Machine Learning Engineer; KTP Associate

Position: Machine Learning Engineer (KTP Associate)
Develop AI solutions that drive commercial business decisions

We are looking for a highly capable machine learning specialist to lead the development of a next-generation retail insight platform, combining advanced analytics with real-world commercial decision-making. This is not a typical data science role!

About the role

This Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) brings together The Tapestry Agency, a leading retail analytics consultancy, and the University of Bath, a top UK research institution in AI and machine learning.

You will be at the centre of this collaboration, applying cutting-edge research to build production-ready AI systems that directly influence international business strategy and client outcomes.

This project will bring together an exciting combination of expertise in business and marketing strategy to develop an AI-powered retail insight platform that unifies a retailer’s consumer data, providing affordable, real-time, strategic recommendations. The project will democratise access to advanced analytics for UK retailers, supporting growth, competitiveness, and productivity while enabling Tapestry's transition to a scalable, technology-led business model with international potential.

This is an opportunity for you to ‘fast track’ your career into business by leading a high profile and strategically meaningful project to a successful conclusion, allowing you to utilise your academic achievements in an industrial setting. By joining this multidisciplinary KTP between The Tapestry Agency and the University of Bath, you will have the opportunity to work on a challenging and exciting project, using ground-breaking technology with incredible team support and development opportunities.

About Tapestry Tapestry is a UK-based data insight and marketing strategy consultancy helping multi-channel retailers grow through better use of customer data. Working with a wide range of clients, from growing SMEs to established retail brands, delivering insight across acquisition, retention and channel performance. This project represents a major step in Tapestry's evolution into a product-led, AI-enabled business with international growth ambitions.

About youWe’re looking for someone who combines strong technical capability with curiosity and commercial awareness.

As the KTP Associate, you will act as the project lead, responsible for delivering the full lifecycle of the project.

You will:

Design, develop and validate machine learning models and decision systems

Work with complex, multi-source retail datasets

Translate technical outputs into actionable commercial insights

Collaborate with engineers to embed models into a scalable platform

Lead project planning, delivery and stakeholder engagement

Transfer knowledge into the business through training and documentation

You will be supported by:

Academic experts from the University of Bath Senior leaders across analytics, technology and strategy at Tapestry Why this role is exciting

This is a rare opportunity to own and deliver a high-impact AI product from end-to-end. You won’t be building isolated models, you’ll be creating systems that:

Are deployed into a live platform

Are used by real clients

Directly influence commercial decisions

In this role, you will:

Own a strategically critical project from research through to deployment and commercialisation

Work at the intersection of advanced academic research and real-world business application

Help transform an established consultancy into a technology-led SaaS business

Apply machine learning, optimisation and decision systems to complex, real-world datasets

See your work deliver measurable impact for retail clients

This role offers a unique combination of:

Technical depth: advanced AI/ML development

Commercial impact: direct influence on product and strategy

Leadership: full ownership of a high-profile project

You will also benefit from:

Structured KTP training and leadership developmentA dedicated 2,000 yearly personal development budget

Mentorship from leading academics and experienced industry professionals

Opportunities to publish research and build your professional profile

If you’re looking to move beyond pure research or…