AI Engineer (KTP Associate)

The University of Essex, in collaboration with Trinity House, offers an exciting opportunity to a graduate with the relevant skills and knowledge to develop and implement machine learning techniques to derive new-to-sector advanced insights from Aids to Navigation maintenance and performance data.

This post is fixed term for 33 months and is based at Trinity House’s Harwich office. This role operates on a hybrid model, with at least 2 days per week spent working in the office. The position is fixed term due to being part of a government funded innovation programme, however there may be potential to continue in employment with the company partner following the completion of the KTP.

Duties of the post

The duties of the post will include:

• Becoming familiar with Trinity House’s remit to provide safeguarding to shipping and seafarers, providing education, support and welfare to the seafaring community with a statutory duty as a General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) to deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners.
• Historical data curation and archiving into ML-ready datasets, analysis, reconfiguration and pre-processing.
• Liaising with staff of all levels on project progress and presenting to senior staff.
• Maintaining version control best practise and annotation of code.
• Delivering data visualisation and extracting meaning from data.
• Designing machine learning algorithms and undertaking testing for:
  • predictive maintenance.
  • operational performance and cost optimisation.
  • failure prevention and timely reparation of Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) .
• Paper writing and publishing research findings in flagship venues in collaboration with Trinity House and academics at the University of Essex
• Embedding technology and upskilling Trinity House and GLA staff.
• Participating in academic and/or industrial conferences and other events, to disseminate and present research outcomes to the wider community.

These duties are a guide to the work that the post holder will initially be required to undertake. They may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.

Key requirements

Qualifications

• BSc in Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Sciences or related discipline.
• MSc or other Higher degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science or related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• (Desirable) PhD (or be close to obtaining one) in a relevant discipline with a publication track record.

Skills

• Advanced Python (with Numpy, Scikit-learn, Scipy, Xgboost) or other relevant high level programming language for data analysis (MATLAB, R, etc.).
• Version control best practice, annotation of code.
• Written and spoken English.
• Data visualisation and extracting meaning from data.
• Leadership (or potential to develop in this area).
• (Desirable) Handling of deep learning libraries such as Keras, Pytorch and Tensorflow.

Attributes

• Persistent and solution-focused.
• Team player.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to be able to work collaboratively in a small team.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines; excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to interface with people from the industry or public service domains and from varied technical backgrounds.
• Proactive and committed to the project.
• (Desirable) Interest in or awareness of marine navigation and associated terminology.

Experience

• Designing machine learning algorithms and undertaking testing and iteration.
• Curating datasets of mixed data types.
• Experience of complex data handling and management of large data sets.
• Machine learning approaches to time series data.
• Knowledge of Agile project management methodology.
• Communicating complex technological concepts to a lay audience.

Benefits

As a KTP Associate, the post will offer the following benefits:

• A personal development budget of £5,500 (exclusive of salary).
• Management training and mentoring by an Innovate UK KTP Adviser.
• An interesting and challenging role, with exposure to a variety of stakeholders.
• Full access to university resources to complete the project.
• World-leading Academic and Company project supervision, with project support by a dedicated, sector leading KTP Office.

The University of Essex, in collaboration with Trinity House, offers an exciting opportunity to a graduate with the relevant skills and knowledge to develop and implement machine learning techniques to derive new-to-sector advanced insights from Aids to Navigation maintenance and performance data.