Description
Senior ML Engineer - Anomaly Detection
Mission Critical Applications Limited (MCA) is a UK SME specialising in high-integrity applications for safety- and security-critical systems, with expertise in embedded and real-time systems, formal methods, secure systems (including CHERI) and networks.
The role
This is a great opportunity to join MCA on a new R&D project. We're looking for an experienced ML engineer to lead the design and build of an anomaly-detection capability for a network security guardian product, taking a model from design through to a working, tuned implementation.
What you'll be doing
- Designing and training time-series anomaly-detection models on operational telemetry
- Reducing false positives while keeping real anomalies reliably detected
- Validating and tuning models against realistic operational baselines
- Working with the software engineering team to integrate models into a production-bound system
- Documenting model behaviour and limitations for independent review
Essential
- Strong applied ML/time-series experience
- Comfortable defining and validating false-positive / false-negative trade-offs against operational targets
- Experience taking a model from prototype into a production or near-production pipeline
- Experience of embedding local AI into a stand-alone product (disconnected from the internet)
Desirable
- Applied ML experience in a security or monitoring context
Key details
Remote (UK-based), with occasional travel for events/meetings
Contract or permanent employment considered
Full-time or part-time (around 3 days a week expected)
Contract agreed from November 2026, with the main engagement from January 2027 for 8 months, and the potential to continue beyond that
Reports to the Principal Investigator
Compensation: competitive, commensurate with experience, discussed directly with candidates
What we offer
Remote, flexible working within a small, highly experienced engineering team
Hands-on work with CHERI capability-based hardware, a UK-led secure computing technology
A new R&D project taken from early design through to a working prototype
The potential to continue with MCA beyond the initial engagement
Eligibility
You must be based in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.
Any offer is subject to right-to-work checks and satisfactory references, and may be subject to further security checks given the nature of the work.