Head of AI Research

Head of AI Research, CortAIx UK

Location: Reading, United Kingdom (Hybrid Working)

We are seeking a Senior AI Leader to head cort

AIx UK’s research activities. Reporting to the Chief AI Officer (CAIO), Thales UK, you will own the AI research strategy for cort

AIx UK, lead the AI research team, and ensure a strong, efficient pipeline from Lab to Factory to Sensors across Thales UK businesses.

• Lead and grow cort
  
  AIx UK’s AI research capability across a broad range of AI approaches (machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, generative models, optimisation, perception, knowledge‑based and hybrid AI) aligned with Thales UK’s strategic priorities.
• Define, own and execute the AI research strategy for cort
  
  AIx UK, ensuring research outcomes are relevant, mature, and ready for transition into cort
  
  AIx Factory and into sensors, platforms and mission systems.
• Work closely with the CAIO, Thales Group research organisations and UK business units to shape a coherent AI research portfolio that supports near‑, mid‑ and long‑term business needs.
• Drive increased AI research funding through stronger collaboration with Thales Group entities and by securing customer‑funded research projects in key markets (defence, aerospace, transport, security, space).
• Co‑create, establish and run an effective “Lab → Factory → Sensors” research and industrialisation pipeline, ensuring promising AI concepts are rapidly matured and integrated into operational products and services.
• Build and manage a balanced research portfolio (exploratory, applied and translational), identify high‑impact themes, and establish clear success criteria, roadmaps and KPIs.
• Champion reuse of AI components and platforms across programmes to accelerate time‑to‑market and reduce duplication.
• Partner with the CAIO to maximise use of Thales Group research funding streams and position cort
  
  AIx UK as a key contributor to Group AI initiatives.
• Develop strong relationships with UK customers and partners, shape customer‑funded research and technology demonstrator projects, and translate customer challenges into well‑formed AI programmes.
• Engage with academic and industrial partners, co‑create research projects, supervise research staff and contribute to collaborative R&D bids.
• Ensure AI research and experimentation comply with Thales policies on AI ethics, safety, assurance, explainability, data protection and export control.
• Define and oversee research standards for data acquisition, curation, synthetic data generation, model development, benchmarking and validation, documentation and configuration management.
• Lead the cort
  
  AIx UK AI research team (scientists, engineers and experts), set direction, priorities, resource allocation, provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring.
• Identify future skills and capability needs, work with HR and talent teams to recruit and develop top talent and create progression paths.
• Encourage knowledge sharing, internal publications, technical reviews and communities of practice to raise the overall AI capability in Thales UK.

• Degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, engineering or related field, and/or extensive hands‑on experience in AI research and development.
• Proven track record of leading AI research or advanced development programmes with demonstrable impact on products or operational systems.
• Deep understanding of multiple AI paradigms: supervised/unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, generative AI (foundation models, LLMs), perception and sensor‑related AI, knowledge‑based and hybrid AI.
• Experience translating research into deployable AI solutions, managing TRL maturation and validation activities.
• Strong experience building and managing a portfolio of research projects, prioritisation, governance and risk management, balancing exploratory and near‑term deliverables.
• Experience securing and managing research funding (internal, group‑level, customer‑funded R&D).
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, collaboration with senior technical leaders, business leaders and programme managers.
• Understanding of software and AI development life cycles:…