Specialist in Generative Computational Design for Industrialised Construction (KTP Associate)

The Role

Merit Holdings Ltd. and Newcastle University are offering an exciting opportunity to implement a new solution for advancing the digitalisation and automation of the design processes and their interfaces with manufacturing and other business functions.

Merit is one of the UK’s leading offsite construction specialists for technically complex and low-carbon emission buildings, and excels in providing high-quality facilities for the healthcare, pharmaceutical and bioscience sectors.

Based at Merit Holdings Ltd, Cramlington, you will lead a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. You will lead the implementation of this project, transforming Merit’s industrialised construction approach through generative parametric design integrated with BIM workflows and other key processes such as procurement and manufacturing processes. You will capture up-to-date domain knowledge about existing design processes and develop and test generative design processes for selected product lines. You will also embed key manufacturing, logistics and site constraints in your design logic.  

You will be supported by a team from Newcastle University, led by Prof Mohamad Kassem, with expertise in digital construction, construction informatics, software engineering, robotics, and control. You will also have support from a Senior Company Supervisor. At a later stage in the project, you will interface and collaborate with another KTP Associate specialised in Digital Manufacturing Planning and Control.    

Benefits:

• Develop managerial skills and attend two residential managerial workshops (each of one week duration)
• £4,000 personal training budget 
• The opportunity to lead a project, develop project management skills and improve long term career prospects
• Mentoring by a Knowledge Transfer Network Adviser
• Full access to university resources to complete the project
• Ability to work in a largely self-determined way, across the industry-academic partnership
• Opportunities to develop both technical understanding and commercial awareness
• The possibility to study for a higher degree or undertake professional development

The KTP Associate will be an employee of Newcastle University but will spend most of their working time at the company’s premises at 8 Silverton Court, Northumberland Business Park, Cramlington, NE23 7RY and when required at Newcastle University.

The KTP Associate will follow Merit's working hours and holiday procedure.

• The Associate’s working week will be 39 hours. Core hours are 08.00-16.30 Monday– Thursday, 08.00-15.30 Friday.
• Annual Leave applicable to this role is 25 days holiday plus statutory holidays. Merit closes between Christmas and New Year- any working days over this period will come out of holiday entitlement.

Although the contract is fixed term at 15 months, more than 70% of KTP staff gain a permanent job offer by their KTP company.

For more information or informal enquiries, please contact Prof Mohamad Kassem (Mohamad.kassem@newcastle.ac.uk) and Dr Xiang Xie (Xiang.xie@newcastle.ac.uk)  

For further details on the Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering please visit our web page at:  https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sage/   

For further details about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships please visit the web page at: http://www.ktp-uk.org/

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