Senior Research Engineer

IXICO plc (AIM: IXI), is a global leader in neuroscience imaging and biomarker analytics, using its proprietary AI-driven platform to help advance the treatment of neurological disorders and reduce the uncertainties associated with drug discovery, development and monitoring. As a key part of the global neurological disease research community, the Company has built a global reputation and 20-year track record as an end-to-end Imaging Contract Research Organisation (iCRO) working with leading pharma companies, innovative biotech's, disease consortia and non-profit organisations. IXICO has supported hundreds of neurological clinical trials, analysed hundreds of thousands scans and built an expansive network of expert imaging centres around the world.

The IXICO Platform is tailor-made for neurological disease, reliably processing data from global trials, precisely measuring key imaging biomarkers associated with the identification, progression and treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's. Image data is interrogated by the Platform and IXICO's expert scientists translating complex data into clinically meaningful while minimizing data variability and increasing reproducibility.

Our people are empowered to enable us to achieve our company goals and their own personal development through the “4A” values at the heart of our culture: Aspiration, Ability, Agility and Accountability.

To help us deliver our medical image analysis solutions to large clinical trials we are hiring a Senior Research Engineer on a permanent full-time capacity.

Purpose of the Role:

This role is focused onleading innovation within assigned workstreams across IXICO's analytics portfolio, advancing the company's Integrate, Automate, Standardise strategy. The role holder is responsible for innovative development and the definition of analytical validation strategy across MRI, PET and adjacent CNS biomarkers taking assigned workstreams from concept up to transition to cross functional teams for productisation. The role holder contributes to the wider R&D roadmap, including build-vs-buy assessment of third-party technologies, and represents IXICO's scientific work externally.

Single-point accountability is expected; the role holder acts as technical lead for their assigned workstreams. While the role carries no line-management responsibility, the role holder holds authority over scope definition, methodology, experimental design, validation gating and continue/pivot/stop recommendations within assigned workstreams.

The role sits within R&D with day-to-day operational and line management from the Director, R&D. Strategic direction is set by the CSO/CMO, to whom the role holder reports regularly on innovation progress and trajectory to ensure alignment with company-level scientific and product strategy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Research, development and analytical validation

Lead the design, development and assessment of innovative analytics approaches across MRI and PET imaging as well as adjacent CNS biomarkers from hypothesis through proof-of-concept and analytical benchmarking.
Define requirements, validation strategies and intended-use-aligned performance specifications for each workstream, providing input to Regulatory Affairs and Medical Affairs on validation design.
Iteratively optimise prototype analysis algorithms, data models and pre-processing pipelines, to research-grade reproducibility standards, and partner with the Analysis Products team on transition of mature methods into the productisation track.

Roadmap, prioritisation and accountability

Act as technical lead for named workstreams: define validation gates, set pre-agreed continue / pivot / stop criteria and learning milestones, and, where applicable, provide oversight for the work of contributing scientists and engineers assigned to those workstreams.
Own the innovation roadmap for assigned workstreams in line with IXICO’S commercially led R&D prioritisation process.
Contribute to the wider R&D Roadmap, providing input on dependencies, synergies and sequencing trade-offs between assigned workstreams and IXICO's other product streams.
Critically assess third-party analysis products for potential in-licensing where buy is preferable to build, feeding build-vs-buy recommendations into the R&D/product roadmap.

Cross-functional collaboration

Work closely with the wider Science and Product teams to ensure seamless deployment of novel analysis tools.
Provide scientific and technical input to Business Development and Medical Affairs for partner discussions, bid defenses and co-development scoping.

Dissemination and external visibility

Represent IXICO's scientific work at conferences, through peer-reviewed publication, and via marketing material aligned with the company narrative.
Build relationships with academic and industry collaborators that support data access, validation and credibility.

Qualifications and skills required for the role:

Essential

Doctorate in a relevant quantitative discipline (medical image analysis, machine learning, computer science, biomedical engineering, computational neuroscience) or equivalent industry research experience.
Substantial post-doctoral or equivalent industry experience (typically 5+ years) in developing and validating machine-learning or AI-based medical image analysis solutions, including in MRI and / or PET.
Demonstrable track record of taking analytical innovation from concept through proof-of-concept and analytical validation, with awareness of how validated methods transition into regulated product development.
Strong programming skills in Python and Linux environments; familiarity with modern deep-learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow); proficient with version control, containerisation and reproducible-research practices.
Strong applied knowledge of statistics, validation methodology (analytical, clinical, technical), and study design.
Excellent written and verbal communication; able to translate between scientific, regulatory and commercial audiences.
Single-point accountability mindset: comfort owning named innovation workstreams, presenting progress against pre-set criteria, and making continue / pivot / stop recommendations.
Strong collaborative working style across R&D, Regulatory, Medical Affairs and Commercial functions.

Desirable

Experience in a regulated medical-device or SaMD development environment (ISO 13485, IEC 62304, FDA 510(k) or De Novo submissions, EU MDR).
Experience with AI / ML model lifecycle in clinical or trial settings, including post-market performance monitoring and GMLP-aligned practice.
Familiarity with multimodal biomarker integration (imaging + plasma + digital cognition).
Experience designing or working with API-delivered analytics, SaaS platforms, or partner-integrated clinical-trial software.
Prior experience in a CRO, medical imaging technology company or comparable industry setting.
Track record of peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation in relevant fields.

Benefits:

Competitive remuneration package including benchmarked salaries.
Staff Annual Bonus Plans and Annual Salary Review.
Generous employer pension contribution of 6%.
25 days annual leave, increasing up to 28 days with every year at IXICO.
BUPA private medical insurance scheme.
Life Assurance of 4x annual salary.
Employee Benefits Portal, offering various discounts in retail, food & drink, and entertainment.
Engaging and social environment, with fundraising and sporting activities and seasonal events such as Summer and Christmas parties.
Wellbeing initiatives such as eye tests, flu jabs, and Mental Health Awareness Training.
Employee Assistance Programme offering advice and support on a wide range of topics.
Hybrid working model pattern split between working in the City of London and remotely.
Reimbursement allowance to purchase equipment to support working from home.
Generous employee referral scheme offering £2,000 for referring a successful candidate to the company.
Financial assistance for professional qualifications.
Opportunity to contribute to an industry where your work has an impact every single day.

How to Apply

IXICO is working hard to create a representative, inclusive and empowered team, because we believe different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds make a better workplace, and ultimately better services.

IXICO doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion or belief, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other protected class.

This is a great opportunity for a motivated Senior Research Engineer in a permanent full-time capacity to thrive in an engaging and fast-paced environment, to make a difference on an everyday basis.

If you think IXICO should meet you, please send us your CV and covering letter by email to careers@ixico.com or apply directly via LinkedIn. We are looking forward to your application.

Please note that our entire business is operating under a Hybrid-Working Model, where UK-based employees are required to attend our London office 2 days a week. If you have got any questions, please reach out to our careers team.

Please note that IXICO will process the data provided by you only in order to perform the outlined recruitment exercise. For more details on what data we process and on what legal basis this happens please view our Recruitment Privacy Policy or contact careers@ixico.com.