Compensation: c. £105,000 per year.
Location: Kings X, London. Work schedule: Tuesday – Thursday at HQ, Monday + Friday flexible.
Employment type: Full-time (flexible working arrangements possible).
Contract: Fixed-term until 11 December 2027.
Closing date: 28 June 2026.
About ARIAARIA
ARIAARIA is a new R&D funding agency built to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world‑class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.
Role Summary
ARIA is looking for a Technical and Translational Lead to drive the execution of a £20 m funding call on AI‑enabled formal methods for cybersecurity, part of ARIA’s Safeguarded AI programme. The role exists to ensure the funding call produces high‑leverage, red‑teamed, deployment‑relevant cyber‑defence systems.
What You’ll Do
Technical delivery and sprint rhythm
- Design and run the operating rhythm for 8‑week sprint cycles (build/verify, red‑team, review, retarget) across funded teams
- Work with funded teams to drive ambition, technical excellence and precise assurance claims, surface blockers and track progress
- Coordinate red/blue‑team interactions so findings are timely, actionable and shape next‑cycle decisions
- Shape and run programme workshops, milestone reviews, go/no‑go or double‑down recommendations, and final showcase moments
Strategic awareness and target selection
- Continuously assess how the programme can drive the largest possible gains for cyber resilience in the UK and globally
- Monitor targets and programme strategy in light of AI capability and tooling progress, cyber misuse risk, formal‑methods tractability and real‑world adoption potential
- Spot high‑leverage opportunities for AI‑enabled formal methods and advise on where ARIA should push, redirect, double‑down or stop
Translation and adoption
- Engage and leverage the UK cyber/CNI/AI/FM ecosystem to ground targets in operational needs, validate specifications and threat models, source field‑trial partners, and open adoption pathways
- Help teams turn successful outputs into field trials, upstreamed components, partnerships, commercial routes, open‑source adoption, procurement pathways, or spin‑outs
Who You Are
Someone who combines technical judgement, strategic awareness and executional drive in a fast‑moving, high‑ambiguity R&D effort.
The Strongest Candidates Will Likely Have
- Technical judgement across cyber, systems security and formal methods
- Strategic taste about cyber resilience in an AI‑accelerated world
- Executional excellence – drive sprint cycles, create cadence and coordinate multiple ambitious technical teams
- Translational instincts – experience getting outputs into the world (demonstrations, field trials, adoption, upstreaming, commercial routes, open‑source uptake, procurement or spin‑outs)
- Stakeholder engagement – comfortable working with researchers, engineers, red‑teamers, operators, government, funders and senior technical stakeholders
Qualifications
Experience in industry, government or applied research working on security‑critical software, systems security, vulnerability research, formal methods or deployment of cyber‑defence technologies. This may come from a PhD or equivalent deep R&D experience in computer science, mathematics, cybersecurity, systems engineering or a related field. The focus is on demonstrated judgement rather than a specific credential.
Benefits
- 27 days annual leave provision, with option to buy/sell additional days
- Hybrid working arrangements – 60 % in office / 40 % at home
- Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
- Enhanced family leave arrangements
- Free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
- 2 days of paid volunteer days
- 5 % defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Excellent office location in Kings X, London
ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle.
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. You will be required to travel to different locations around the UK and internationally to support projects, depending on the Programme you are designated to.
Learn more here.
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