Chief Technologist - AI

Babcock Canada Inc.; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading international defense company in Bristol is seeking a Chief Technologist specializing in AI to lead the development of innovative AI projects for MoD and government clients. The role involves building AI capabilities, participating in industry initiatives, and driving AI strategies. Candidates should have demonstrable experience in AI technologies, preferably within engineering teams, with a commitment to professional development. Offering a full-time position with hybrid working arrangements and a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to Digital GP and wellness consultations

Employee share scheme

Holiday Trading

‘Be Kind Day’ for volunteering

Professional Fees payment

Qualifications

• Expert experience in AI technologies and system development.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary engineering team.
• Ability to identify opportunities to exploit AI technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of Mission Systems’ AI strategy.
• Build AI capability within the Software Engineering Discipline.
• Maintain expertise through personal professional development.

Skills

AI technologies

Multi-disciplinary engineering teamwork

Identifying AI opportunities

Job description

Chief Technologist - AI

Location: Ashton Vale, Bristol + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Location: Bristol, GB, BS16 1EJ

Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF 70166

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Chief Technologist at our Ashton Vale, Bristol site.

The Role

As the Mission Systems’ Chief Technologist, you’ll be part of an international company that’s continually innovating. Our aspirations are big – and you’ll help make them possible.

The Chief Technologist will have substantial technical background in AI and Machine Learning to take the lead in the creation and delivery of AI projects into our MoD and government customers. This is an exciting opportunity to provide domain expertise and technical thought leadership in AI technologies into existing and future initiatives, whilst also owning and incubating seed solution ideas that can be taken forwards by the collective team under your oversight.

• Take a leading role in the ongoing development of Mission Systems’ AI strategy that aligns to our customers’ own data and AI strategies. This includes coordinating with the Global Director of AI & Data and the Babcock AI & Data Centre of Excellence on Mission Systems’ role in the wider Babcock AI strategy and development programme.
• Taking responsibility to build AI capability within the Software Engineering Discipline of Mission Systems whilst working with the Chief Engineer community to ensure robust assurance of our AI outputs
• Participate in industry working groups to maintain and increase Babcock’s involvement and exposure to best practice and technology advancement, whilst building strategic relationships with key AI technology partners to increase Babcock’s overall capability portfolio. Assist with Business Development activities.
• Work with internal and external projects that do not currently utilise AI technologies to identify opportunities to inject innovative proposals to revolutionise data exploitation, whilst also promoting, informing and educating on AI topics amongst the Babcock team to ensure our workforce understands and grows with this exciting subject matter at all levels of the organisation.
• Maintain domain expertise through personal professional development to help position Babcock at the forefront of applying AI into defence.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with days onsite and days working from home.

Essential Experience of the Chief Technologist

• Expert demonstrable experience in AI technologies and developing systems
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary engineering team to ensure issues, risk and opportunities are communicated, understood and accounted for across specialisms.
• Experience of identifying opportunities to exploit AI technologies to deliver cutting edge solutions.

Qualifications for the Chief Technologist

• We value difference and don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and/or willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What We Offer

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing Date: 09/01/2026

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