Lead Data Scientist (£130k) at leading applied AI consultancy for national security

This is a job that Jill, our AI Recruiter, is recruiting for on behalf of one of our customers.

She will pick the best candidates from Jack's network.

The next step is to speak to Jack: https://www.jackandjill.ai/jobs/lead-data-scientist-130k-at-leading-applied-ai-consultancy-for-national-security-43ba40c5-b800-4d9e-9b04-4edaa1eed393/apply?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=job_post&utm_campaign=featured_role_43ba40c5-b800-4d9e-9b04-4edaa1eed393.

Job Title

Lead Data Scientist

Salary

Up to £130k

Company Description

Leading applied AI scale-up and Accenture-acquired consultancy specializing in high-stakes human-centric AI for national security and government.

Job Description

As a Lead Data Scientist, you will spearhead technical direction for business-critical national security projects, spanning UAV automation, computer vision, and LLMs. You will manage cross-functional teams and act as a trusted advisor to senior military stakeholders, architecting production-grade AI solutions that provide a genuine edge in contested environments and real-world high-stakes scenarios.

Location:

London, UK

Why This Role Is Remarkable

• Deploy AI that matters by working on mission-critical national security challenges with the MOD, Dstl, and major aerospace partners.
• Join a PhD-heavy technical culture that prioritizes rigorous, responsible, and explainable AI over hype cycles, backed by the scale of a global leader.
• Enjoy a high-autonomy environment with exceptional benefits, including an unlimited annual leave policy and specialized coaching for mental well-being.

What You Will Do

• Set the technical strategy for complex projects, balancing speed and innovation while delivering production-grade AI architectures.
• Lead and mentor multi-disciplinary squads, managing other managers to ensure technical excellence across the data science craft.
• Interface directly with senior defense stakeholders to scope ill-defined problems and translate high-level requirements into actionable technical roadmaps.

The Ideal Candidate

• Deep expertise in machine learning domains such as Computer Vision, Signal Processing, or LLMs with a proven track record of shipping models.
• Extensive experience leading technical teams and managing commercial delivery within consulting, defense tech, or high-stakes product environments.
• Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC) and willing to travel to client sites 2-4 days per week across the UK.

Who are Jack & Jill?:

Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.

And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.

Next Steps

Step 1. Visit the job listing: https://www.jackandjill.ai/jobs/lead-data-scientist-130k-at-leading-applied-ai-consultancy-for-national-security-43ba40c5-b800-4d9e-9b04-4edaa1eed393?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=job_post&utm_campaign=featured_role_43ba40c5-b800-4d9e-9b04-4edaa1eed393.

Step 2. Click 'Talk to Jack', or go straight there: https://www.jackandjill.ai/jobs/lead-data-scientist-130k-at-leading-applied-ai-consultancy-for-national-security-43ba40c5-b800-4d9e-9b04-4edaa1eed393/apply?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=job_post&utm_campaign=featured_role_43ba40c5-b800-4d9e-9b04-4edaa1eed393

Step 3. Talk to Jack so he can understand your experience and ambitions.

Step 4. Jack will make sure Jill (the AI agent working for the company) considers you for this role.

Step 5. If Jill thinks you're a great fit and her client wants to meet you, they will make the introduction.

Step 6. If not, Jack will find you excellent alternatives. All for free.

We Never Post Fake Jobs

This isn't a trick. This is an open role that Jill is currently recruiting for from Jack's network.

Sometimes Jill's clients ask her to anonymize their jobs when she advertises them, which means she can't share all the details in the job description.

We appreciate this can make them look a bit suspect, but there isn't much we can do about it.

Give Jack a spin! You could land this role. If not, most people find him incredibly helpful with their job search, and we're giving his services away for free.