Data Scientist

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for a Data Scientist (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract based Remote (Occasional travel to Swindon office).

We are seeking a Data Scientist to join a live, scaling AI programme delivering practical, production-ready solutions across UKRI’s data landscape. This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role where you will work across the full machine learning lifecycle, including the development and deployment of machine learning, NLP and Generative AI solutions, taking models from prototype through to live production and ongoing optimisation.

You will be joining an established team at a key growth stage, supporting the expansion of AI initiatives led by the Data Delivery Group, with a focus on real-world, scalable outcomes rather than experimentation.

Recent experience working with NLP, Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs) and modern AI tooling is essential, as the team continues to expand the use of AI-driven capabilities across UKRI.

This role offers the opportunity to work on AI solutions that are already in production, with a clear focus on scaling delivery and driving measurable outcomes.

As a Data Scientist, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Develop and deploy machine learning models into production environments
• Translate prototypes into scalable, production-ready systems
• Design, build and maintain infrastructure to support training, deployment and scaling of ML models
• Prepare and analyse large datasets to support model development
• Extract relevant insights and features from complex datasets
• Build and maintain data pipelines to support model development and deployment
• Evaluate model performance using appropriate metrics and optimise for accuracy and efficiency
• Monitor models in production and take corrective action where required
• Contribute to the design, development and deployment of AI solutions using NLP, Generative AI and LLM technologies
• Act as a technical contributor to AI discovery, planning and delivery activities

Essential:

• Strong Python experience applied to real-world machine learning and AI problems
• Recent hands on experience working with NLP, Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions
• Additional programming languages such as R or Java beneficial
• Knowledge of machine learning algorithms and frameworks (e.g. TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Experience building, deploying and optimising production-ready AI and machine learning solutions
• Experience working with large datasets, data manipulation and analysis tools
• Familiarity with statistical analysis and data visualisation techniques
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, Azure)
• Experience working in Agile teams
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage non-technical stakeholders

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UKRI guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Commitment

UKRI guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".