and implement machine learning and AI models\nDevelop test and evaluation protocols on ML/AI models \nAssist in data pre-processing, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis\nContribute to building scalable and maintainable AI software systems\nDebug, test, and improve existing models and codebases\nDocument workflows, models, and results clearly\nRequired Skills and Qualifications:\nDegrees in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, or a related field\nDeep understanding of machine learning concepts and algorithms\nUnderstanding of statistics and data analysis\nProgramming experience in Python (preferred) or similar languages\nFamiliarity with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn)\nKnowledge of data structures, algorithms, and software development practices\nExperience with version control (e.g., Git) and collaborative development\nExperience in using computing environments\nStrong problem-solving skills and willingness to learn\nDesirable:\nFamiliarity with MLOps tools (e.g. MLflow, Weights & Biases)\nExposure to natural language processing (LLMs, agents), computer vision, or reinforcement learning\nWe actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.\nHowever, to work in this role in the Data Science & AI department, you will need to have a current SC clearance, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance. \nPlease note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.\nAbout Us\nThe National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.\nNPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.\nAt NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.\nWe are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.\nTo ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6240,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-09T00:28:14Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Skilled Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Skilled Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-10T06:21:00+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":69,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.761,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":16,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:mid"],"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/npl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/npl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-11T05:19:10Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4965,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":35,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1766463},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1766463"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/npl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-ai-scientist-software-developer"}]}