Systems Engineers and Scientists – Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Do you have a genuine interest in AI, Autonomy, and/or Robotics? Do you have a proactive attitude and the skills to make a difference to our Armed Forces?

The Autonomous Systems Group offers a great opportunity to work at the leading edge of technology in the stimulating field of Robotics and Autonomous Systems. Our mission is to exploit the latest in robotics and AI to create effective and trustworthy uncrewed platforms, autonomous and counter-autonomous systems which provide state of the art capabilities for the UK’s Defence and Security.

Our group comprises multi-disciplinary team members including Engineers, Scientists, Analysts, and Military Advisors. We act as advisors to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and wider UK Government. Together we employ a wide range of skills, technologies, and techniques including systems engineering, trials and experimentation, computational modelling, and Operational Analysis (OA).

Our work includes:

• Researching the utility of advanced AI and autonomy technology for defence and security applications
• Developing and evaluating new system concepts in military situations
• Providing evidence of military utility to help key decision makers make better evidence-based decisions across the Land, Sea, and Air domains including supporting operations

Technical areas which we are recruiting into include:

• Collaborative Autonomous Systems (including Air, Land, Maritime, and multi-domain)
• Counter Uncrewed Air Systems (C-UAS)
• Trials Management and Delivery
• Human Autonomy Teaming

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

 We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

 This vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative

In these roles you will:

• Find yourself involved with setting requirements for work to be delivered by our industry partners, and working alongside them to ensure successful delivery
• Work collaboratively with other Government labs across the world to deliver world class S&T
• Test and evaluate autonomous systems in realistic military exercises through war-gaming, synthetic environments and live trial exercises, often in partnership with the UK Armed Forces
• Lead, direct, and plan trials

At levels 6

• You will be a technical leader of Dstl engineers, scientists, and analysts.
• You will be responsible for setting project technical direction, supervising progress and mentoring project team members on technical issues where appropriate including quality assurance of work
• You will take a leading role in customer engagement, understanding and deciding how to respond to their requirements
• You will have a good understanding of industry and their ways of working, including partnering with industrial suppliers

Of the three roles available, the one which suits you best will depend on your own specific skills, interests and experience. Each of these will give you the chance to combine both your technical and interpersonal skills to make a difference to the Defence and Security of the UK. You will work side-by-side with highly motivated staff within Autonomous Systems Group, UK and international partners. There will also be opportunities for secondments and placements to our partner organisations.

All available roles require:

•    Technical knowledge, skills and creativity to provide our customers with evidence-based advice.
•    Undertaking problem solving activities and implementing solutions.
•    The building and maintaining of strong working relationships with stakeholders, industry and academia.

Qualifications

Essential

• We expect you to hold a degree or have equivalent proven experience in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computing or human sciences
• An interest in one or more of: Autonomous Systems, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML)

Desirable

• Systems Architectures, Engineering, or Integration
• Software Engineering
• Simulation and ‘digital engineering’
• Human Autonomy Teaming

Skills & Experience

Essential

• highly developed communication skills
• ability to adjust your style to the needs of different audiences
• ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, customers and partners in other organisations
• ability to work at pace to build innovative technical solutions across a range of subject areas
• complex and non-routine problem solver, drawing together disparate information and making meaningful technical assessments, ideally in an engineering or technology environment
• ability to demonstrate initiative and take ownership for key priorities and tasks

Desirable

• worked with and/or developed autonomous and robotic systems and/or sub-systems.
• uses interpersonal skills to find further application of work
• provides professional advice in complex situations where there are no easy answers and assured standards of work.
• experience in identifying and setting requirements and working with contractors and stakeholders to deliver technical solutions.
• awareness of how Defence works

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits 

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

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