Applied AI Engineer (Defence)
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Security clearance: must be eligible for UK SC-level security clearance (UK national)
Visa sponsorship: we are not able to sponsor visas for this role
Closing date: applications reviewed on a rolling basis
About Neptune North
Neptune North is a high-performing technical consultancy. We build data, AI and software solutions for clients in defence, financial services and private capital, working on demanding problems in challenging environments.
We were founded in 2024 as a joint venture between Oliver Wyman and Rokos Capital Management. We’re headquartered in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, with a growing international footprint, and we’re recruiting exceptional engineers across every level.
The role
We’re looking for Applied AI Engineers to put AI to work inside real defence applications and workflows. This is a hands-on engineering role where you will have impact across a wide variety of projects. Potential projects might include fully engineered solutions, Proof of Concepts (POCs), and applied research to support future defence-relevant capabilities.
Responsibilities
Integrate AI components into applications and workflows, from POCs to fully engineered solutions
Evaluate model performance, identify failure modes, and design mitigations
Test and debug non-deterministic systems, building the tooling and evidence needed to trust them
Provide technical expertise when it is required within the organisation and in client engagements
Demonstrate flexibility in taking on work aligned to evolving company priorities
Play an active role in sharing expertise to raise and re-use capability
What makes a great candidate
You don't need to meet every requirement to apply. If this role excites you, we'd like to hear from you.
Applied AI Engineer:
Experience integrating AI components into applications and workflows, such as building Retrieval Augmented Generation systems
Experience designing prompts and managing context for LLM applications
A working understanding of LLM principles and transformer architectures, backed by core machine learning concepts and statistical methods
Practical experience evaluating LLMs and mitigating their weaknesses
Experience running AI applications in production, including monitoring and optimisation
Experience fine tuning or adapting models for specific scenarios, such as for a specialist application or deployment to low power hardware
Experience building agentic systems, where models plan and act across several steps
Judgement about the risks and limitations of AI, including knowing when a statistical model or deterministic logic is the better choice
General:
Strong programming skills, typically in Python, with the flexibility to pick up other modern languages
A solid grounding in software engineering best practices and a commitment to maintain high engineering standards in all your work
Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to explain technical aspects to non-technical colleagues
Ability to work effectively with ambiguity, while maintaining a disciplined, outcome-focused approach
Experience working as part of a team, with enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and collaborating
Strong academic foundations, typically a first-class from a leading university in Computer Science, Mathematics, AI, or a data related discipline
Experience in defence or national security is a strong plus
What you can achieve
Contribute to AI solutions that strengthen UK defence and national security
Build a strong foundation in POC and production AI systems and engineering best practices that will shape your career
Develop your skills across the full AI engineering stack and a variety of technologies
Learn from experienced AI and software engineers who are invested in your growth
Contribute to meaningful technical decisions as part of a collaborative, low-ego engineering team
Why join us
Work on a wide variety of interesting problems alongside high-calibre colleagues. Our culture is collaborative and supportive. Neptune North is a place where people help each other grow and feel a real sense of belonging
25 days’ holiday allowance plus bank holidays
Matching pension contributions up to 6%
Private health insurance through Bupa
Discretionary bonus
Travel
Neptune North works with clients across the UK’s defence sector. Many engagements involve regular travel and time on client site. This could mean two to three days per week over an entire assignment, or shorter periods of full-time on-site working anywhere in the UK, at sites including Cheltenham, Bristol, Glasgow, Portsmouth or other defence hubs. We support travelling staff with full expenses and hotel arrangements, and we discuss client placements with you in advance. We are looking for engineers who see this variety as part of the appeal of consultancy work rather than a downside.
Interview process
Our interview process is rigorous because the standard internally is high. For this role, it has three stages:
Written questions, which you complete at a time that suits you
A first interview covering your CV, experience and career aspirations
A technical interview with members of our engineering team
Equity, diversity and inclusion
At Neptune North we are committed to a work environment that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences help us attract, develop and retain the best talent. We do not discriminate based on gender, age, race or ethnicity, identification as an LGBTQIA+ individual, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by relevant local law.