Junior/Graduate Data Scientist

Based in either London or Birmingham, this junior data scientist role focuses on utilizing Python, AWS, and AI-assisted programming tools to clean streaming data, develop statistical models, and build interactive dashboards that help detect and disrupt global content piracy.

About Friend MTS

Friend MTS is the world’s leading provider of content protection and anti-piracy solutions. We help the biggest brands in media, sports, and entertainment - including global broadcasters and sports leagues - protect their high-value content. Through Emmy® Award-winning forensic watermarking and real-time monitoring, we disrupt piracy at its source.

The Role

As a Junior Data Scientist, you will join our growing Data Science team to help us turn vast amounts of streaming and network data into actionable security intelligence. This is a unique opportunity to work on real-world problems where your models directly contribute to identifying illegal activity.

While we operate in a niche industry, we are looking for a generalist Data Scientist; no prior experience in anti-piracy or media security is expected. There is a wide variety of work across the business, ranging from data analysis and optimisation to modeling in multiple different areas.

You should be comfortable pivoting between different types of data problems as the business evolves. This is a hybrid role that offers location flexibility, allowing you to be based at either our London or Birmingham office. You will be required to comfortably commute to your designated office location at least twice per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Analysis & Exploration: Clean and process large datasets to uncover insights and trends within the noise of global streaming traffic.

• Prototyping & Visualization: Build internal tools and interactive dashboards using Plotly and Streamlit to communicate findings to technical and operational teams.

• Modelling & Optimization: Develop and apply various machine learning and statistical models to solve diverse business problems.

• Collaborative Development: Partner with our engineering teams to ensure models are robust and ready for real-world application.

• AI Integration: Actively leverage modern AI coding assistants to accelerate development and maintain high code quality.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• AI-Assisted Development: Deep experience leveraging AI tools daily for co-pilot programming is a must(e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.). You should be highly efficient at using these tools to write, debug, and optimise code.

• Programming: Strong, professional-level proficiency in Python is essential.

• Cloud Platforms: Familiarity with cloud environments, specifically AWS (S3, etc.).

• Education: A recent degree (BSc, MSc, or PhD) in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering.

• SQL: Solid ability to query and manipulate relational databases.

• Problem Solving: A structured approach to tackling complex problems and an ability to think "outside the box" when looking at varied datasets.

Desirable (But Not Essential)

• Anomalous Pattern Detection: Experience or interest in identifying outlier behaviour and suspicious trends.

• Computer Vision: General interest or experience in Computer Vision.

• Big Data: Experience with Big Data tools such as PySpark or Databricks.

• Communication: Ability to explain technical findings clearly to stakeholders.

What We Offer

• 25 days of annual leave (Incl. Bank Holidays) + 1 day off for your birthday 

• Enhanced Pension - 5% employee and 5% employer contribution

• Life Assurance - on the successful completion of your probation (4x your salary)

• BUPA (on the successful completion of your probation)

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave (after a qualifying period) 

• Various Learning and Development Platforms

• A flexible Benefits and Wellbeing Platform

• Full tech set up to ensure you have what you need to be successful in your role

• Weekly breakfasts in the office

• Mentorship: Direct access to senior data scientists and engineers in a supportive, high-growth environment.

• Impact: The chance to work on technology that protects some of the most valuable media rights in the world.

• Growth: A clear career progression path within a private-equity-backed, global tech company.