Location: Reading, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Head of AI Research, CortAIx UK
Location: Reading (Hybrid Working)

We are seeking a Senior AI Leader to head cortAIx UK’s research activities. Reporting to the Chief AI Officer (CAIO), Thales UK, you will own the AI research strategy for cortAIx UK, lead the AI research team, and ensure a strong, efficient pipeline from Lab to Factory to Sensors across Thales UK businesses.

This role is focused on AI research leadership, strategy and delivery.

About the role

In this pivotal role, you will:

Lead and grow cortAIx UK’s AI research capability across a broad range of AI approaches (e.g. machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, generative models, optimisation, perception, knowledge-based and hybrid AI), aligned with Thales UK’s strategic priorities.
Define, own and execute the AI research strategy for cortAIx UK, ensuring research outcomes are relevant, mature, and ready for transition into cortAIx Factory and into sensors, platforms and mission systems.
Work closely with the CAIO, Thales Group research organisations and UK business units to shape a coherent AI research portfolio that supports near-, mid- and long‑term business needs.
Drive increased AI research funding through stronger collaboration with Thales Group entities and by securing customer‑funded research projects in key markets (e.g. defence, aerospace, transport, security, space).

You will be responsible for co-creating, establishing and running an effective “Lab → Factory → Sensors” research and industrialisation pipeline, ensuring that promising AI concepts are rapidly matured, engineered and integrated into operational products and services.

What you will do

1. Research Strategy & Portfolio Leadership

Define and maintain the cortAIx UK AI research strategy, in alignment with:
- The UK Chief AI Officer’s vision and priorities.
- Thales Group AI research roadmaps and technology strategies.
- UK business and customer needs across domains.
Build and manage a balanced research portfolio (exploratory, applied and translational research) across multiple AI approaches, not limited to reinforcement learning.
Identify high‑impact research themes, use cases and demonstrators that can differentiate Thales in priority markets.
Establish clear success criteria, roadmaps and KPIs for AI research activities and ensure alignment with product lines and engineering teams.

2. Lab–Factory–Sensors Pipeline & Technical Integration

Work closely with cortAIx Factory UK and relevant engineering/industrial teams to:
- Define and refine the end‑to‑end process for transitioning AI research outputs into industrial-quality solutions.
- Ensure research projects are scoped and executed with a clear path to integration into products, sensors and systems.
Ensure research teams adopt robust engineering practices (MLOps/ModelOps, data management, experimentation, validation and verification, documentation).
Champion reuse of AI components and platforms across programmes to accelerate time‑to‑market and reduce duplication.

3. Internal & Group Collaboration / Funding Growth

Partner with the CAIO to:
- Maximise use of Thales Group research funding streams and collaborative programmes.
- Position cortAIx UK as a key contributor in Group AI initiatives and key technical domains.
Proactively build and manage relationships with:
- Thales Group R&D centres and cortAIx entities in France, Canada, Singapore and elsewhere.
- UK Thales business units (e.g. defence, aerospace, security, transport) to co‑define research topics and co‑funded activities.
Lead or support the preparation of research proposals to internal and Group-level funding calls, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and clear exploitation plans.

4. Customer‑Funded Research & Ecosystem Engagement

Develop strong working relationships with UK customers and partners (e.g. MOD, agencies, primes, key industrial partners) in collaboration with account teams and bid teams, to:
- Shape customer‑funded research and technology demonstrator projects in AI.
- Translate customer challenges into well‑formed AI research programmes with measurable outcomes.
Engage with academic and industrial partners as research collaborators (not as an external “face” of AI), including:
- Co‑creation of research projects.
- Joint supervision of research staff and students.
- Participation in collaborative R&D bids (e.g. UKRI, Innovate UK, EU/EDA-style programmes if applicable).
Provide deep technical input into bids and proposals involving AI research, ensuring credibility, feasibility and innovation.

5. AI Design, Ethics & Governance

Ensure AI research and experimentation is conducted in line with Thales policies and best practice in:
- AI ethics and responsible AI.
- Robustness, safety, assurance and explainability.
- Data protection, security, and export control constraints.
Define and oversee research standards for:
- Data acquisition, curation and synthetic data generation.
- Model development, benchmarking and validation.
- Documentation, traceability and configuration management.
Collaborate with cortAIx Factory and relevant governance bodies to ensure research outputs can be certified or assured appropriately when deployed in safety‑ or mission‑critical systems.

6. Team Leadership & Capability Development

Lead the cortAIx UK AI research team (scientists, engineers and experts), including:
- Setting direction, priorities and resource allocation.
- Providing technical leadership, coaching and mentoring.
- Building a culture of high‑quality research, engineering discipline and collaboration.
Identify future skills and capability needs in AI and related fields, and work with HR/talent teams to:
- Recruit and develop top talent.
- Create progression paths for researchers and technical leaders.
Encourage knowledge sharing, internal publications, technical reviews and communities of practice to raise the overall AI capability in Thales UK.

About You

Essential

Degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, engineering or a related field, and/or extensive hands‑on experience in AI research and development.
Proven track record of leading AI research or advanced development programmes (industry, applied research organisation, or collaborative R&D), with demonstrable impact on products or operational systems.
Deep understanding of multiple AI paradigms, for example:
- Machine learning and deep learning (supervised/unsupervised).
- Reinforcement learning and planning.
- Generative AI (e.g. generative models, foundation models, LLMs) where appropriate.
- Perception and sensor‑related AI (e.g. signal, radar, EO/IR, multi‑modal fusion).
- Knowledge‑based, symbolic or hybrid AI approaches.
Demonstrable experience of translating research into deployable AI solutions, including:
- Working closely with engineering / product teams.
- Managing TRL maturation and validation activities.
Strong experience in building and managing a portfolio of research projects, including:
- Prioritisation, governance and risk management.
- Balancing exploratory and near‑term deliverables.
Experience in securing and managing research funding (internal, group‑level, and/or customer‑funded R&D).
Excellent stakeholder management skills, including collaboration with senior technical leaders, business leaders and programme managers.
Understanding of software and AI development lifecycles: requirements, design, implementation, testing, quality assurance, configuration and deployment.
Ability to make sound technical and strategic trade‑offs between innovation, risk, time‑to‑market and cost.

Desirable

Experience working in or with the UK Defence and/or National Security sectors, including familiarity with their AI priorities and constraints.
Experience with safety‑ and mission‑critical systems and associated assurance processes.
Experience of leading research collaborations with academia or industrial partners.
Familiarity with AI ethics and regulatory trends (e.g. defence AI principles, emerging AI regulation).
Experience managing or guiding multi‑disciplinary teams spanning AI, human‑machine teaming, autonomy, signal processing and systems engineering.

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held; if not, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

What We Can Offer

We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market‑leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

Flexibility

Your health and well‑being matter to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part‑time hours, job sharing, hybrid working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Benefits at Thales

Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a variable compensation plan bonus and benefits package, which includes:

Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
Car Allowance
Pension Scheme
28 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays)
Private Healthcare, Life Assurance and a flexible array of benefits to suit your lifecycle
Progression and Development Opportunities, including specialist and expert career pathways
24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!

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