AI Developer; KTP Associate

About the Role

The University of Wolverhampton is seeking an exceptional MSc or PhD graduate to join a pioneering Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Dry Wall Steel Sections Ltd (DWSS), one of the UK's leading Light Gauge Steel (LGS) specialists. This is a rare chance to sit at the intersection of cutting‑edge AI research and real‑world construction industry transformation. As an AI Developer (KTP Associate) you will lead the technical design and delivery of a novel, AI‑powered platform that will fundamentally reshape how DWSS manages workflows for LGS projects.

You will be employed by the University of Wolverhampton and work full‑time at the company's premises for the 27‑month project duration.

Co‑funded by Innovate UK and DWSS, this KTP brings together world‑class academic expertise in digital built environments with DWSS's deep industry knowledge. The partnership will deliver measurable efficiency gains through AI‑driven automation unique to the LGS construction sector.

• Technical Development: design, implement, and evaluate AI models to support LGS workflows.
• Build APIs to interface with existing DWSS tools and workflows.
• Implement human‑in‑the‑loop review workflows supporting expert validation and continuous model improvement.
• Produce data dashboards and reporting tools to evidence time savings, efficiency gains, and intervention levels.
• Research, Innovation and Commercialisation: apply state‑of‑the‑art research in GenAI, LLMs, and data science to practical construction industry challenges.
• Contribute to academic publications, industry demonstrators, and knowledge dissemination activities.
• Project Management and Stakeholder Engagement: plan, monitor, and deliver KTP project milestones on time and within scope.
• Produce progress reports and presentations for senior stakeholders and Innovate UK.

• Recent MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, ML/AI, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrable experience across the full AI model lifecycle, including training, fine‑tuning, evaluation, and deployment.
• Proficiency in Python, C#, or an equivalent programming language.
• Experience building web applications for data science and analytics.
• Familiarity with cloud‑based development environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Experience deploying and managing locally hosted AI tools, including model serving and hardware optimisation.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

This role offers a competitive salary alongside a dedicated personal training and development budget to invest in building your skills across the life of the project. You will also have the opportunity to attend the fully funded KTP residential leadership and management programme facilitated by Innovate UK. Working closely with leading researchers in the Digital Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton, you will have the opportunity to contribute to academic publications and develop a credible research profile that runs alongside your industry delivery.

There will be the opportunity to interact with company staff, industrial partners, clients as well as University of Wolverhampton academics. The role will allow you to apply your knowledge to a commercial project, finding creative innovative solutions to industry problems.

For an informal discussion about the post please contact Professor David Heesom at the University of Wolverhampton ().