Lead AI Researcher

Multi-domain AI Research and Development Lead | Competitive Salary | Manchester, UK (Onsite) | Full-time, permanent

About TVS

Technovative Solutions Ltd (TVS) is a global deep-tech infrastructure company delivering production-ready platforms for regulated industries. Since its inception in 2012, TVS has been building mission-critical systems for secure data sharing, compliance, and AI across sectors like Sustainability & Circularity, Digital Healthcare, Materials & Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, and Climate & Disaster Resilience domains, with over 40 EU and nationally funded projects.

The Role

We're looking for a passionate and hardworking AI Lead who’s eager to shape and guide TVS’s AI research and development efforts. In this role, you’ll work closely with other research leads to prepare proposals, partner with collaborators on funding applications, and represent TVS in various research consortia. You’ll lead AI development activities in funded projects, support the AI needs of our products, and play a key role in building and mentoring our team of talented AI researchers and engineers.

This role calls for hands-on research expertise and confident technical leadership. You’ll collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, product managers, domain experts, and colleagues across our European research consortia to make a real impact together.

You’ll have the chance to shape how AI is applied to real-world challenges in sustainability, health, manufacturing, and climate resilience, all within a company known for a robust portfolio of funded projects.

What You'll Do

• Lead TVS’s AI/ML strategy and technical roadmap

• Identify and shape opportunities for innovation funding (UK/EU R&D programmes, collaborative bids, etc.)

• Write and contribute to high-quality technical sections of funding proposals

• Lead the development of AI prototypes and production systems

• Guide projects from research concept → MVP → commercial product

• Work with partners (academia, industry, public sector) on collaborative innovation

• Ensure responsible AI practices, including governance, ethics, and compliance

• Support commercial teams with technical insight and feasibility assessment

• Build and mentor a growing AI team, defining and embedding best-in-class standards for experimentation, reproducibility, model governance, and responsible, ethical AI practice across the full development lifecycle..

Required Qualifications

Research Leadership: PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Applied Mathematics, or a related discipline (or equivalent industry research experience). Over 10 years of applied AI/ML experience, with a minimum of 2 years in a technical leadership role, demonstrating the ability to drive research initiatives and mentor teams.

Modern AI & ML Breadth: Extensive expertise in LLMs and AI agents, computer vision, neuro-symbolic AI, neural networks, and classical machine learning, with a proven ability to apply these technologies to both product development and research challenges.

Production Engineering Maturity: Demonstrated hands-on experience with modern ML/AI stacks, including the end-to-end process from experimentation to production deployment.

Funded Research Award and Delivery: Demonstrated success in securing grant funding and leading major programmes such as Horizon Europe, Innovate UK, or equivalent national initiatives. Experience as project lead, work package lead, or technical lead, overseeing all phases from proposal development to successful project completion.

Cross-Domain Translation: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to bridge research, engineering, commercial, policy, and regulatory domains effectively.

Domain Experience: Proven ML/AI development in one or more of the following sectors: Sustainability & Circularity, Digital Healthcare, Materials & Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, and Climate & Disaster Resilience.

Publication Record: Strong track record with publications, patents, or shipped production systems built around modern machine learning.

What We Offer

• A senior position offering true technical ownership within an organisation at the forefront of applied AI for European sustainability, healthcare, materials & manufacturing, renewable energy and climate resilience.

• Attractive, competitive salary based on experience, complemented by a comprehensive workplace pension.

• Direct participation in high-impact Horizon Europe and UK-funded projects, collaborating with leading industry, academic, and public sector partners.

• A collaborative, research-driven culture based in Manchester, with strong connections to UK universities and European consortia.

To apply, please submit an up-to-date CV along with a supporting statement explaining how you meet the essential criteria.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £71,000.00-£95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

• Free parking

• On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Manchester M15: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Location:

• Manchester M15 (preferred)

Work Location: In person