Senior Cyber Artificial Intelligence Specialist

Job summary

Are you excited by the potential of Artificial Intelligence to solve some of the most complex challenges facing national security and defence?Dstl is seeking a Senior Cyber Artificial Intelligence Specialist to join a multidisciplinary team at the forefront of AI innovation.

Why join us?

This role offers the opportunity to research, develop and apply cutting-edge AI technologies within cyber programmes, helping transform emerging capabilities into practical solutions that deliver real-world impact.

You will work on challenging technical problems, exploring the application of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), foundation models and autonomous systems to support operational effectiveness and decision-making. Working closely with scientists, engineers, cyber specialists and stakeholders, you will evaluate novel technologies, assess their strengths and limitations, and help shape their safe, responsible and effective use.

As a senior technical specialist, you will play a key role in developing AI capability across the organisation. You will provide technical leadership, support the delivery of complex projects, advise customers and stakeholders, and mentor less experienced colleagues. This is an opportunity to apply your expertise in a unique environment where innovation, technical excellence and collaboration are essential to delivering outcomes of national importance.

This role is eligible for an additional specialist allowance of £2758 annually subject to meeting extended onboarding requirements. The role may be eligible for additional skills allowances depending on the skills and experience of the applicant.

Job description

What you'll do;

• Research, develop and apply AI technologies to solve complex cyber and defence challenges.
• Evaluate emerging AI capabilities, including generative AI, large language models, foundation models and autonomous systems.
• Assess the performance, effectiveness, risks and limitations of AI systems, producing evidence-based recommendations.
• Contribute to the assurance, testing and validation of AI-enabled capabilities.
• Develop innovative approaches, tools and methodologies that enhance AI capability and operational effectiveness.
• Provide authoritative technical advice and guidance to customers, stakeholders and project teams.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, assessments and briefings for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Lead technical activities within multidisciplinary teams, ensuring delivery of high-quality outcomes.
• Support the development of organisational AI expertise through mentoring, coaching and knowledge sharing.

For more information on the job responsibilities, please see the job profile attached below.

Person specification

What we're looking for

• A degree in a STEM discipline such as Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Embedded Systems, Physics or Mathematics, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong knowledge of Artificial Intelligence technologies, including generative AI, large language models (LLMs), foundation models and autonomous systems.
• Strong Python programming skills and experience using AI development frameworks and tooling.
• Experience evaluating, testing or assuring AI systems using evidence-based and analytical approaches.
• Strong software engineering, problem-solving and technical leadership capabilities.
• Experience applying AI technologies to solve complex and non-routine technical challenges.
• Experience making robust technical assessments from diverse and incomplete sources of information.
• Experience leading and contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience coaching, mentoring and developing colleagues.
• The ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to a wide range of audiences.

Please review the attached job description for more detailed information

Important Information:

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats.

For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require Develop Vetting and you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,431, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £12,002 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
• Allowances: This role is eligible for an additional specialist allowance of £2758 annually subject to meeting extended onboarding requirements. The role may be eligible for additional skills allowances depending on the skills and experience of the applicant.
• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 16th of November with interviews taking place from the 23rd of November.

Your interview will consist of behavioural and technical competency-based questions. You will also be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation. Further details for the presentation will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Cyber Recruitment Team
• Email : cyberrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

Senior Cyber Artifical Intelligence Specialist L5 Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 4978kB)