junior data scientist jobs

As an AI/ML Engineer within the AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) team, you will be at the cutting edge of merging advanced AI techniques with Nationwide’s distinctive data assets to optimise business decisions and automate processes. This role offers the chance to expand the frontiers of AI applications in financial services by leveraging the latest innovations in Natural Language Processing and statistical machine learning.

You will be instrumental in creating products that enhance efficiency, aid experts in prioritizing tasks and improve decision-making. Our growing suite of AI-powered products and services presents substantial opportunities for the reuse of foundational components through thoughtfully designed libraries and services that can be applied team-wide. This position uniquely blends scientific research with software engineering, requiring a comprehensive understanding of both domains. You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects spanning across Machine learning and Generative AI.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Swindon or London office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

You will be developing highly scalable classifiers and tools leveraging machine learning, time series predictive methods and deep learning models whilst collaborating with software engineers and data engineers to deploy machine learning models and Generative AI applications into production environments using ML workflows.

You will also be responsible for creating and delivering reusable technical assets that help to accelerate the adoption and interaction with customers directly. This will allow them to understand the problem, aid them in the implementation of AI solutions and deliver briefings to customers in order to guide them on adoption patterns and paths for AI.

About you

You will have/be:

• Proven knowledge of ML & AI and hands-on experience of building applications with large foundation models
• Solid understanding of fundamentals of statistics, optimization and ML theory. as well as familiarity with popular deep learning architectures (transformers, autoencoders, VAE, etc.)
• A strong track record of developing high quality, production code in Python
• Experience in artificial intelligence (XAI) for ML models and metrics for assessing fairness, transparency, and interpretability in the complex AI models.
• Expert understanding of prompt engineering approaches, query retrieval strategies, and other relevant AI application components.
• Strong cloud experience with proven track record of navigating a complex technical environment and delivering robust solutions within those constraints
• Proven problem-solving skills and innovative thinking in complex scenarios
• Experience in financial services and consulting

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 25 days holiday, pro rata
• From January 2026, all Nationwide colleagues will benefit from private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death.
• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.