Future Vehicle Technology Research Lead

**About Us**

MI5 safeguards the UK against threats such as terrorism, espionage, cyber and sabotage. We investigate suspect individuals and organisations in the UK to obtain, collate, analyse and assess secret intelligence relating to these threats. Alongside our British Intelligence partners MI6 and GCHQ, we provide the UK government with the information they need to protect national security. At MI5 you’ll enjoy varied and rewarding work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

**The Role**

The Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security (OCSA) is diverse team of scientists, engineers and programme professionals working to identify and understand how global science and technology (S&T) will impact on the future business and mission of National Security.

OCSA uses rigorous scientific methods and our network within the science and technology world to influence strategic direction and to deliver direct benefit to capabilities. We oversee activities including academic and industry horizon scanning; strategic technology research to inform organisational priorities; and applied research and prototype development to assist capability development. In addition, we build science, technology, engineering, and mathematics capability to enhance operations.

This is an exciting time to join OCSA. The Government’s pledge to increasing S&T investment means that the office will be expanding to include growth in across all its functions, but with a particular emphasis on understanding and preparing for future and emerging technologies.

Our team’s aspirational mission statement is **“Focused on preparing the mission for advances in Science and Technology, to maximise opportunities and mitigate threats through world-class research, insights and advice.”**

The role will involve acting as a technical authority on one of our research theme areas, developing a technical strategy for the theme, development of the research programme and oversight of the research undertaken by the commercial suppliers and academia. You will be supported by the rest of the team, and guided by the Principal Scientist.

The research you will be developing will be future focussed, looking out between 3 and 7 years, and based on a research theme area. You will also have the ability to collaborate with other government departments and international partners to ensure that research provides maximum impact and, where suitable, is collaborative.

Engaging with stakeholders from across the business, gaining wider experience of how the business operates and needs to adapt for the future. An important part of your work will include building relationships with end users and delivery partners to deliver research and knowledge that is clear, accessible, and concise.

**About You**

A Research Lead requires a wide range of knowledge/skill and a motivation to continuously learn ; therefore we do not expect you to know everything; evidence of knowledge or experience of subset of any of the following would be considered:

- Excellent team player who can demonstrate good collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Experience of technical leadership, or ability to hold a technical leadership role.
- STEM education to degree level or equivalent
- Preference for degree qualification in computer science, software engineering, data science, mathematics, machine learning, physics or similar. Experience/education to an equivalent level will also be considered

**An active interest and knowledge of Vehicles, IoT and Communications systems**
This is an extensive area and we do not expect you to know everything. Evidence of knowledge or experience of subset of any of the following would be considered:
**Vehicles**
- Vehicle Telematics
- Vehicle Communications systems
- Smart City Vehicle to x Infrastructure (V2X)
- Vehicle Charging Systems

**IoT & Communications**
- Industrial IoT
- Low power sensor systems and design
- IoT Communication protocols
- Wireless communications
- At the Edge processing of data

You’ll be independent and able to own your research theme. You will be supported by the team but as the domain expert you will be expected, after a settling in period, to deliver the research theme.

You’ll have excellent communication skills and be able to communicate scientific or technical information to a non-technical audience. You will work effectively with stakeholders and commercial/academic teams.

We are looking for a team player who can collaborate and knowledge share across a wide community. You’ll invest the time to ensure that knowledge is shared through good administrative practice and active, collaborative team engagement.

You’ll be able to carry out research in an agile way, using agile type reporting and flexible ways of working. This will enable you to ensure that the research you commission will develop and learn as it pro