Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer – KTP Associate (FTC 24 months)

Birmingham City University are looking to appoint a high calibre graduate (graduated within the last five years) as a Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to work in collaboration with leading academics at Birmingham City University, to apply knowledge and technical innovation, delivered on site at the company.

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) should have a minimum 2.1 University qualification in a relevant subject area and graduated within the last five years.

This Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) is co-funded by a grant from Innovate UK and GJB Holdings Limited. It is therefore essential you understand the fundamentals of the KTP collaboration between a UK business and a University works to deliver benefits for each (the company, the university, and the graduate).

Personal Training & Development Budget

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) will have access to a wider range of benefits including a personal development budget of £4,000 to upskill during the project.

The successful candidate will be employed by Birmingham City University and seconded to work full-time onsite at GJB Holdings Limited to deliver the 24-month KTP project in partnership Birmingham City University and GJB Holdings Limited.

The successful candidate will have full access to Birmingham City University’s resources such as offices, labs, and library to complete the KTP project (a project workplan written with KPIs and outcome deliverables has been written).

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) will be supervised and mentored by both a lead academic and academic supervisor academics from BCU’s Department of Computer Science within the School of Architecture, Built Environment, Computing and Engineering (ABCE) as well as a company supervisor located at GJB Holdings Limited whose aim is to assist the Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) to deliver the knowledge into GJB Holdings Limited and successfully deliver the 24-month KTP project on behalf of GJB Holdings Limited and Birmingham City University.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) will work on:

• Data acquisition pipelines and IoT sensor integration
• Building machine learning models for forecasting, optimisation, and automated decision-making
• Implementing visual analytics dashboards for factory intelligence
• Process mapping, workflow redesign, and lean digital transformation
• Evaluating and upgrading manufacturing equipment to Industry 4.0 standards
• Facilitating collaborative workshops with academic and industry partners

The role requires the successful candidate to develop:

• The development of a smart manufacturing ecosystem, integrating sensors, real-time analytics, and automation
• The design and deployment of an AI-driven optimisation engine for production, quality, and scheduling
• Creation of a digital twin of factory processes for predictive planning
• Development of a smart quoting and procurement system linking sales to production
• Change management activities to embed digital capability within the workforce
• Training, documentation, and knowledge transfer across operations and IT teams
• Technical integration with existing ERP, MES, and production systems

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) will be expected to interact with the senior management, suppliers and clients of the company as well as BCU academics.

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) must also be adept at applying their knowledge to commercial projects, driving value and making an impact where possible, with an ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions.

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer KTP (Associate) must have the following key attributes to ensure the project’s successful completion.

Skills and Experience

The Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineer (KTP Associate) will hold a relevant degree. This might be a first degree (equivalent to a first class or 2:1 honours) in Smart Manufacturing & AI Systems Engineering, a master’s degree in a similar discipline is acceptable.

Essential

• A minimum 2:1 or first class undergraduate qualification in AI, Data Science, Computer Science, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering
• Experience in data analysis, machine learning, or industrial automation.
• Ability to integrate digital tools with manufacturing processes.
• Strong programming skills (Python, SQL, or similar).
• Experience with IoT devices, sensors, or real-time data systems.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and lead technical development.

Desirable

• Master’s degree or PhD (awarded or near completion) in AI, Digital Manufacturing, Data Science, Industrial Systems Engineering, or related fields.
• Relevant industry certifications (Lean Six Sigma, AWS/Azure cloud, IoT, etc.).
• Experience with ERP/MES systems.
• Knowledge of digital twin development.
• Understanding of manufacturing operations, workflows, and lean methodologies.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Experience in deploying AI models in production environments.
• On a personal note, the Associate should be enthusiastic, motivated, punctual, conscientious, trustworthy and work well within a team.

This project will support GJB’s ambition to transform its Stoke-on-Trent facility into a fully connected, intelligent manufacturing operation that leads the UK fenestration industry in innovation, efficiency, and quality. GJB aims to move from traditional manual processes toward a digitally enabled factory where realtime data, automation, and machine intelligence drive decision-making and operational improvements.

The recruited Associate will expand their expertise in artificial intelligence, industrial IoT, data engineering, and digital twin development while working hands-on inside a live manufacturing environment. They will help design, build, and embed the technologies and capabilities required to create a scalable Industry 4.0 platform for the business.

Key objectives include:

• Develop a connected smart manufacturing system that links machines, sensors, people, and processes across the factory.
• Integrate real-time data sources, including IoT sensors, production equipment, quality checks, and scheduling systems.
• Create AI-driven tools for demand forecasting, optimisation, predictive maintenance, and automated quality assurance
• Develop a digital twin of the production environment to support simulation, planning, and continuous improvement.
• Enhance quoting and workflow processes by connecting front-end sales with back-end manufacturing intelligence.