Research Specialist, Sustainable Network Optimisation

Research Specialist, Sustainable Network Optimisation

BT Group, Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Posted 3 days ago

Why this role matters

This is an exciting technical specialist role in BT’s Applied Research team where the individual will apply their key expertise in the area of AI/ML, in particular with Computer Vision, within a clearly defined sphere of technical knowledge to complex business issues or opportunities. The role holder actively engages with colleagues to progress new research in important technical topics and supports the realisation of business value from research and innovation outputs.

This applied research role is suitable for somebody with a postgraduate degree in the early phase of their professional career.

This role will be based in Ipswich or Bristol and our hybrid working model means you are expected to be in the office 3 days per week.

• Managing research projects/tasks, both internal to Research and Network Strategy and with collaborative partners.
• Domain expert responsible for maintaining expertise in a specific technical domain.
• Responsible for intellectual property creation, managing patent filing in their team and supporting IPR exploitation where appropriate.
• Accountable for performing research in the Sustainable Network Optimisation domain driving high impact and high value across multiple domains.
• Responsible for authoring thought leadership technical papers, capturing intellectual property.
• Supervision of graduate and post‑graduate student placements and secondments.

• Technical domain expert:
  Deep technical or domain expertise in emerging network systems technologies, sustainability practices, energy management, and automation of network design/planning.
• Qualifications:
  
  Strong academic record with a post‑graduate qualification (PhD or equivalent research experience).
• Expert communicator:
  Regularly presents to peers and managers at conferences.
• Experienced in open innovation:
  Skilled in patenting, technical publications, conference presentations.
• Storytelling with data:
  Strong skills in building the case for change, drawing on data and analytical techniques, and communicating this to business audiences.
• Concept evaluation:
  Ability to spot relevant innovations, horizon scanning, determine relevance for the business, develop an effective conceptualisation and build trials to test the concept.
• Technical domain practitioner:
  Evidence of sufficient knowledge in Sustainable Network Optimisation, including AI/ML and algorithm development (Computer Vision), data & software engineering, network planning & design and optimisation, asset and inventory management.
• Good to have:
  Modelling and simulation, productisation, network automation.
• Significant delivery:
  Evidence of significant business impact through research delivery (MANDATORY).
• Stakeholder management:
  Evidence of managing projects/stakeholders across the business at various grade/seniority levels (MANDATORY).
• Innovative thinker:
  Ability to spot, identify new innovations, act on them, capitalise and create value (MANDATORY).
• Commercial applicability:
  Understanding how these innovations bring real value to the business through value proposition build (MANDATORY).
• Self‑starter actively working with minimal guidance.
• Problem solving, intellectually curious, comfortable taking ownership and responsibility.

• 10% on target bonus.
• BT Pension scheme, minimum 5% employee contribution, BT contribution 10%.
• From January 2025, equal family leave: 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay, 26 weeks at statutory rate.
• Enhanced women’s health support.
• 25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service.
• 24/7 private virtual GP appointments for UK colleagues.
• 2 weeks carer’s leave.
• World‑class training and development opportunities.
• Option to join BT Shares Saving schemes.

• Leading inclusively and safely – I inspire and build trust through self‑awareness, honesty and integrity.
• Owning outcomes – I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.
• Delivering for the customer – I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider…