Senior AI Engineer (Machine Learning Engineer)

Bristol, Darlington, Leeds, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton Job Summary We are MHCLG We are looking for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to help transform how the Resilience and Recovery Directorate (RED) uses digital services, automation and AI during emergencies that affect communities across England. When crises happen, decision makers need information they can act on quickly and trust. The RED directorate works at the core of government's resilience system, supporting preparation for and response to incidents such as severe weather, flooding, infrastructure disruption, public health threats and other major emergencies. This role is about building the technical foundations that help information move quickly from those closest to an incident to the people who need to act on it. You will join the new Transformation Unit, a multi-disciplinary team focused on building practical systems, tools and workflows that help colleagues, local partners and other government organisations access, share and use information more effectively. The team's role is not to act as a central analysis function, but to create reusable products and AI-enabled workflows that reduce manual effort, improve situational awareness and make better use of data across the resilience system. You will lead the engineering work needed to turn promising AI and machine learning ideas into services that are secure, dependable and straightforward to use under pressure. This could include building systems that help structure information from local partners, improve reporting flows, support cross-government data sharing, or enable users to understand fast-moving situations more quickly. If you want to use machine learning engineering to make a difference during events of national importance, this role offers to opportunity to do just that with a high degree of autonomy. Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog.  Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment. Job Description As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, you'll: * Lead the technical design and development of AI and machine learning services * Work with colleagues and partners to understand current processes, information flows and user needs, especially where work doesn't scale well or relies heavily on unstructured information * Build and iterate prototypes that use machine learning, large language models and automation safely and effectively * Write, review and maintain high-quality code, with a focus on performance and maintainability. - Use modern engineering practices, including version control, infrastructure as code, CI/CD and AI coding assistants * Work with software development, data science, delivery and service design colleagues to move successful prototypes towards services that can be scaled and improved over time * Support responsible use of AI by considering privacy, bias, the limits of what these systems can reliably do, and where human oversight is needed * Explain technical options and trade-offs clearly to both digital and non-digital colleagues In addition, you will learn how to support emergency response, and be expected to be deployed to do so when needed and contribute to RED's '24/7' monitoring for breaking emergencies. This post is advertised as an 18-month post, with potential for extension. As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, You'll * Lead the technical design and development of AI and machine learning services * Work with colleagues and partners to understand current processes, information flows and user needs, especially where work doesn't scale well or relies heavily on unstructured information * Build and iterate prototypes that use machine learning, large language models and automation safely and effectively * Write, review and maintain high-quality code, with a focus on performance and maintainability. - Use modern engineering practices, including version control, infrastructure as code, CI/CD and AI coding assistants * Work with software development, data science, delivery and service design colleagues to move successful prototypes towards services that can be scaled and improved over time * Support responsible use of AI by considering privacy, bias, the limits of what these systems can reliably do, and where human oversight is needed * Explain technical options and trade-offs clearly to both digital and non-digital colleagues In addition, you will learn how to support emergency response, and be expected to be deployed to do so when needed and contribute to RED's '24/7' monitoring for breaking emergencies. This post is advertised as an 18-month post, with potential for extension. Person specification As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, You'll Have * Strong experience writing Python code, using version control such as Git, and contributing through pull requests and code review * Comfort using AI coding assistance to create quick proofs of concept, as well as clear, well-structured and maintainable code * Experience designing, building or improving machine learning, large language model or AI-enabled services that solve practical user or organisational problems * Experience developing cloud-based services using platforms such as AWS or Azure * Experience using Infrastructure as Code (ideally Terraform or OpenTofu), CI/CD and AI coding assistance * Ability to turn user needs and operational problems into practical technical options and explain proposed solutions clearly to non-technical audiences * A willingness to support and coach others, helping to improve engineering standards, confidence and good practice across the team * Ability to play your part in emergency response when needed and contribute to RED's 24/7 monitoring for emergencies. Training will be provided and additional compensation is available for any evening/weekend working required Alongside your salary of £58,092, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £16,829 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). At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here. 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 Application and Selection The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles: Behaviours , Experience , Technical Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information. Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link. Important: Your CV and Cover Letter *must* be merged into a single document before uploading. Stage 1: Sift (CV \& Cover Letter) Experience \& Technical In your CV and covering letter, please provide 750 words explaining how you meet the essential criteria for this role. In your response, refer to specific roles, projects, and pieces of work you have undertaken, and clearly describe your personal contribution and impact. Be as concrete and detailed as possible, and avoid vague statements or wording that feels generic or overly AI-generated. Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors. Stage 2: Technical Test Candidates who pass the sifting round will be asked to attend a short technical test. The candidates who are successful in the technical test will then be asked to attend an interview. Further details will be provided on invitation. Stage 3: Interview * Behaviours: Changing and Improving, and Working Together * Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. * Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. Candidates will be asked to complete a short technical test, with further details provided ahead of the interview. Sift and Interview Dates Sifting is envisaged to take place from 29th July 2026. Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 24th August 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change. Group 1 Digital \& Data Roles MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview. MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager. Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability. Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade. Grade 7 Group 1 Digital and Data salary * The basic pay for this role will be between £63,483-£72,287 (London), £58,092-£66,742 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale. * A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating. * For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above. How We Recruit Find out everything you need to know before applying here.. * Applying * Sifting * Interview * Interview Results \& Feedback * Reserve List * Near Miss * Civil Service Grades * We are a DCS, RIS \& GPTWV employer * Reasonable Adjustments How To Apply What you need to know before applying. You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly. * Security Clearance Requirements * Civil Service Nationality Requirements * Right to Work * Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles * CV Declaration * Sponsorships * Salary and Grade * Existing Civil Servants * Conflict of Interest * Location and Flexible Working * Fixed Term Contracts * Internal Fraud Database * Appeals and Complaints Security Clearance Requirements National Office: BPSS + SC London Office: BPSS + SC 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 security check (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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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 This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups * UK nationals * nationals of the Republic of Ireland * nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK * nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) * nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) * individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 * Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) 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. 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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). 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 : Cameron Currie * Email : cameron.currie@communities.gov.uk Recruitment team * Email : digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk Further information About If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been: * a procedural irregularity * an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy * exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day. It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk