Senior Data Scientist – National Security (TIRE) based in Cheltenham/Hybrid

The Role

The Defence & National Security programme at the Turing is looking to expand Turing Integrated Research Engineering (TIRE), a high performing team of research engineers working on real-world problems aligned with securing the UK. Following in the footsteps of the institute’s namesake, Alan Turing, TIRE operates at the intersection of mathematics, engineering and computing and works in close collaboration with the Turing’s National Security partners.

This is a hybrid role, based at the hub8 working space in Cheltenham, please note that it is not based at our London office.

Eligibility for DV clearance is an essential requirement for this role. Eligibility criteria and further information on the process can be found on the UK Government security vetting website.

Please note that we require you to provide essential information in your cover letter in order to progress your application. Details of this are in the Application Procedure section.

Your Profile

The ideal candidate will have a PhD degree or equivalent professional experience in a field with significant use of both computer programming and advanced algorithmic, statistical or numerical techniques. They will also have professional experience in a field or sector with significant use of both computer programming and advanced algorithmic, statistical or numerical techniques and fluency in one or more modern programming languages used in data science. In particular, we predominantly work in Python, but demonstrable use of other programming languages (e.g. modern C++, Java, Scala, Julia, R, Javascript, Rust, Go) together with a facility for learning new languages. As this is a Senior role we would expect the candidate to have experience in mentoring and guiding the work of others as well as leading a project to a successful conclusion.

Main Duties

• Understand the problems of the Turing’s partners and develop appropriate approaches to solving these problems.
• Perform experiments and develop capabilities, which might include: building and deploying machine learning models; applying data science, statistical and algorithmic techniques to data; building microservices, data processing/engineering systems and platforms or developing user interfaces and/or visualisations.
• Develop, implement and adapt state-of-the-art and novel data science and artificial intelligence techniques emerging from the Institute and elsewhere to problems faced by the Turing’s partners.
• Present, disseminate and explain our work including: Documenting capabilities, processes, and systems for effective and efficient reuse across multiple domains; Presentation at Defence and Security programme events including monthly meetups and wider Turing events; Presentation at Partner reading groups, conferences and to Partner stakeholders; Publication, support and maintenance of research/prototype software.

Please see our portal for a full breakdown of the role.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 15 February 2026 at 23:59 (London, UK GMT)

Terms and Conditions

This full-time post is offered on a permanent basis. The annual salary is £54,612 - £62,381 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, Employee-only benefits guide | The Alan Turing Institute.

This is a hybrid role, based at the hub8 working space in Cheltenham, please note that it is not based at our London office.

Application Procedure

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button. It will redirect you to The Alan Turing Institute jobs portal, where you can find more information and a full job description for this role. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and covering letter.

As this role requires eligibility for Developed Vetting (DV) clearance, it is an essential part of the application process that you include the following information as part of your cover letter:

• Your current nationality
• Your nationality at birth
• Other nationality (include dual nationality if applicable)
• Confirmation that you have been residing in the UK for the past 5 years (if you haven’t, please provide details of when and where you resided and the reason)
• Country where you were born.
• County in which you were born.
• Town where you were born.

Please note, if these details are not provided, we will be unable to progress with your application for this role.

In addition please share:

• Your past experience working with code and/or data.
• Why would you like to become part of the Turing’s Defence and Security Programme.
• How your skillset would complement the activities of the team.

If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please email recruitment@turing.ac.uk

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability.