Research Specialist - AI and Cyber Threat Protection

Why this role matters

This is a technical expert role in Research and Network Strategy where the individual will apply their key expertise 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 role is about managing a small team of researchers and using advanced AI and learning techniques applied to the domain cyber threat detection.

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

In this role, you will lead and manage one or more related research projects and activities comprising of matrixed resources both inside and outside BT, including university students and vendors.

• Proactively leading engagement with working level stakeholders across the organisation as well as external partners as appropriate.
• Proactive engagement with the relevant business units to downstream strategic technologies for commercial realisation.
• Domain expert responsible for maintaining expertise in a specific technical domain.
• Responsible for intellectual property creation, managing patent filing in their domain and supporting IPR exploitation where appropriate.
• Accountable for defining and performing research in applied AI and deliver high impact and high value across multiple domains.
• Responsible for authoring thought leadership technical papers, capturing intellectual property.
• Supervision of professionals, graduates and post-graduate student placements and secondments.
• Depending on business needs, may manage Research Specialists, Professionals or other Team members.

If you are a recent post graduate with AI Machine learning experience and strong python coding skills combined with an interest in cyber applications, we would love to hear from you.

• Technical domain expert: evidence of significant knowledge and skill relevant to AI/ML applied research (MANDATORY). Ideally with an interest in Cyber Security or Network threat detection.
• Expert communicator:
  Regularly presents to peers and managers about their research and area of technical expertise.
• Experienced in open innovation:
  Skilled in patenting, technical publications, conference presentations etc.
• Storytelling with data: strong skills in building the case for change, drawing on data and analytical techniques where appropriate, 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.

• Strong academic record in technology specialism with post-graduate qualification(s) (MSc, PhD or equivalent research experience) in AI and ML skills and strong coding experience in Python.

• Significant delivery: evidence of significant business impact through delivery of research.
• Stakeholder management: evidence of managing project stakeholders across the business at a variety of grade and seniority levels.
• Innovative Thinker: ability to spot and identify new innovations and act to bring them in and capitalise and create value.
• Commercial Applicability: understanding the business case principals around relevant innovations and the real value to the business through value proposition build.
• Excellent awareness of industry trends, future direction and opportunities.
• Self-starter, pro-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: receive 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It's for all parents, no matter how your family is made up.
• Enhanced women's health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.
• 25 days…