KTP Associate â Software Developer/Engineer (A2370-S)

This position is based in Skipton, United Kingdom (BD23 1FJ).

This 18 month post has been created as a result of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Lancaster University’s School of Computing & Communications and JBA Consulting (https://www.jbaconsulting.com). 

Due to conditions on funding for this post, you will need to be available to start in early May 2019

The novel design of the project, combined with the generous support package and close supervision from both industry and a leading university, make this an exceptional opportunity for you to launch a career as an innovator in the application of digital technologies to the important area of flooding. 

There is potential for permanent employment on completion.. 

This partnership aims to apply novel techniques from software engineering and data science to help manage and reduce the risks of flooding, which is one of the most important natural hazards in the UK (where one in five households are at risk), and globally. 

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in an innovative project with the potential to have a high impact on how technology supports flood risk management in the future.

You will drive the development of software tools to apply new methods for data-driven analysis that will help in managing flood risk, building on the results of two years’ of collaborative research between Lancaster University and the JBA Trust over the last year. This exciting project will give you the opportunity to apply cutting edge digital technologies that deliver new ways of storing, processing, sharing and displaying information about flooding, and to promote those innovations to colleagues working on the management of flood risk.

The overall aim of the role is to embed these innovations within industry applications so as to deliver benefits for business, communities and government.

As a KTP Associate you will be employed by Lancaster University, but will be based at JBA, located at their offices in central Skipton, United Kingdom. Skipton is close to the beautiful outdoors of the Yorkshire Dales National Park but within 45 minutes by train from central Leeds, and about one hour’s travel from Lancaster University. 

You will work closely with and be supported by the senior management at JBA and academics from the School of Computing and Communications, principally Professor Gordon Blair and Graham Dean. You will be based within one of JBA’s software development teams, where you will work alongside software developers, but in close contact with flood risk specialists, interacting with colleagues across several teams and disciplines. You will also be in regular contact with experts from Lancaster University to help guide your work.

For this post, the ideal candidate is expected to have a first degree in Computer Science or equivalent, containing elements of software engineering and/or data science. Experience of at least one of the following is essential: software engineering, scientific programming, scripting, or coding for desktop, web or mobile applications. Desirable expertise would include some of the following: cloud computing, use of notebook technologies such as Jupyter (http://jupyter.org), semantic data, natural language processing, experience of working with spatial data and/or GIS (although additional training is available in post). Additionally, a demonstrable interests and enthusiasm for applications connected with the natural environment would be desirable, The post will suit an individual seeking to further develop their project management and team working skills, a strong communicator and someone comfortable delivering written and spoken/visual communications.

In addition to a competitive salary, up to £25,000 depending on the candidate’s previous experience, the reward package includes an additional £3,000 personal training and development budget offering excellent opportunities to further your professional development and support your career progression. You will be encouraged to present your work at national and international conferences, for which a support budget is available. 

Jeremy Benn Associates Limited (t/a JBA Consulting)

JBA are engineers, environmental consultants, designers and scientists, committed to improving the natural and built environment and creating sustainable places to live and work. JBA also supports knowledge transfer through sponsorship of the JBA Trust. The JBA Group of companies employs over 600 people, with operations in the UK and other European countries, Asia, Australia and the USA. Clients include national and regional governments, infrastructure (transport, water, energy, telecoms) operators, insurers and reinsurers, NGOs and environmental regulators. Innovation is key with a significant annual R&D budget as well as delivering commercial R&D projects for a number of our clients; JBA’s track record includes a place as finalist in the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award (for novel applications of GPU-based parallel processing), a number of awards for innovation, design and creativity through the Institution of Civil Engineers and other professional bodies. We have ranked in the top 10 consulting engineering companies in the UK flood and risk management sector consistently since being formed in 1995.  We are employee owned and proud to be so.

The University:

The School of Computing and Communications (SCC) at Lancaster University is a research-intensive school employing 50 academic staff, over 40 research staff, and over 100 PhD students. SCC is ranked 7th in the UK by 4* and 3* research and 12th by GPA. SCC is based at InfoLab21, a £15m centre of excellence in ICT. InfoLab21 also houses the Knowledge Business Centre (KBC) which fosters local and regional business development, start-up project incubation, and ICT training. Working with KBC will provide an ideal path to commercial exploitation of the project's research outcomes.

For further information on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, please see www.ktponline.org.uk

If you are interested in this position please contact the following:

Professor Gordon Blair (Lancaster University) Tel: 01524 510303 / Email: g.blair@lancs.ac.uk

or

Professor Rob Lamb (JBA) Tel: 01756 799919 / Email: rob.lamb@jbaconsulting.com

We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups.

Closing Date: 16 Apr 2019
Category: Research