Digital Science Associate

Job description

Entity: Technology Job Family Group: IT&S Group Job Description: Our purpose is to deliver energy to the world, today and tomorrow. For over 100 years, bp has focused on discovering, developing, and producing oil and gas in the nations where we operate. We are one of the few companies globally that can provide governments and customers with an integrated energy offering. Delivering our strategy sustainably is fundamental to achieving our ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner. About Downstream Research & Development Downstream research and development is a team of over 300 technologists, scientists and engineers who provide pioneering solutions to support bp’s Fuels, Refining, Bioenergy and Hydrogen businesses. We also support the Technology group through Innovation Management, Modelling, Digital Science and our academic research programmes. Let me tell you about the role The Digital Science team applies groundbreaking digital innovation capabilities to bp’s challenge of providing energy to the world while transitioning to a lower-carbon future. This team is the Digital Research arm for bp, responsible for testing emerging technologies to tackle key challenges in support of our businesses. Digital Science is crucial to the success of bp and the delivery of our transition strategy. You will support innovation projects across cyber-related technologies, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, scientific machine learning, generative AI, high-performance computing, advanced optimization and simulation workflows, and other emerging digital capabilities. Working with more experienced colleagues, you will contribute to analysis, prototyping, benchmarking, documentation, and communication activities that help the team evaluate emerging technologies and translate Digital Science activities into practical learning and potential value for bp. A key part of the role is developing broad capability across emerging digital technologies: helping assess where artificial intelligence, advanced computational methods, cyber-related innovations, or new technology paradigms may be relevant; contributing to evaluation and benchmarking approaches; and learning how scalable, reusable, and responsible solutions can be applied as technology landscapes evolve. This role blends hands-on technical contribution with exposure to external engagement. You will help build prototypes and benchmarks, prepare technical materials, gain learnings from discussions with universities, research organisations, consortia, start-ups and technology vendors, and support follow-up analysis for projects led by the wider team. The UK has a strong innovation ecosystem spanning universities, research institutes, government-funded programmes, and industrial partnerships. You may support the team in monitoring relevant opportunities, preparing technical inputs for proposals led by more experienced colleagues, and translating collaboration outcomes into clear learning and practical next steps for bp. Whilst the role is deliberately broad, current project priorities include proof-of-concept activities focused on cyber security use cases. Candidates with an interest in cyber security, threat detection, cyber analytics, AI-enabled security solutions, or cyber resilience will have opportunities to apply and further develop these skills through project work. What you will deliver Support the identification and assessment of digital technologies that may address specific business challenges and contribute research, analysis, prototypes, or benchmarks to help prove or disprove their viability and potential value to bp. Initial focus on cyber security and cyber resilience applications Support the delivery of proof-of-concept projects that evaluate emerging technologies against real business challenges, including current initiatives focused on cyber security and cyber resilience applications. Contribute to work that connects business challenges with digital science approaches, building understanding of both areas through project delivery and collaboration. Support external engagement with universities, research institutions, government organisations, technology companies, and consortia by helping prepare materials, capture meeting outcomes, and complete follow-up analysis. Summarise and share learning (including from project work) with Digital Science colleagues through clear reports, documentation, code, notebooks, or presentations Support the identification and documentation of potential intellectual asset considerations, escalating questions to project leads and relevant specialists, and applying appropriate commercial awareness to assigned project work. Build working knowledge across artificial intelligence, advanced computing, data science, cyber-related technologies, and other emerging digital capabilities while developing awareness of adjacent innovation areas. Contribute to knowledge sharing across bp by documenting project outcomes, lessons learned, and reusable approaches, and presenting these to interested parties or stakeholders in different formats. Help produce practical outputs such as technical evaluations, project reports, benchmarking notes, reusable code, notebooks, and project documentation. What you will need to be successful Required: A degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, physics, cyber security, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience. Foundational knowledge of computational science, scientific programming, software engineering, data analysis, cyber security, applied mathematics, engineering, physics, or a related technical area. Relevant early career experience through academic projects, internships, graduate research, industrial placements, or applied technical work. Industrial experience is helpful but not required. Interest in applying emerging technologies to cyber security challenges or opportunities would be advantageous given current project priorities. Understanding of cyber risk and uncertainty associated with emerging technology and ability to apply risk based evaluation of new technology, with guidance. Ability to work on defined technical tasks, learn quickly, ask good questions, apply critical thinking and adapt as new information becomes available. Interest in bp’s strategy and curiosity about how exciting digital innovation can support future capability in a corporate environment. Curiosity about artificial intelligence, emerging digital technologies, and computational technology ecosystems, with an ability to connect ideas across topics, even if available information is limited. Working knowledge of, or interest in, one or more areas such as data science, scientific machine learning, generative AI, optimization, simulation, high-performance computing, cyber security, threat detection, cyber analytics , or quantum-inspired methods is preferred. Willingness to follow established processes and seek guidance where needed regarding contracting and intellectual asset management considerations Ability to chip in to assigned elements of a project under guidance from project leads or more experienced colleagues. Ability to build and maintain productive working relationships and supply to a collaborative, creative, inclusive, and high-integrity team environment. Ability to communicate technical findings clearly through written summaries, presentations, documentation, or code, and to adapt communication style for technical and non-technical audiences. Ability to handle assigned work, deliver outputs in a timely manner, and collaborate with customers and colleagues across multiple groups with appropriate guidance. Desirable: Familiarity with scientific programming or software development, preferably using Python or similar languages. Understanding of contracting and intellectual asset management considerations Working knowledge of Operational Technology (OT) Security. Please note that roles based out of SJS or Sunbury will move to Timber Square, Southwark, London from Q4 2027 Why join us? At bp, we support our people to grow in a diverse and exciting environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, excellent retirement benefits, among others! We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. Reinvent your career as you help our business meet the challenges of the future. Apply now! Travel Requirement Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role Relocation Assistance: This role is not eligible for relocation Remote Type: This position is a hybrid of office/remote working Skills: Commercial Acumen, Communication, Data Analysis, Data cleansing and transformation, Data domain knowledge, Data Integration, Data Management, Data Manipulation, Data Sourcing, Data strategy and governance, Data Structures and Algorithms (Inactive), Data visualization and interpretation, Digital Security, Extract, transform and load, Group Problem Solving . Future Location Notice: This role will start in Sunbury, London. bp has announced a planned office move to Timber Square, London, with all positions currently advertised in Sunbury, including this one, expected to relocate around Q4 2027-Q1 2028. This presents an exciting opportunity for all employees and leaders to come together in one London location. The specific date of the move will be confirmed closer to the time. Legal Disclaimer: We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us . If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.