Machine Learning Engineer

About Polaron

Polaron is a spin-out from Imperial College London, founded by Isaac Squires, Dr. Steve Kench, and Dr. Sam Cooper. The founders were united by their desire to harness engineering, artificial intelligence, and materials science to build the materials of the future.

Our mission is to become the world leaders at the interface between AI and materials. Through relentless dedication to innovation and pragmatism, we aim to support the next generation of advanced materials critical to building a more sustainable future.

Role Overview

You’ll be joining a team of four (CEO, CTO, Chief Scientist and Head of Engineering) as the first ML engineer. This role grants you a significant degree of autonomy, and influence over the development and direction of the platform and product.

We’re building a SaaS product that will allow materials engineers to leverage cutting-edge AI in their work. Some of the things on our roadmap you’ll work on include:

• Optimising efficiency and robustness of Polaron’s existing algorithms for material characterisation, exploration and optimisation;
• Adapting cutting edge machine learning methods for material science applications.

Location

This is primarily an in-person role, with the team currently working from our East London office (a short walk from Old Street and Hoxton Overground) at least four days a week. At this early stage of the company’s development we currently favour collaboration in person, but we can discuss your preferences for working location as part of an application.

Our Commitment to Diversity

At Polaron, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team. We encourage you to apply, regardless of your past experience or background.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is £50,000-£70,000 GBP, and 0.1-0.5% equity, depending on experience and negotiated terms.

Technologies We Use

• Frontend/Backend: TypeScript with React/Next.js and Express/Prisma.
• Machine Learning: Python/PyTorch
• Infrastructure: Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform (AWS).
• Database: PostgreSQL.
• CI/CD: Github, Github Actions.

Requirements

You should apply if you have

• A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, AI, Math, Physics, or similar – or equivalent work experience (PhD in STEM subject desirable)
• Proficiency to write production-level code for computer vision based applications with Python ML libraries, e.g Pytorch, TensorFlow
• Proficiency with version control and cloud computing e.g. AWS, Azure
• Enthusiasm for complex problem solving
• Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to clearly disseminate new ideas and ML concepts to the rest of the team

Benefits

The salary range for this position is £50,000-£70,000 GBP, and 0.1-0.5% equity, depending on experience and negotiated terms.