Machine Learning Research Scientist

An exceptional opportunity for a senior Machine Learning Research Scientist to shape the future of AI & Technology in Cardiff.

AI & Technology firms across the UK are racing to turn research into products people actually use, and Cardiff has quietly become one of the places where that work happens well. This SME, an established but growing name in the sector, has built its reputation on doing the research properly rather than chasing headlines. They need a Machine Learning Research Scientist who can sit at the point where theory meets shipped product and make good decisions there.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

Design and run experiments that test new model architectures against real business problems, not just benchmarks

Take promising research ideas and turn them into production-ready systems, working closely with engineering

Read and critically assess new papers, then decide which ideas are worth the team’s time

Build and maintain training pipelines, evaluation frameworks, and datasets that hold up under scrutiny

Present findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including where the approach falls short

Mentor junior researchers and engineers on method, not just output

A strong track record in machine learning research, ideally with published work or shipped models to point to

Fluency in Python and at least one major deep learning framework (PyTorch or TensorFlow)

Solid grounding in statistics and experimental design, so you know when a result is real

Experience taking a model from notebook to production, including the unglamorous parts

The judgement to say “this won’t work” early, and the communication skills to explain why

Comfort working in a senior role with real autonomy, inside a structured but flexible team

£60,000 to £94,500, depending on experience, plus a bonus scheme

Hybrid working, based in Cardiff with flexibility on office days

Private medical insurance and a solid pension contribution

Annual leave that supports genuine flexible working, not just a policy on paper

Defined career progression within a company that’s still growing into its next stage

Why pursue a career in AI & Technology?

AI & Technology isn’t slowing down, and the researchers who can bridge academic thinking with practical delivery are in short supply. Cardiff has built a genuine cluster of talent in this space, with lower costs and less noise than London, which means the work speaks louder than the postcode. A senior Machine Learning Research Scientist who gets in now has room to shape both the technical direction and the team around them.