AI Engineer (Research-Focused - Defence & National Security)

We operate in some of the most complex and high-stakes environments in the world - defence, national security, AI and robotics. The decisions we make now, will define not just how fast we grow, but who we become.

You will work closely with all the team. You will be trusted with judgment calls. You will influence the business. And you will see the impact of your work every day in the work we do.

If you are excited by ownership, pace and purpose - and by building something that genuinely matters -we would love to hear from you., Your responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

• Designing and implementing generative AI and NLP algorithms to support our core products

• Building and optimising natural language and agentic AI systems for planning, search, and task execution

• Collaborating with engineers and researchers on agent design, orchestration, and environment interaction

• Staying current with advances in LLMs, agentic research, and autonomous reasoning

• Translating academic research into deployable, offline-capable systems for secure environments

We are seeking a highly capable and research-driven AI Engineer to support the development of next-generation natural language and agentic AI systems.

This is an ideal role for individuals with a strong academic background in machine learning, particularly those with hands-on experience working with large language models (LLMs), NLP pipelines, AI agents, or autonomous reasoning systems. We welcome candidates who have recently completed, or are nearing completion of, a PhD or postdoctoral fellowship, as well as MSc graduates with substantial applied research experience.

You will be joining us at an exciting period of our growth, to help design and implement intelligent systems capable of goal-directed behaviour, reasoning, and multi-agent coordination Your skills and knowledge will be bridging academic innovation with high-impact national security applications., A collaborative and supportive attitude to work is essential for this role. You will be expected to operate at multiple levels within the company, with a strong focus on delivery and attention to detail., * A strong academic background in AI, NLP, or related disciplines, evidenced by one of the following:

• A completed PhD

• A PhD thesis submitted and awaiting viva

• Current or recently completed postdoctoral research, or

• An MSc with substantial research experience (e.g. through thesis, publications, or R&D internships)

• Demonstrated expertise in all OR at least two of the following areas:

• Developing or fine-tuning large language models (LLMs)

• Engineering NLP or agentic AI pipelines

• AI agent architectures, task planning, or goal-directed systems

• Deploying AI models in secure or offline production environments

• Strong programming skills in Python and experience with ML/NLP libraries (e.g. PyTorch, Hugging Face Transformers, LangChain, Haystack)

• Experience with agentic frameworks (e.g. LangGraph, Agent Development Kit)

• Familiarity with Docker, Git, and cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, GCP, Azure)

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

• Research or project experience with AI agents, autonomous task planning, or agent-tool interaction

• Contributions to open-source projects or academic publications in AI/NLP/agentic systems

• Familiarity with MLOps, model evaluation pipelines, and reproducible research practices

• Experience working in start-ups, applied research, or agile R&D environments

• Experience with RESTful APIs, orchestration frameworks, or custom agent environments

• Comfortable presenting work to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Why Oxford Dynamics?

Join the most exciting growth area in the UK: AI and Robotics! Every member of the Oxford Dynamics team has a major impact on the products and services we provide. Regardless of job title, you'll get to make a real difference and learn from colleagues about all areas of our business.

Benefits include:

• Rapid career progression and personal growth

• Opportunity to shape the future of a fast-growing, successful, early-stage business

• Flexible working hours

• Hybrid working model

• Company pension (UK Government NEST scheme) with company contributions at 4%

• Private Healthcare

Founded in 2020, Oxford Dynamics is a fast-growing UK deep-tech company developing AI and robotic systems designed to operate in mission-critical environments. Our flagship AVIS (A Very Intelligent System) AI framework fuses multi-modal data - text, imagery, telemetry and sensor feeds - enabling operators to interrogate complex information at speed and make better decisions under pressure. Our STRIDER robotic platform performs autonomous tasks in hazardous environments, protecting people while extending operational reach. Our ambition is simple but demanding: to converge AI and robotics so machines can sense, understand and act in complex, real-world environments. We work with defence and security organisations internationally to help protect nations, infrastructure and lives. What you will be doing here/ why this role matters Oxford Dynamics is a small team who rely on a collaborative and positive approach and so the right attitude for this role is equally as important as experience. We are at an important stage and time in our growth with a strong foundation in research being key to furthering our business., Oxford Dynamics is committed to creating an inclusive team experience for all. Regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or parental status, we believe our work is at its best when everyone feels free to be their authentic self.