AI Solution Analyst (Developer) - KTP Associate

Job Category: Administration and Operations

Fixed Term: 24 months

Location: PDS Direct Limited, Logistics House, Portway Road, Oldbury, B69 2BP

Birmingham City University are looking to appoint a high calibre graduate (graduated within the last five years) as an AI Solution Analyst (Developer) (KTP Associate).

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 AI Solution Analyst (Developer) (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 PDS Direct 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) For more information please go to www.ktp.org.uk

Personal Training & Development Budget: 

The AI Solution Analyst (Developer) (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 PDS Direct Limited to deliver the 24-month KTP project in partnership Birmingham City University and PDS Direct Limited.

PDS Direct Limited:

PDS Direct Limited is a family firm with a strong position in a niche market. They intend to grow their business rapidly by improving their systems capability to meet customers’ transport and distribution needs. For more information please visit: https://www.pdsdirect.co.uk

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 AI Solution Analyst (Developer) (KTP Associate) will be supervised and mentored by both a lead academic and academic supervisor academics from Birmingham City University’s College of Computing within the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE) as well as a company supervisor located at PDS Direct Limited whose aim is to assist the AI Solution Analyst (Developer) (KTP Associate) to deliver the knowledge into PDS Direct Limited and successfully deliver the 24-month KTP project on behalf of PDS Direct Limited and Birmingham City University. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 

The AI Solution Analyst (Developer) KTP Associate duties will work on:

• The role requires the successful candidate to review the systems, develop improvements, and introduce risk management
• Developing a layered system architecture to improve operations
• Create an architecture to train AI/ML models
• Designing and developing bespoke AI/ML algorithms to optimise operations at PDS Direct Limited
• Develop APIs to integrate external and internal systems to leverage the AI/ML solutions within the company
• The Associate must also be adept at applying their knowledge to commercial projects, driving value and making an impact where possible, and have the ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions
• Embed knowledge into the company by offering training, developing reports, standard operating procedures, and training material
• Interacting with relevant stakeholders within the Warehouse ecosystem
• Author academic and technical reports for all stakeholders showing the project's progress and sharing knowledge
• Perform administrative tasks relevant to the project as the line manager assigns

The role requires the successful candidate to develop:

• Review the state-of-the-art AI and Machine learning architecture, and design an extended layered system architecture
• Design an integration algorithm to connect existing systems, enabling seamless data integration
• Responsibility for developing and implementing a novel AI/ML-based algorithm to optimise operations at PDS Direct Limited
• Develop the designed integration algorithm using APIs to integrate external systems
• Develop the analytical platform for warehouse operations
• Integrate the warehouse operations with the in-house systems, and the algorithms developed
• Collaborate and work closely with PDS Direct management to identify, retrieve, and prepare data for training the AI /ML systems
• Lead, engage, and coordinate regular meetings with company management, employees, and the academic team to evaluate and select the best strategies and tools for building AI solutions
• Plan and execute data cleansing and create the data architecture to train AI/ML models
• Prepare presentations and reports with progress updates in regular local management committee meetings
• Develop and maintain project documentation and standard operating procedures

The AI Solution Analyst (Developer) KTP Associate will be expected to interact with senior management, suppliers, and company clients, as well as BCU academics. 

The AI Solution Analyst (Developer) KTP Associate must also be adept at applying their knowledge to commercial projects, driving value, making an impact where possible, and having the ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions.

The AI Solution Analyst (Developer) KTP Associate must have the following key attributes to ensure the project’s successful completion.

Skills and Experience: 

Person Specification: 

• Educated to degree level in Computer Science or a closely related discipline with a First Class (or 2:1 Honours)
• A master's degree or PhD [awarded, recently submitted, or near completion] in Computing or a closely related discipline will be an advantage

Essential:

• Educated to degree level in Computer Science or a closely related discipline with a First Class (or 2:1 Honours)
• A master's degree or PhD [awarded, recently submitted, or near completion] in Computing or a closely related discipline will be an advantage
• Proficiency in full-stack development tools and frameworks, such as Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and debuggers      
• Proficiency in software development using several programming languages such as Python, C#, in a commercial environment
• Knowledge of fundamental AI concepts and practical experience in developing and applying AI and ML, algorithms to deliver software solutions
• Working experience in design and implementing data architecture and data cleansing to train AI models

Desirable:

• A good understanding of Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning modelling and implementation
• Experience of developing auto routing optimisation algorithms or pattern recognition algorithms
• Willingness to learn new technologies and paradigms to facilitate development of cutting-edge systems and services
• Experience of design thinking and ideation
• Understanding of systems integration and change management methodologies
• Academic acumen to enable successful reporting through research publications in academic journals and marketing/training materials
• Practical experience of working in the warehouse and/or logistics environments

On a personal note, the Associate should be enthusiastic, motivated, punctual, conscientious, trustworthy, and work well within a team

For further information please contact Professor Sharon Cox at sharon.cox@bcu.ac.uk or Dr Debashish Das at Debashish.das@bcu.ac.uk  

Please click the below link to download the Job Description:

JOB DESCRIPTION

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At the heart of our Strategy for 2030 and Beyond, it is our mission to enable our students to transform their lives and to achieve their potential. Through our education and research, and the roles our graduates go on to play in the world, we not only support individuals to transform their lives, but we also play a part in transforming society.

Located in the centre of the UK’s second city, we are a university with a long heritage of innovation and of making, dating back to our origins in 1843 when we were founded as the Birmingham Government School of Design.

Our heritage of making through innovation and its application through knowledge exchange, and of creative research and practice, today finds it expression in our STEAM agenda, in our research and enterprise, and in our commitment to challenge-based learning. Working across disciplines, and delivering impactful research and enterprise, interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the continuing transformation of our academic portfolio.

Apply Before: 12/05/2025, 23:59