Research Specialist

**Research Specialist, Sustainable Network Optimisation**:

- Job Req ID: 54167- Posting Date: 15 Dec 2025- Function: Product & Propositions- Unit: Networks- Location: Assembly, Bristol, United Kingdom- Salary: Competitive with great benefits**Why this role matters**:

This role will be based in Ipswich or Bristol and our hybrid working model means you are expected to be in the office 3 days per week.** You'll have the following responsibilities**:

Managing research projects/tasks, both internal to Research and Network Strategy and with collaborative partners.
Domain expert responsible for maintaining expertise in a specific technical domain.
Responsible for intellectual property creation, managing patent filing in their team and supporting IPR exploitation where appropriate
Accountable for performing research in the Sustainable Network Optimisation domain driving high impact and high value across multiple domains.
Responsible for authoring thought leadership technical papers, capturing intellectual property
Supervision of graduate and post-graduate student placements and secondments
- **You'll have the following skills and experience**:

**Skills**
- **Technical domain expert**: Deep technical or domain expertise. They continually develop their expertise in a key technical area so they are recognised as a technical expert in new and emerging network systems technologies, with depth of knowledge across a range of technologies and practices in network management, inventory and asset management and tools, sustainability practices and energy management including energy industry trends. Experience with automation of network design/planning capabilities to increase agility, best achieve SLAs and optimize cost base.
**Qualifications**: Strong academic record in technology specialism with post-graduate qualification(s) (PhD or equivalent research experience).
** Expert communicator**: Regularly presents to peers and managers about their research area at conferences.
**Experienced in open innovation**: Skilled in patenting, technical publications, conference presentations etc.
**Storytelling with data**: Strong skills in building the case for change, drawing on data and analytical techniques where appropriate, and communicating this to business audiences
**Concept Evaluation**: Ability to spot relevant innovations, horizon scanning, determine relevance for the business, develop an effective conceptualisation and build trials to test the concept
** Experience**
- Technical domain practitioner: Evidence of sufficient knowledge and skill relevant to Sustainable Network Optimisation, including:

AI/ML and algorithm development, in particular Computer Vision
Data and software engineering
Network Planning & Design and optimisation with focus on asset and inventory management
Good to have: Modelling and simulation including tools integration and productisation
Good to have: Experience in Network automation
Significant delivery: evidence of significant business impact through delivery of research (MANDATORY)
Stakeholder management: evidence managing projects/stakeholders across the business at a variety of grade/seniority levels (MANDATORY)
Innovative Thinker: ability to spot, identify new innovations, act on them, capitalise and create value (MANDATORY)
Commercial Applicability: understanding how these case principles around relevant innovations bring real value to the business through value proposition build (MANDATORY)
Self-starter actively working with mínimal guidance
Problem solving, intellectually curious, comfortable taking ownership and responsibility
- **Benefits**:

10% on target bonus
BT Pension scheme, minimum 5% Employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
From January 2025, equal family leave: receive 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It’s for all parents, no matter how your family is made up.
Enhanced women’s health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.
25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service
24/7 private virtual GP appointments for UK colleagues
2 weeks carer’s leave
World-class training and development opportunities
Option to join BT Shares Saving schemes
- **Our leadership standards**:

- **Looking in**:
**Leading inclusively and Safely**
I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.
**Owning outcomes**
I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.
- **Looking out**:
**Delivering for the customer**
I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.
**Commercially savvy**
I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.
- **Looking to the future**:
**Growth mindset**
I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.
**Building for the future**
I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can