Research Specialist in AI and Data Science

Why this role matters

This is a technical expert role in Research and Network Strategy where the individual will apply their key expertise within a clearly defined sphere of technical knowledge to complex business issues or opportunities. The role holder actively engages with colleagues to progress new research in important technical topics and supports the realisation of business value from research and innovation outputs.

This role is based in Ipswich or Bristol.

Our hybrid working model means you are required to be in the office 3 days per week.

You'll have the following responsibilities

The areas for research you will be involved in are for AI direction setting.

• Managing research projects/tasks, both internal to Research and Network Strategy and with collaborative partners.
• Domain expert responsible for maintaining expertise in a specific technical domain.
• Responsible for intellectual property creation, managing patent filing in their team and supporting IPR exploitation where appropriate
• Accountable for defining and performing research in a network threat data analysis and threat prevention and deliver high impact and high value across multiple domains.
• Responsible for authoring thought leadership technical papers, capturing intellectual property 
• Supervision of graduate and post-graduate student placements and secondments.

You'll have the following skills and experience

This role is about applying AI to cyber applications and skills in AI/ML are as important to us as much as Cyber skills.

Skills

•    Technical domain expert: Deep technical or domain expertise in applied AI and ML techniques.  
•    Qualifications: Strong academic record in technology specialism with post-graduate qualification(s) (PhD or equivalent research experience). 
•    Expert communicator: Regularly presents to peers and managers about their research and area of technical expertise 
•    Experienced in open innovation: Skilled in patenting, technical publications, conference presentations etc. 
•    Storytelling with data: strong skills in building the case for change, drawing on data and analytical techniques where appropriate, and communicating this to business audiences 
•    Concept Evaluation: ability to spot relevant innovations, horizon scanning, determine relevance for the business, develop an effective conceptualisation and build trials to test the concept 

Experience

•    Technical domain expert: evidence of significant knowledge and skill relevant to applied Data Science using AI and ML techniques. Skill in Deep Learning and LLM methods and Python coding skills.
•    Significant delivery: evidence of significant business impact through delivery of research.
•    Stakeholder management: evidence of managing project stakeholders across the business at a variety of grade and seniority levels.
•    Innovative Thinker: ability to spot and identify new innovations and act to bring them in and capitalise and create value.
•    Commercial Applicability: understanding the business case principals around relevant innovations and the real value to the business through value proposition build.
•    Excellent awareness of industry trends, future direction and opportunities. 
•    Self-starter, pro-actively working with minimal guidance 
•    Problem solving, intellectually curious, comfortable taking ownership and responsibility 

Benefits

•    Competitive salary
•    10% on target bonus
•    BT Pension scheme, minimum 5% Employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
•    25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service
•    Huge range of flexible benefits including cycle to work, healthcare, season ticket loan
•    World-class training and development opportunities
•    Option to join BT Shares Saving schemes.
•    Discounted broadband, mobile and TV packages
•    Access to 100’s of retail discounts including the BT shop

Our leadership standards

Looking in:
Leading inclusively and Safely
I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.
Owning outcomes
I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.

Looking out:
Delivering for the customer
I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.
Commercially savvy
I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.

Looking to the future:
Growth mindset
I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.
Building for the future
I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can be at their best.

About us

BT is part of BT Group, along with EE, Openreach, and Plusnet.

Millions of people rely on us every day to help them live their lives, power their businesses, and keep their public services running. We connect friends to family, clients to colleagues, people to possibilities. We keep the wheels of business spinning, and the emergency services responding. 

We value diversity and celebrate difference. ‘We embed diversity and inclusion into everything that we do. It’s fundamental to our purpose: we connect for good.’

We all stick to the same values: Personal, Simple, and Brilliant. From day one, you’ll get stuck in to tough challenges, pitch in with ideas, make things happen. But you won’t be alone: we’ll be there with help and support, learning and development.  

This is your chance to make a real difference to the world: to be part of the digital transformation of countless lives and businesses. Grab it.

A FEW POINTS TO NOTE:

Although these roles are listed as full-time, if you’re a job share partnership, work reduced hours, or any other way of working flexibly, please still get in touch.

We will also offer reasonable adjustments for the selection process if required, so please do not hesitate to inform us.

DON'T MEET EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT?

Studies have shown that women and people who are disabled, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse or from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification and criteria. We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement on the Job Description, please apply anyway - you may just be the right candidate for this or other roles in our wider team.