About this role
Salary: c.£120,000 Location: Kings X, London; Tues - Thurs (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere Employment Type: Full-time; we are open to discussing this opportunity as a part-time role (80%) or fractional commitment (25–50%) depending on mutual fit Contract: Two-year fixed term, with the possibility of extension Closing Date for Applications: Sunday 11 October 23:59 Start Date: Immediate About ARIA ARIA empowers scientists to pursue breakthroughs at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed through science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on. Our success is shaped by one question: how will ARIA transform the lives of the UK’s future generations? Whether that is a life-changing new technology or a burgeoning new industry, it should be obvious that ARIA played a catalytic role. If you want to help make breakthroughs like these possible, come and build ARIA with us. Learn more here . The Role The Scaling Inference Lab is an ARIA-backed, £50m testbed for next-generation AI hardware. Delivered by CommonAI CIC, it is building real, deployable rack-scale AI systems that enable startups and research groups to test new technologies in an open environment. Every six months, the Lab will build a new rack as a structured pilot, integrating promising technologies into working systems that can run AI models and be benchmarked against commercial alternatives. Its ambition is to create a route for breakthrough infrastructure technologies to prove themselves at system scale, reduce the cost of large AI systems and strengthen the UK’s capability to build the infrastructure that powers AI. As the Scaling Inference Lab Director, you will lead the Scaling Inference Lab, which is a part of the Scaling Compute Programme , ensuring the programme delivers, grows with purpose, and has the partnerships, operating model and long-term backing to succeed. Take overall responsibility for the successful management and delivery of the Scaling Inference Lab, working closely with ARIA teams, project leads and delivery partners. Set and drive the programme’s path to scale, including its operating model, long-term funding approach and governance arrangements. Represent ARIA in the relevant CommonAI governance structures and external partnerships as ARIA’s senior representative for the programme. Maintain a clear view of delivery, progress, risks and opportunities across the programme’s existing portfolio, and use evidence and judgement to guide decisions, unblock delivery and strengthen impact. Build and convene a high-quality network across academia, AI and compute infrastructure, industry, government, funders and the wider technical ecosystem. Develop trusted relationships with the institutions, funders and partners needed to support the Scaling Inference Lab’s growth and long-term sustainability. How we'll support you We will give you the support and autonomy to move quickly, including: A world-class operating team to support programme delivery, partnerships, contracting, funding processes and operational problem-solving. Close partnership with ARIA’s Chief Translation Officer, Executive team, Programme Operations and technical colleagues, alongside the incoming Programme Director. Access to ARIA’s networks across science, technology, government, industry and venture, helping you bring together the people and institutions the programme needs. The convening power, funding tools and organisational backing of ARIA to help turn an ambitious scale-up plan into reality.