Algorithm Developer

Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Job Purpose

An opportunity to join an agile and dynamic team at the forefront of UK maritime data exploitation and processing. General Sonar Studies (GSS) is akin to a post-doctoral research group within Thales UK's Defence Mission System's business unit; this role is specifically targeted at delivering innovations for Royal Navy (RN) underwater platforms in support of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) solutions. General Sonar Studies are central to the research, development and procurement of concepts, capabilities and solutions to anticipate and address the most challenging customer requirements. Collaboration inside and outside the company is central to the approach employed.

The role requires a flexible and proactive approach founded on academic excellence, problem solving, self-discipline, a willingness to learn, leadership, management, teamwork and the ability to create and communicate a vision.

The role will support, enable and contribute to innovation activities in the Underwater Systems business area. Working with a team of highly capable experts and specialists, the candidate will support the delivery of better customer decisions across the mission cycle through revolutionary data exploitation and processing techniques.

The role will technically support the development of compelling, collaborative solutions and associated bid documents for Customer Funded R&D Programmes. The role will technically support the delivery of research tasks, work packages and projects with a focus on delivery to time, budget and quality.

The role will technically support the production of reports, presentations and scientific papers to demonstrate and promote new innovation internally and externally.

The role will undertake a wide variety of tasks, including the research and development of sonar processing algorithms, development of AI solutions, development of data fusion and tracking algorithms, research studies, performance prediction and trials analysis.

The role will raise the profile and quality of advanced sonar research undertaken within UWS (Underwater Systems).

Job Description

After a settling in period with appropriate mentoring, training and support, the role will be required to:

• Technically support the development of compelling, collaborative solutions and associated bid documents for Customer Funded R&D Programmes.
• Technically support the delivery of tasks, work packages and projects with a focus on delivery to time, budget and quality.
• As part of wider company activities, support the technical elements of customer engagement in delegated areas. Build trusting, productive and enduring relationships with internal and external General Sonar Studies Customers with aim of delivering future work for the team.
• Support innovation activities in delegated areas to develop concepts, solutions and ideas to feed into Thales UK's growing research & development programme.
• Technically support the production of reports, presentations and scientific papers to demonstrate and promote new innovation internally and externally.
• Undertake a wide variety of tasks, including the development of sonar processing algorithms, development of data fusion and tracking algorithms, research studies, performance prediction and trials analysis.
• Technically support the development of sonar capabilities ensuring that emergent opportunities from the field are identified and incorporated into R&D planning. Technically support and contribute to specific tasks of a detailed mathematical or analytical research nature associated with the development of signal & data processing algorithms.
• Raise the profile and quality of advanced sonar research undertaken within MMS (Maritime Mission Systems).

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

Ideally qualified to PhD in Mathematical or relevant scientific, engineering or computing with relevant skills and experience - Min requirement MSc or MMath with Algorithm development experience.

• High level competency in mathematics and/or physics is essential.
• Strong background in statistical and stochastic processes is desirable.
• Evidence of previous experience deploying problem solving capability and the ability to pro-actively work alone or as part of a small team is essential.
• Matlab or equivalent knowledge is essential. Experience in MS Word and PowerPoint essential. Familiarity with a software language such as C/C++ and an understanding of object-oriented principles is highly desirable.
• Evidence of technical report writing, presentation preparation and generation and presentation/communication skills for papers, seminars, conferences etc
• Knowledge of UK In-Service Sonars and Maritime Capabilities is highly desirable.

Applications are encouraged from all backgrounds including non-defence and non-maritime professionals.

Security Clearance statement

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years' residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK ()

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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