Lead machine learning engineer

Band 8b · Machine learning engineer · 595 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Lead machine learning engineer

Most often performed at Civil Service grade G7 or G6.

A lead machine learning engineer leads the technical development and deployment of machine learning models.
At this role level, you will:
lead the most complex technical work needed to develop models for use in products and services
co-ordinate moving a model from the research and development stage to production
define ways of working across the machine learning life cycle
identify training needs for machine learning engineers and related roles
help your team work with other teams and disciplines
assure the effectiveness of machine learning models in use across the organisation
define and communicate software standards and guidelines related to ethics, risk and security

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Lead the most complex work to bring models from research into safe live use across the organisation.
Define the machine learning life cycle, including the controls needed for regulated and safety-critical models.
Set standards for model testing, monitoring, security, and ethics, and assure models in live use.
Work with clinical safety officers, information governance, and regulatory specialists to agree how models are assessed and approved.
Identify training needs and develop machine learning engineers and related roles.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Applied maths, statistics and scientific practicesUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: apply designated quantitative techniques such as time series analysis, optimisation and simulation to create and embed appropriate models for analysis and prediction provide guidance on matching data sources with relevant applied mathematics and statistical techniques to meet analysis goals apply appropriate statistical techniques to available data to discover new relations and offer insight into research problems, helping to improve organisational processes and support decision making access and use the statistical tools available within the organisation
Communicating between the technical and non-technicalUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: mediate between people and strengthen relationships, adopting the appropriate communication method with stakeholders at all levels manage stakeholder expectations and moderate difficult discussions about high risk and complex topics, even within constrained timescales speak on behalf of, and represent the community to, large audiences inside and outside the organisation
Data ethics and privacyUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: work with stakeholders to identify and address ethical and privacy concerns demonstrate and communicate how data ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context research developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes assess and constructively challenge proposed data ethics policies
Data science innovationUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: be a leader in the data science space demonstrate in-depth knowledge of data science tools and techniques, which you can use to solve problems creatively and to create opportunities for your team act as a coach, inspiring curiosity and creativity in others demonstrate in-depth knowledge of your chosen profession and keep up to date with changes in the industry challenge the status quo and always look for ways to improve data science
Programming and build (software engineering)UK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: advise on the right way to apply standards and methods to ensure compliance maintain technical responsibility for all the stages and iterations of a software development project provide technical advice to stakeholders and set the team-based standards for programming tools and techniques
Systems integrationUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: establish standards and procedures across a service product life cycle, including the development product life cycle, and can ensure that practitioners adhere to these manage resources to ensure that the systems integration function works effectively
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: analyse how a service fits into care pathways across organisations work with clinicians, care staff, and patients to shape digital services explain the effect of digital decisions on care, safety, and staff workload
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead hazard identification and risk assessment for a product or change write and maintain hazard logs and clinical safety case reports agree risk controls with product teams and check that they work advise teams on applying clinical risk management standards
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead data protection impact assessments and information sharing agreements advise teams on lawful basis, consent, confidentiality, and retention investigate incidents and recommend improvements
Health data interoperabilityThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: design and build integrations using FHIR, HL7 version 2, and messaging patterns write and profile FHIR resources and implementation guides resolve complex mapping and data quality issues between systems
Medical device software regulationThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: assess whether a product is a medical device, and its likely class plan the regulatory work for a product with quality and clinical colleagues
Safe and fair AI in health careThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set the organisation's standards for assuring and monitoring AI in care lead the assurance of high-risk models before and after deployment represent the organisation with regulators and partners on safe and fair AI
People managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: supervise day-to-day work and give feedback take part in recruitment and induction hold regular one-to-one conversations

Typical qualifications and experience

Extensive experience of leading machine learning engineering for complex or regulated services.

Band 8b outline

Knowledge: Expert knowledge across several disciplines or a large service.
Autonomy: Shapes policy and strategy for a large area.
Scope: Several services or teams, or a principal-level discipline.
Leadership: Manages managers, or is the principal authority in a discipline.
Accountability: Several services, their staff, and their budgets.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	5	Gives highly complex or contentious information needing developed persuasion and negotiation, presents to large groups, or communicates where there are significant barriers to acceptance.	45
Knowledge, training, and experience	8	Advanced knowledge (doctorate plus further training or equivalent), or specialist knowledge across more than one discipline built over a long period.	240
Analytical and judgemental skills	5	Judgements on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organisational skills	4	Plans a broad range of complex activities or strategies, adjusting them as needed.	42
Physical skills	2	Skills gained through practice, such as standard keyboard use or driving.	15
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	4	Implements policy and develops policy or services for a service or several areas.	32
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	2	Handles cash or valuables, looks after equipment used by others, controls stock, or authorises small payments.	12
Responsibility for people	3	Manages a group of staff day to day, teaches core or specialist training, or gives core HR advice.	21
Responsibility for information resources	5	Designs and develops major information systems, or runs information systems for several services as the main duty.	34
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	5	Works within general policies, and in most cases decides how to interpret them.	45
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	4	Frequent prolonged concentration, or occasional intense concentration.	18
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 8b: 585 to 629)			595