Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineer x5 Newcastle (on-site) £60,000-£90,000 + bonus Defence-Tech Machine Learning Engineer overview The environment is geared towards people who enjoy tackling complex challenges, working closely with end users, and taking ownership from day one. Most of the work is greenfield and will carve out specialisms/build teams around you if you want to specialise in certain areas. A growing high-calibre tech consultancy is seeking Machine Learning Engineers of various levels and disciplines to build robust, scalable data platforms/implement AI/ML for clients. Rather than hiring for a single technology stack or narrow role, they're assembling a team of exceptionally smart engineers, data specialists and technical leaders who can solve difficult problems, communicate well, and thrive in highly demanding environments. They're building teams in data, AI/ML, and technical leadership, with a particular focus on hiring exceptionally strong problem solvers rather than simply matching a specific tech stack. They're looking for people who understand how things work under the hood, not just how to use the latest tools. They’re hiring for, and value, Machine Learning Engineers who: * Enjoy working on challenging systems * Are friendly * Truly understand problem-solving principles * Enjoy variety * Are adaptable and articulate Machine Learning Engineer responsibilities include: * Integrating AI components into applications and workflows * LLM evaluation, failure modes, and mitigation strategies * Testing and debugging non-deterministic systems * RAG * Understanding of the risks and limitations of AI and where statistical models or deterministic logic would be more appropriate * LLM principles and transformer architectures * LLM performance evaluation and inference optimisations * Developing modules for edge, constrained or air-gapped environments would be a plus * Explainable AI or AI safety/security would be a plus Current and upcoming project include work in the following areas: * On-prem and policy compliant solutions * Audio/speech processing * Satellite systems * Low-power edge compute * Geospatial intelligence * AI safety and security Machine Learning Engineer additional criteria: * STEM Degree from a leading university (2:1 or above) * Eligibility for UK SC-level security clearance * Experience in defence or highly regulated environments is advantageous, but not required Machine Learning Engineer benefits: * Target based bonus (~10-25%) * Private healthcare * Pension * 25 days holiday + bank holidays