The Role
Lead ML research in security: design and run experiments, curate and label data, develop features and models, publish findings, integrate models into production, and support model lifecycle and internal tooling.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Us
Sophos is a global leader and innovator of advanced security solutions for defeating cyberattacks. The company acquired Secureworks in February 2025, bringing together two pioneers that have redefined the cybersecurity industry with their innovative, native AI-optimized services, technologies and products. Sophos is now the largest pure-play Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, supporting more than 28,000 organizations. In addition to MDR and other services, Sophos’ complete portfolio includes industry-leading endpoint, network, email, and cloud security that interoperate and adapt to defend through the Sophos Central platform. Secureworks provides the innovative, market-leading Taegis XDR/MDR, identity threat detection and response (ITDR), next-gen SIEM capabilities, managed risk, and a comprehensive set of advisory services. Sophos sells all these solutions through reseller partners, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) worldwide, defending more than 600,000 organizations worldwide from phishing, ransomware, data theft, other every day and state-sponsored cybercrimes. The solutions are powered by historical and real-time threat intelligence from Sophos X-Ops and the newly added Counter Threat Unit (CTU). Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com.
ROLE
We are seeking a Senior Data Scientist with a strong research mindset to drive advanced machine learning innovation in the security domain. In this role, you will lead exploratory research, design and execute experiments with minimal oversight, and develop new methodologies that push the boundaries of ML‑driven security. You will work hands‑on across data curation, feature development, and model experimentation, while also contributing to scientific publications, internal frameworks, and production‑grade integrations. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a highly technical, inquiry‑driven environment and wants to influence both the scientific community and real‑world security outcomes through original research.
What You Will Do
- Apply general security and ML domain knowledge to problems, identify new avenues of research to apply to current projects.
- With minimal supervision, define and execute experiments to support research on a project.
- Independently explore data curation and labeling, and feature extraction using domain expertise
- Document results of experiments, draw and support conclusions from those experiments; with assistance, evaluate business case/impact
- Contribute significantly to group publications and presentations, including (with assistance) occasional lead or sole authorship of academic publications and presenting work at academic or industry conferences
- Keep up to date on current research and developments in ML and security
- Contribute to internal tools, including identifying gaps where new functionality would be helpful, and implementing significant changes to tools/frameworks to accommodate new technologies.
- Integrate new models into existing frameworks and support hand-off to production
- Support existing model releases, including updates and improvements as needed, and integration with internal tools and systems for production.
What You Will Bring
- Fluent in machine learning and statistical concepts.
- Able to identify scientific literature relevant to a problem, grasp it and apply it.
- Fluent in Python and a database query language like SQL.
- Good general writing skills and ability to translate complex concepts for general consumption.
- Competent at contributing to scientific papers with minimal assistance. Prior publications and talks a bonus.
- General security domain knowledge, developing deeper expertise in some subdomain of security.
- Familiarity or interest in lower level language like C++.
Nice to have
In Canada, the base salary for this role ranges from $123,000 to $205,000. In addition to base salary, we offer additional compensation including bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits package. A candidate’s specific pay within this range will depend on a variety of factors, including job-related skills, training, location, experience, relevant education, certifications, and other business and organizational needs.
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Ready to Join Us?
At Sophos, we believe in the power of diverse perspectives to fuel innovation. Research shows that candidates sometimes hesitate to apply if they don't check every box in a job description. We challenge that notion. Your unique experiences and skills might be exactly what we need to enhance our team. Don't let a checklist hold you back – we encourage you to apply.
What's Great About Sophos?
· Sophos operates a remote-first working model, making remote work the primary option for most employees. However, some roles may necessitate a hybrid approach. While we are a remote first organization, applicants must have legal authorization to work in the jurisdiction where the position is posted, without requiring employer sponsorship.
· Our people – we innovate and create, all of which are accompanied by a great sense of fun and team spirit
· Employee-led diversity and inclusion networks that build community and provide education and advocacy
· Annual charity and fundraising initiatives and volunteer days for employees to support local communities
· Global employee sustainability initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint
· Global fitness and trivia competitions to keep our bodies and minds sharp
· Global wellbeing days for employees to relax and recharge
· Monthly wellbeing webinars and training to support employee health and wellbeing
Our Commitment To You
We’re proud of the diverse and inclusive environment we have at Sophos, and we’re committed to ensuring equality of opportunity. We believe that diversity, combined with excellence, builds a better Sophos, so we encourage applicants who can contribute to the diversity of our team. All applicants will be treated in a fair and equal manner and in accordance with the law regardless of gender, sex, gender reassignment, marital status, race, religion or belief, color, age, military veteran status, disability, pregnancy, maternity or sexual orientation. We want to give you every opportunity to show us your best self, so if there are any adjustments we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support you, please let us know.
Data Protection
If you choose to explore an opportunity, and subsequently share your CV or other personal details with Sophos, these details will be held by Sophos for 12 months in accordance with our Privacy Policy and used by our recruitment team to contact you regarding this or other relevant opportunities at Sophos. If you would like Sophos to delete or update your details at any time, please follow the steps set out in the Privacy Policy describing your individual rights. For more information on Sophos’ data protection practices, please consult our Privacy Policy Cybersecurity as a Service Delivered | Sophos
Top Skills
C++
Python
SQL
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The Company
What We Do
Cybersecurity Evolved. As a worldwide leader in next-generation cybersecurity, Sophos protects nearly 400,000 organizations of all sizes in more than 150 countries from today’s most advanced cyberthreats. Powered by SophosLabs – a global threat intelligence and data science team – Sophos’ cloud-native and AI-enhanced solutions secure endpoints (laptops, servers and mobile devices) and networks against evolving cybercriminal tactics and techniques, including automated and active-adversary breaches, ransomware, malware, exploits, data exfiltration, phishing, and more.
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