AI & Digital Twin Systems Engineer (KTP Associate)
| Posting date: | 27 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £38,000 to £40,000 per year |
| Additional salary information: | (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £42,000 per annum) |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 May 2026 |
| Location: | Derby, Derbyshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Derby |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 0078-26 |
Summary
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 £13m STEM centre.
Our engagement with global industries based in the Derby region, for example through our East 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 including Bloc Digital, Rolls-Royce and Alstom, also mean our students benefit from placement years and live briefs.
About Richard Lang & Son Ltd
Founded in 1949, Richard Lang & Son Ltd is a third-generation, family-owned giftware importer and wholesaler based in Derby, supplying independent retailers and national chains across the UK, with expansion into Europe underway. As a heritage business undergoing significant digital and operational transformation, the company has invested heavily in warehouse modernisation, systems integration, automation, and enterprise data infrastructure.
Now entering its next phase of growth, Richard Lang & Son is embedding enterprise-grade AI-driven decision intelligence at the heart of its commercial strategy. The ambition is to architect and deploy scalable, production-ready AI and digital twin systems that transform sales forecasting, inventory optimisation, supply chain performance, SKU profitability, and working capital efficiency, moving decisively from reactive management to predictive, data-led operations.
About the Role
University of Derby’s College of Science and Engineering in partnership with Richard Land & Son Ltd are offering an exciting career-development opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategic Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. Based at Richard Lang & Son’s premises in Derby, you will be employed by the University as a KTP Associate but work under the terms and conditions of the company.
You will lead the end-to-end design, development, and deployment of a scalable AI forecasting engine and digital twin platform, integrating advanced machine learning, simulation modelling, business intelligence, and real-time data pipelines into RL’s operational environment.
This is a dynamic role that presents an opportunity for an ambitious candidate to play an influential role in supporting the design and launch of a scalable, integrated AI-driven forecasting engine and operational digital twin platform for predictive business optimisation, supporting data-informed decisions in supply chain efficiency, resource allocation, and strategic investment while minimising operational risk.
Using your knowledge and skills to support the business and achieve specific project aims, you will receive on-going support by a Supervisor at Richard Lang & Son, an Academic Supervisor and Academic Lead from the University of Derby to help you deliver.
This role offers strategic responsibility for enterprise AI system development, direct engagement with senior decision-makers, and the opportunity to lead digital transformation at scale within a real-world operational environment.
Anticipated interview date: 11th June 2026
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 £4,600 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
This role requires proven experience designing and building robust data engineering pipelines and delivering end to end AI or advanced analytics solutions. You will have experience applying digital twin modelling and simulation techniques to analyse, model, and optimise real world systems, and you’ll be confident using Python programming and SQL based relational databases to develop data workflows or machine learning applications.
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Oluwarotimi W. Samuel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science via o.samuel@derby.ac.uk or Dr Mojisola Grace Asogbon, Lecturer in Data Science via m.asogbon@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
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 22nd 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
Our engagement with global industries based in the Derby region, for example through our East 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 including Bloc Digital, Rolls-Royce and Alstom, also mean our students benefit from placement years and live briefs.
About Richard Lang & Son Ltd
Founded in 1949, Richard Lang & Son Ltd is a third-generation, family-owned giftware importer and wholesaler based in Derby, supplying independent retailers and national chains across the UK, with expansion into Europe underway. As a heritage business undergoing significant digital and operational transformation, the company has invested heavily in warehouse modernisation, systems integration, automation, and enterprise data infrastructure.
Now entering its next phase of growth, Richard Lang & Son is embedding enterprise-grade AI-driven decision intelligence at the heart of its commercial strategy. The ambition is to architect and deploy scalable, production-ready AI and digital twin systems that transform sales forecasting, inventory optimisation, supply chain performance, SKU profitability, and working capital efficiency, moving decisively from reactive management to predictive, data-led operations.
About the Role
University of Derby’s College of Science and Engineering in partnership with Richard Land & Son Ltd are offering an exciting career-development opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategic Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. Based at Richard Lang & Son’s premises in Derby, you will be employed by the University as a KTP Associate but work under the terms and conditions of the company.
You will lead the end-to-end design, development, and deployment of a scalable AI forecasting engine and digital twin platform, integrating advanced machine learning, simulation modelling, business intelligence, and real-time data pipelines into RL’s operational environment.
This is a dynamic role that presents an opportunity for an ambitious candidate to play an influential role in supporting the design and launch of a scalable, integrated AI-driven forecasting engine and operational digital twin platform for predictive business optimisation, supporting data-informed decisions in supply chain efficiency, resource allocation, and strategic investment while minimising operational risk.
Using your knowledge and skills to support the business and achieve specific project aims, you will receive on-going support by a Supervisor at Richard Lang & Son, an Academic Supervisor and Academic Lead from the University of Derby to help you deliver.
This role offers strategic responsibility for enterprise AI system development, direct engagement with senior decision-makers, and the opportunity to lead digital transformation at scale within a real-world operational environment.
Anticipated interview date: 11th June 2026
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 £4,600 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
This role requires proven experience designing and building robust data engineering pipelines and delivering end to end AI or advanced analytics solutions. You will have experience applying digital twin modelling and simulation techniques to analyse, model, and optimise real world systems, and you’ll be confident using Python programming and SQL based relational databases to develop data workflows or machine learning applications.
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Oluwarotimi W. Samuel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science via o.samuel@derby.ac.uk or Dr Mojisola Grace Asogbon, Lecturer in Data Science via m.asogbon@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
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 22nd 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