Software Engineer - Cyber & Autonomous Systems Team

Onboard a cyber range: deploy a new cyber range on AISI’s evaluation infrastructure (for example, Proxmox) and verify it meets the internal Evaluation Quality Standard.

Build an image pipeline: create a pipeline that converts infrastructure-as-code into AMIs ready for evaluation.

Develop a more secure sandbox service: partner with Core Technology to improve AISI’s sandbox platform, representing CAST to ensure the service meets its evaluation requirements.

Prepare data for publication: collect, validate, and organise evaluation data to support publication of research findings.

Your work will directly shape the UK government's understanding of AI cyber capabilities, inform safety standards for frontier AI systems, and contribute to the global effort to develop rigorous evaluation methodologies. The evaluations you build will help determine how advanced AI systems are assessed before deployment.

We're flexible on the exact profile and expect successful candidates will meet many (but not necessarily all) of the criteria below:

Delivering and maintaining production-quality software

Deep Python experience, with a clear view of what good Python looks like and broad familiarity with the wider ecosystem and tooling

Designing and evolving software systems or technical architecture

Strong interest in helping to improve the safety of AI systems

Take ownership of ambiguous, technically hard problems and follow through

Communicate clearly and raise engineering standards through feedback and mentoring

Cybersecurity or adversarial-security expertise

Building, operating, or analysing AI evaluations

Experience building, deploying, and operating production systems using DevOps practices

Familiarity with AI misuse and loss-of-control threat models

Motivated candidates are encouraged to apply even if you don't meet all the above criteria.

Incredibly talented, mission-driven and supportive colleagues.

Direct influence on how frontier AI is governed and deployed globally.

Work with the Prime Minister’s AI Advisor and leading AI companies.

Opportunity to shape the first & best-resourced public-interest research team focused on AI security.

Pre-release access to multiple frontier models and ample compute.

Extensive operational support so you can focus on research and ship quickly.

Work with experts across national security, policy, AI research and adjacent sciences.

If you’re talented and driven, you’ll own important problems early.

5 days off and annual stipends for learning and development, and funding for conferences and external collaborations.

Freedom to pursue research bets without product pressure.

Opportunities to publish and collaborate externally.

Modern central London office, or where applicable, option to work in similar government offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Salford or Bristol.

Hybrid working, flexibility for occasional remote work abroad and stipends for work-from-home equipment.

At least 25 days’ annual leave, 8 public holidays, extra team-wide breaks and 3 days off for volunteering.

Generous paid parental leave (36 weeks of UK statutory leave shared between parents + 3 extra paid weeks + option for additional unpaid time).

On top of your salary, we contribute 28.97% of your base salary to your pension.

Discounts and benefits for cycling to work, donations and retail/gyms.

*These benefits apply to direct employees. Benefits may differ for individuals joining through other employment arrangements such as secondments.

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