Algorithm Developer

Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Algorithm Developer
Location: Cheadle, requires full-time presence at our location
Dive into innovation with General Sonar Studies (GSS)

What The Role Has To Offer

• Drive innovation in underwater systems by supporting R&D activities that shape the future of sonar and maritime capabilities
• Contribute to high-impact projects - our General Sonar Studies team delivers low TRL (technology readiness levels) 1-5 study activities to external and internal customers
• Work alongside top-tier experts to develop revolutionary processing techniques that help customers make smarter decisions across the mission cycle

Our Opportunity
Looking to make waves in cutting-edge maritime technology? This is your chance to join a fast-moving, forward-thinking team at the forefront of UK sonar research and data exploitation. General Sonar Studies (GSS) operates as a post-doc research group within Thales UK's Defence Mission Systems - focused on delivering breakthrough innovations for Royal Navy underwater platforms, especially in support of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).

We're tackling some of the toughest challenges in defence, and we do it through deep collaboration - both within Thales and with external partners. If you thrive in a space where ideas flow freely and impact is real, you'll feel right at home. We're looking for someone flexible, curious, and proactive - someone who combines academic excellence with real-world problem-solving. You'll need to be comfortable working independently and as part of a tight-knit team, and confident in your ability to lead, learn, and communicate a clear technical vision. Due to the classified nature of the work, this opportunity is a full-time role with onsite working only - remote work is not available.

Building a Future, we can all trust.
Defence Mission Systems (DMS) supplies products, solutions and services in the field of electronic combat systems, airborne surveillance and reconnaissance systems, above water and under water combat systems. The Underwater Systems Business Line (UWS BL) specializes in underwater systems, focusing on sonars for submarines, surface vessels, helicopters, and maritime patrol aircraft; mine countermeasures systems; underwater security; and support services. With over 50 years of experience in undersea warfare, UWS is a global leader and key exporter of sonars and related systems for navies. The BL offers a diverse range of products for submarines, surface vessels, mine-countermeasures vessels, unmanned vehicles, and aircraft.

What We Offer You
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees' wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:

• Pension – match like-for-like up to 7% of annual base salary
• Life Assurance – 2 x base salary minimum (8 x salary if part of the pension scheme)
• Income Protection – 50% of salary less state benefits for 5 years
• Annual Leave – 201 hours, bank holidays, plus 1 company day
• Private Medical Insurance - Couples cover
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 1:00pm
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• 24 hours paid leave for volunteering activities
• Access to flexible benefits and discounts – dental insurance, buying & selling annual leave, cycle to work, and many more

Key Responsibilities And Tasks

• Champion the creation of innovative, collaborative solutions for Customer Funded R&D Programmes, contributing to high impact bid documents that secure future opportunities and advance technological frontiers
• Deliver complex tasks, work packages, and projects with precision—ensuring outcomes are consistently on time, within budget, and aligned with the highest standards of quality and technical excellence
• Strengthen customer engagement by providing expert technical support across delegated areas, fostering trusted, long-term relationships with internal stakeholders and external General Sonar Studies clients to unlock future collaborations
• Fuel innovation across Thales UK's R&D ecosystem by contributing fresh ideas, novel concepts, and breakthrough solutions that shape the next generation of maritime technologies
• Craft compelling technical outputs—including reports, presentations, and scientific papers—that showcase cutting-edge innovation and elevate the visibility of internal and external research achievements
• Lead diverse technical initiatives, from developing advanced sonar processing algorithms and data fusion techniques to conducting performance prediction studies and trial analyses that inform strategic decision-making
• Advance sonar capability development by identifying emerging field opportunities and integrating them into forward-looking R&D strategies. Provide deep analytical and mathematical expertise to support the evolution of signal and data processing algorithms
• Elevate the reputation and impact of sonar research within Maritime Mission Systems (MMS), positioning the team as a centre of excellence in advanced underwater sensing and signal intelligence

About You
At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world's most critical challenges.

• You'll ideally have a PhD in maths, statistics, physics, engineering or computing - but if you've got an MSc or MMath (1st class only) and solid experience in algorithm development, that works too; we will also consider individuals with a MPhil
• If you've got a background in statistical or stochastic processes, that's a big plus
• We love problem solvers. If you've shown you can tackle tough challenges - whether flying solo or working in a tight-knit team - that's exactly what we need
• You should be comfortable with Matlab (or something similar) and know your way around Word and PowerPoint. Bonus points if you've dabbled in C/C++ and understand object-oriented programming
• We'll want to see examples of your technical writing and presentation skills - think reports, papers, seminars, conferences, the works
• Familiarity with UK in-service sonar systems and maritime capabilities would be great, but it's not a dealbreaker
• We welcome applicants from all backgrounds - including those outside defence or maritime sectors. Fresh perspectives are always valued

Ready to shape the future of maritime innovation? Apply now, we look forward to hearing from you.

UKEO (UK Eyes Only)
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance:

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years' residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now