HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited (HiDef) is known for its market leading innovative digital aerial surveys which have been deployed in ten countries. We are expanding across all of our services, combining technical and scientific excellence, and its crucial to the company that we continue to lead in the innovation of new products, based upon credible science, and deliver all of our services in a consistent and efficient manner. We work on a range of projects from our digital aerial surveys, ornithological and marine mammal statistical analysis and research and development projects in fields such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, often with our sister company BioConsult SH in Germany, Biotope in France, other partners and domain experts.

Our Vision: to provide trusted, high quality environmental data, analysis, and consultancy to support decision-making for the renewables industry and conservation.

Our Mission: to be a leading marine environmental consultancy for the global offshore renewables industry.

Our Values: our shared values - Innovative, Supportive, and Honest, sit at the heart of our company culture and impact everything we do.

Quality lies at the heart of HiDef’s services and following a growth of business the company is looking to recruit a Data Scientist to join our busy Consultancy Science team. This position within the company offers significant opportunities for the right person who will be enthusiastic, methodical, diligent, and an excellent team player with effective communication skills and a willingness to learn.

Location: this position will be based at our Head Office in Lillyhall, Cumbria or in our Edinburgh office with the option of hybrid working as appropriate.

The Role:

The role includes but is not limited to:

• Act as Technical Lead on multiple projects for a range of clients, although predominantly associated with the offshore renewables industry. This includes having responsibility for the deliverables, ensuring accuracy of content and deadlines are met;
• Performing data analysis (primarily in R) to run and update existing code and develop new code as appropriate;
• Coding workflows to automate and streamline internal file processes;
• Developing technical skills within the team, with specific focus on the use of Python for object detection and identification (via YOLO, faster R-CNN etc.);
• Writing technical reports and articles, including graphs, maps and drawings;
• Preparing and presenting environmental data reports for clients, government agencies, and within companies, often to non-technical audiences;
• Identifying symposia to promote the company’s work and services and gain information on technique advances and wider knowledge development;
• Engaging in research and development of new data analysis techniques and other potential methods for interpreting data and presenting information;
• Assisting with or leading in preparation of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Appropriate interaction within the Company to ensure HiDef remains at the forefront of ecological statistical industry, applying the most appropriate and cost-effective methods and approaches, providing leading-edge products and services and retaining its competitive edge;
• Developing and maintaining professional links between HiDef and sister companies BioConsult SH and Biotope; and
• Any other responsibilities as the Company may reasonably see fit.

The successful candidate will need:

Qualifications
• Master's degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject (e.g., quantitative ecology / statistics / data science) or demonstrable experience working in a similar / relevant role;

Skills & Knowledge
• Advanced coding skills to develop ecologically based statistical models in the R programming language for a variety of real-world problems;
• Experience working in Python, particularly in the field of object detection and recognition is highly desirable (skills in other languages are also desirable (Matlab, SQL etc.));
• Excellent communicator, with the ability to explain complex coding and statistical work to a range of audiences (scientists, stakeholders, public); and
• Ability to organise and prioritise own workload to ensure key deliverables are met;
• Ability to organise and co-ordinate areas of work for yourself and others;
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels and with a variety of stakeholders;
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently, working under minimal supervision and managing time efficiently;
• Effective organisational skills;
• Computer skills, including MS Office applications; and
• Highly motivated.

Experience
• Highly competent coding skills in the R programming language;
• Additional Python coding knowledge is highly desirable;
• Experience working with real-world ecological datasets, statistical analysis, and data visualisation techniques;
• Experience of applying statistical models to explore species occurrence, distribution, and abundance;
• Experience and competency in working with large datasets; and
• Experience in delivering a robust documented process.

Benefits / Remuneration:
• Salary, starting from £33,887.70 p.a.
• Competitive, discretionary profit share scheme.
• Full-time, permanent position.
• Working hours are based on Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00.
• 33 days annual leave per annum, including public holidays.
• 4% company pension contribution.
• Private medical and dental care scheme.
• Medicash scheme.
• Group Life Assurance.
• Company sick pay allowance.
• Salary sacrifice scheme including Pension Salary Exchange, Cycle to Work scheme, and help towards the purchase of ultra-low emission vehicles.

How to Apply:

Use the 'Apply Now' button to make your application.

Closing date: Friday 10th January 2025, 10am

HiDef is proud to be an inclusive company, and people are at the heart to how we deliver our services. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or belief.