Agency Partners

Market insights for hiring Machine Learning Engineers in United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Apr 12, 2025

Agency Partners scans all software engineering jobs in Europe in real time. We monitor 50.000+ jobs each week to gather insights about the job market and indentify top companies. Top companies work with us to find their world-class development partners to drive their innovation projects.

Key Insights from this report

  • The Machine Learning job market in the United Kingdom has shown significant fluctuations over the past 12 weeks, with a notable peak of 236 new job postings in week 5, indicative of a dynamic hiring environment for Machine Learning Engineers.
  • A total of 2,980 new Machine Learning roles were posted across Europe in the same timeframe, highlighting a broader demand for Machine Learning talent in the region and indicating that hiring managers must adapt their strategies to navigate the volatility of the UK market.
  • With London leading the demand for Machine Learning Engineers with 1,802 job openings—accounting for 64% of the total market—followed by Leeds and Cambridge, these cities represent the primary recruitment hubs within the UK.
  • The talent pool for Machine Learning Engineers remains competitive, with a current ratio of 2.5 candidates per job opening, necessitating agile and strategic recruitment practices for tech leaders aiming to secure top talent.
  • Hiring for Machine Learning Engineers in the United Kingdom typically requires a median time of 35 days, underscoring the need for hiring managers to plan their recruitment timelines effectively to attract and retain the best candidates.
Number of roles opened and closed for Machine Learning Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for Machine Learning Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the job market for Machine Learning Engineers in the United Kingdom has exhibited significant fluctuations. In week 5 alone, there were 236 new Machine Learning job postings, which stands out amidst a relatively high closure rate peaking at 358 jobs closed in week 3. Comparatively, this role experiences a higher demand in the broader European context, where a record 2980 new jobs were posted in the same week. This pattern indicates a burgeoning but volatile landscape for Machine Learning roles in the UK, suggesting that hiring managers, especially CTOs and Engineering Managers, must adopt agile recruitment strategies to secure top talent amidst varying job availability and closure rates.

Who else is hiring for Machine Learning Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
Meta logo Meta United States of America Software Development null 11
Roku logo Roku United States of America Software Development 2002 10
Huawei Technologies Research & Development (UK) Ltd logo Huawei Technologies Research & Development (UK) Ltd null null null 8
Harnham logo Harnham United Kingdom Staffing And Recruiting 2006 6
GRAYCE logo GRAYCE United Kingdom Management Consulting 2012 6
Point72 logo Point72 United States Financial Services 2014 5
Starling Bank logo Starling Bank United Kingdom Banking 2014 5
Autodesk logo Autodesk United States of America Software Development 1982 4
Mistral AI logo Mistral AI France Information Technology & Services 2023 4
PhysicsX logo PhysicsX United Kingdom Software Development null 4

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Talent pool vs job openings for Machine Learning Engineers in United Kingdom

How competitive it is to hire Machine Learning Engineers in United Kingdom

The talent market for Machine Learning Engineers in Europe presents a varied landscape, particularly when focusing on the United Kingdom. With the UK housing a considerable number of job openings, the ratio of available talent to job listings indicates a competitive environment; currently, there are 2.5 candidates per position. In comparison, Germany showcases an even tighter ratio at 2 candidates per job opening, suggesting heightened competition, while France reflects a more favorable environment for hiring with a ratio of 3.2. This data signifies that recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers in the United Kingdom's tech sector must be agile and innovative to secure top Machine Learning talent, amidst increasing demand and rising hiring trends across Europe's technology landscape.

Seniority distribution of Machine Learning Engineer job openings in United Kingdom

Seniority Distribution of Machine Learning Engineering Jobs in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the seniority distribution of Machine Learning Engineering jobs reveals distinct trends relevant for hiring managers. Mid-Senior level positions dominate the landscape, accounting for 46% of the job market. Entry level roles represent 30%, while internships make up 14%. These insights into the Machine Learning job market in the United Kingdom illustrate the current hiring landscape and the future demand for Machine Learning Engineers.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the employment type distribution for engineering roles reflects a predominant preference for full-time positions, which constitute 91% of the market. Contract roles represent a smaller segment at 8%, followed by internships at just 1%. This distribution signals to hiring managers the necessity of aligning their recruitment strategies with the prevailing market trends, particularly as they seek to attract top Machine Learning Engineers.

Time to Hire Distribution for Machine Learning in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Machine Learning Engineers

The time to hire for Machine Learning jobs in the United Kingdom reveals significant insights into the competitive landscape. Data indicates a peak in hiring activity, with 460 instances reported at a 30-day timeframe. Hiring continues to be competitive beyond this mark, with notable counts of 371 at 45 days and 328 at 25 days. This suggests that CTOs and hiring managers should anticipate a minimum hiring window of approximately 30 days to secure qualified Machine Learning Engineers. Understanding these hiring trends is essential for developing effective recruitment strategies tailored to the UK’s tech sector.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Machine Learning Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Machine Learning Engineers

In the United Kingdom, the demand for Machine Learning Engineers is primarily concentrated in key cities. London leads the market with 1802 job openings, representing 64% of the total, followed by Leeds with 318 positions, accounting for 11%. Cambridge ranks third with 145 openings, comprising 5% of the overall job distribution. These statistics highlight the capital's dominance in the Machine Learning job market while indicating regional opportunities for recruitment.

Most sought after technologies in United Kingdom for Machine Learning

Key technologies for Machine Learning Engineers

In the rapidly evolving Machine Learning job market in the United Kingdom, several core technologies dominate. Python leads the pack with a frequency of 18,881, underscoring its pivotal role in Machine Learning development. Following closely is SQL, utilized in 8,292 roles, highlighting the importance of database management in data-driven environments. AI technologies rank next with a frequency of 7,284, emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence in Machine Learning applications. Moreover, Machine Learning itself has a significant presence, appearing in 10,850 job postings, showcasing its centrality in today's software projects. This data is further illustrated in the accompanying chart, which delineates the most commonly utilized technologies in the field.

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