AI maturity
advanced
Head of AI/ML
Head of AI & Data (Technical Lead)
Thales · Defense, Aerospace & Cybersecurity · 📍 Gennevilliers, Nanterre, FR
Thales is hiring a senior AI & Data technical lead to drive applied AI and data strategy across defense, aerospace, and cyber business units at a moment when sovereign AI and trusted AI systems are becoming strategic imperatives for European defense primes.
Reports to
CTO
Company stage
public
Source
adzuna
Key responsibilities
- Define and drive the AI and data technical roadmap for assigned business unit(s)
- Provide technical leadership and oversight on AI/ML and data architecture decisions
- Collaborate with product, engineering, and research teams to industrialize AI solutions
- Ensure compliance with trustworthy AI principles and regulatory requirements (EU AI Act, defense standards)
- Represent the AI & Data function in cross-functional governance and steering committees
Requirements
- Strong background in AI/ML engineering and data science (likely 8+ years)
- Experience leading technical teams or serving as a technical authority in a large organization
- Familiarity with defense, aerospace, or critical infrastructure AI constraints (safety, security, explainability)
- Proficiency in French (role based in France at French defense prime)
Signals
- ⚠ No salary range disclosed — common for French defense sector but limits candidate self-selection
- ⚠ Job description appears truncated — full scope of responsibilities not available for analysis
- ⚠ No team size or reporting line explicitly stated
- ✓ Thales is a €17B+ global defense and technology prime with massive R&D investment (€4.5B/year)
- ✓ Gennevilliers/Nanterre sites are core to Thales's most strategic programs
- ✓ European defense AI spending is surging — role has strong strategic tailwind
- ✓ Thales has an established AI organization (cortAIx) indicating real infrastructure, not a startup AI effort