Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineer (KTP Associate Position)

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning graduate to fast-track their career development as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate. The successful candidate will undertake a 36-month collaborative project between R&B Switchgear Services Ltd and the University of Salford. R&B Switchgear is a UK manufacturer and service provider specialising in low-voltage switchgear and power distribution systems, serving sectors including healthcare, marine, renewables, utilities and data centres.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme is one of the UK's largest graduate recruitment schemes (http://ktp.innovateuk.org/) and is a three-way collaborative project between the Associate, the company and the knowledge base. It provides an opportunity for the successful applicant to manage a challenging project central to the company’s strategic development and long-term growth.

This opportunity may close early depending on application volumes.

What will you be doing?

This project presents a significant technical challenge, offering substantial opportunities for technical, commercial, leadership and professional development.

You will be responsible for developing and embedding advanced artificial intelligence technologies capable of analysing complex engineering information across visual and text-based sources. This will involve combining computer vision, natural language processing and large language models to streamline time-intensive engineering and operational activities.

A key challenge will be developing safe AI systems capable of operating within safety-critical engineering environments. You will work with complex multimodal datasets, train and evaluate machine learning models and ensure AI outputs are accurate, transparent and trusted by engineering teams.

You will manage a strategically important innovation project and work closely with engineering, operational, IT and leadership teams. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills will be essential, as you will be required to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences and support the adoption of AI technologies across the business.

Who are we looking for?

• A graduate with a minimum 2.1 BEng/BSc in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning or a related subject.

• Knowledge and demonstrable experience applying machine learning techniques to real-world problems.

• Experience in computer vision, natural language processing and large language models.

• Experience of developing, testing and deploying machine learning models.

• Understanding of data engineering, software development and AI deployment practices.

• Experience of Safe AI, cybersecurity or regulated environments would be advantageous.

Additional added benefits

To facilitate professional development, the successful candidate will receive extensive practical and formal training, gain highly desirable specialist business skills, broaden knowledge and expertise within an industrially relevant project, and gain valuable experience from their industry and academic mentors. The KTP Associate will also benefit from a Personal Development Budget of £6,000 (over and above their salary).

As part of the wider R&B Switchgear Group, the Associate will also have access to a comprehensive employee benefits package designed to support wellbeing, work-life balance and long-term development. This includes an optional 9-day fortnight, providing a four-day week every other week, annual pay reviews and bonus opportunities, a one-week Christmas shutdown, company pension scheme, family-friendly policies, occupational health and GP support, an employee referral scheme, paid sick leave, paid paternity leave and wellbeing support.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Join us here in Salford and be part of one of the UK’s fastest growing universities. At Salford, you’ll find a career that works for you, with flexible working, great benefits, generous annual leave and continuous professional development.

All our people are important to us, and we have services dedicated to your mental and physical wellbeing from an Employee Assistance Programme to discounted gym membership. All of this on either our Peel Park campus or our MediaCity campus, at the heart of a world-renowned digital and media hub.

We value diversity — in backgrounds and in experiences. Our difference makes us stronger, and together we share a passion for improving students’ lives. We have a commitment to be Net Zero by 2038 and embed sustainability in all aspects of university life.

And, most importantly, we offer you a rewarding career. A career where everything you do will make a difference – to the students, our local community and the world around you.

At the University of Salford you’ll join a place to be inspired, connect and thrive. Find out more about a career that works for you at www.salford.ac.uk/jobs.