AI / Machine Learning Engineer (KTP Associate) (0212-26) - Derby, DE22 1GB

AI / Machine Learning Engineer (KTP Associate) (0212-26) - Derby, DE22 1GB

About the University

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. 

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

Here at the University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home STEM, the skills that are essential to the UK’s Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too. 

The College brings together a powerful combination of scientific expertise, technological innovation, and creative practice. With disciplines spanning computing, AI, Data Science, engineering, environmental sciences, built environments and Psychology. We are uniquely positioned to solve real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Our courses are designed with employability and future industry needs in mind, supported by cutting-edge facilities, strong employer partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability. Through applied research and hands-on learning, we equip students and staff to drive progress in areas that matter most; from smart technology to clean energy, advanced manufacturing to immersive design. 

School of Computing 

This is an exciting time in Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at the University of Derby. Building on recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) success, our school has ambitions to become leaders in these areas. In the last ten years, we’ve invested heavily in our facilities, including a £13mSTEM centre.

We aspire to be at the forefront of teaching and research around topics such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and complex networks. OurData Science Research Centrewill play a key role in this.

Our engagement with global industries based in the Derby region, for example through ourEast Midlands Institute of Technology, helps ensure that our research and teaching are at the forefront of emerging industry needs and opportunities. Our links with companies in our region includingBloc Digital,Rolls-RoyceandAlstom, also mean our students benefit from placement years and live briefs.  

About ZapCarbon Ltd 

ZapCarbon is an award-winning UK environmental innovation company that develops low-carbon technologies and data-driven solutions to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and create healthier homes. Since its founding in 2006, the company has worked with public and private sector organisations to deliver practical innovations that support sustainability, energy optimisation, and net-zero ambitions.

The company’s mission is to create positive environmental and social impact through innovation, collaborating with partners to drive systemic change that benefits both people and the planet. Its portfolio includes smart home monitoring technologies, healthy homes solutions, and energy-saving products that help housing providers, developers, and property managers improve building performance, resident wellbeing, and environmental outcomes.

ZapCarbon's values are centred on sustainability, innovation, collaboration, and social responsibility. Through a strong commitment to research and development, the company seeks to deliver practical, scalable solutions that tackle real-world challenges such as energy consumption, damp and mould prevention, fuel poverty, and carbon reduction.

As a KTP Associate, you will join a forward-thinking organisation with a proven track record of innovation and a passion for developing technologies that contribute to a more sustainable future.

About the Role

University of Derby’s College of Science and Engineering in partnership with ZapCarbon Ltd are offering an exciting career-development opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategic Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. Based at ZapCarbon’s premises in Leighton Buzzard, you will be employed by the University as a KTP Associate but work under the terms and conditions of the company.

You will lead a major innovation programme, developing and delivering a scalable, AI-driven system that enables housing providers to better interpret and act on large-scale building data, improving maintenance decision-making, reducing costs and supporting the decarbonisation of housing stock. 

Working at the heart of the business, you will take ownership of the full project lifecycle from acquiring and integrating multiple data sources, developing and validating machine learning models, building data pipelines and dashboards, and translating technical outputs into actionable insights for operational and strategic stakeholders.

Using your knowledge and skills to support the business and achieve specific project aims, you will receive on-going support by a Supervisor at ZapCarbon, an Academic Supervisor and Academic Lead from the University of Derby to help you deliver.  A personal training and development budget will also be available for you to access, as well as receiving access to the same training opportunities and facilities as University staff. 

This is an exciting opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategically important project working with academic mentors and key support from the company to transfer academic expertise into a real-world business environment. This role offers significant career development, providing hands-on experience in applied AI, machine learning, data engineering and digital innovation within a commercial environment.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships 

This full-time post is part-funded by the UK Government’s KTP programme. A KTP is a three-way project between a graduate, an organisation and a university. KTP is one of the UK’s largest graduate recruitment programmes and has been placing graduates on challenging, high profile projects for 50 years.

In addition to a competitive salary and core KTP development training, you will have a dedicated budget of £4,000 further training and career development. To find out more about the scheme visit: ktp-uk.org/graduates

Please note by completing an application form for this role, you are giving your consent for us to share your personal data with the KTP partner.

About You

We are looking for a highly motivated and technically skilled individual who is excited by the opportunity to apply advanced data science and AI techniques to real-world challenges. You will hold a Master's degree in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science or a closely related discipline, or a Bachelor's degree in a related field backed by substantial relevant experience, and you will bring proven experience of developing machine learning models using complex, multi-source datasets.

You will be confident working across the full data lifecycle from data engineering and model development through to deployment into practical tools such as dashboards or decision-support systems and able to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

Strong programming skills in Python, alongside proficiency in SQL, are essential, as is a solid understanding of machine learning workflows, model validation and performance evaluation. You will be comfortable designing scalable analytical solutions, integrating data from a variety of sources (including sensor data), and working with visualisation tools such as Power BI.

Just as importantly, you will be organised, proactive and able to manage your own workload, balancing multiple priorities and delivering to deadlines within a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The role involves collaborating with senior managers, operational teams, academic experts and external partners, so you will need the confidence and interpersonal skills to engage people at all levels, explain complex ideas clearly, and bring others with you on the journey.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are a strong technical foundation in machine learning and data engineering, the ability to translate analysis into real-world applications, and a genuine interest in applying your expertise to sustainability, housing and net zero challenges.

Benefits

Whilst you will be employed by University of Derby, your terms and conditions will be that of ZapCarbon Ltd.

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Christopher Sansom, Zero Carbon Research Theme Lead via [email protected] 

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected]

Important Information

This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University. 

The offered salary for this role is less than the going rate for the occupation and the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22^nd July 2025). Therefore you will only be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa subject to your individual circumstances which must meet one of the following criteria set out by UKVI: 

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job 
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

You must also meet the English Language requirement.

Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.

For more information, visit our website.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.

Closing Date: 13 Sep 2026

Area: Teaching and Research

Salary: £35,000 to £36,600 per annum
(for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £39,000 per annum)