Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration (KTP Associate) in Birmingham

Birmingham City University are looking to appoint a high calibre graduate (graduated within the last five years) as a Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration (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 Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration (KTP Associate) should have a minimum 2.1 university qualification in a relevant subject area and have graduated within the last five years. This Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) is co-funded by a grant from Innovate UK and Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association 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).

Personal Training & Development Budget

The Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration (KTP Associate) will have access to a wider range of benefits including a personal development budget of £4,667 to upskill during the project. The successful candidate will be employed by Birmingham City University and seconded to work full-time onsite at Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association Limited to deliver the 28-month KTP project in partnership Birmingham City University and Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association Limited. 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 with KPIs and outcome deliverables has been written).

The Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration (KTP Associate) will be supervised and mentored by both a lead academic and academic supervisor from BCU’s Department of Computer Science within the School of Architecture, Built Environment, Computing and Engineering (ABCE) as well as a company supervisor located at Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association Limited whose aim is to assist the Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration (KTP Associate) to deliver the knowledge into Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association Limited and successfully deliver the 28-month KTP project on behalf of Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association Limited and Birmingham City University.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• The Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration KTP Associate will lead the technical design and development of the project:
• Defining functional requirements for the NEXUS system, a new front-end to the current HomeMaster system, supporting development of a client mobile app chat bot, AI driven dashboards for decision-making, IOT-enabled predictive property maintenance and contractor management.
• Designing, developing, testing and implementing the IT architecture, data model and database for the NEXUS system.
• Designing and developing a mobile interface to HomeMaster that includes a Natural Language Processing (NLP) based chatbot to provide multi-lingual intuitive access.
• Deploying sensors and developing an AI/ML algorithm to analyse sensor data for predictive property maintenance.
• Designing and developing ML powered automation and smart invoice reconciliation tools to support contractor management.
• Producing operational manuals and providing training for new or modified systems.

The role requires the successful candidate to embed new IT methods/procedures through co-working with a multi-disciplinary team and embedding knowledge and skills to support post-project improvements. The Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration KTP Associate will be expected to interact with the senior management, suppliers and clients of the company as well as BCU academics. The Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration KTP Associate must also be adept at applying their knowledge to commercial projects, driving value and making an impact where possible, with an ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions.

Skills and Experience

• The Software Engineer – Mobile, Web & AI Integration KTP Associate will hold a relevant degree. This might be a first degree (equivalent to a first class or 2:1 honours) in Computing, a Master’s degree in a similar discipline is acceptable.
• A minimum 2:1 undergraduate qualification in a Computing discipline.
• Excellent communication skills to express ideas effectively, orally, graphically and in writing to articulate complicated matters between the academics and the company project team members.
• An ability to work to tight deadlines with diligence, attention to detail, and maintain high standards of work.
• An ability and aptitude to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team; and self-management and planning skills to make optimum use of time.
• Strong leadership skills in successfully implementing and embedding new innovations within a company or organisation.
• Strong background in React Native.
• Solid understanding of REST to use and build APIs; modern frameworks NodeJS/ ReactJS, MongoDB, and SASS; source control repositories e.g. GIT.
• Web application development experience with HTML and CSS.
• Experience of additional programming languages: Python/Java.
• Familiarity with AI&ML algorithms/models (e.g. prediction-models, NLP).
• Practical experience in system implementation, systems integration and testing.
• MSc/PhD in a related subject or relevant experience.
• Experience in embedding Secure by Design principles, aligned with ISO 27001.
• Experience of designing, developing and publishing mobile applications (iOS and Android).
• Experience in user-centred design; scrutinise user requirements, acceptance criteria and visually communicate ideas to a standard.
• Experience in wireframing/mocking tools (e.g. Balsamic/Mockflow).
• Familiarity with clouds-based solutions e.g. Azure/AWS.
• Understanding of, or ability to learn ERP systems.
• Academic acumen to enable successful reporting through research publications in academic journals and marketing/training materials.
• A clean driving license and a willingness to travel to utility contracts throughout the UK.

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

The project is focused on facilitating Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association (NUCHA) to become a digitally enabled, resilient housing provider, delivering safer homes, improved tenant outcomes, reduced operating costs, and stronger ratings from the Regulator of Social Housing.

Key objectives include:

• Develop Nexus – Nehemiah’s proposed secure tenant platform – which will integrate a mobile app with AI/NLP chatbot functionality, an automated rent and repairs dashboard, and contractor management tools for invoice approval.
• Embed Secure by Design principles, aligned with ISO 27001, to address pressing cyber security vulnerabilities and reduce reliance on external IT providers.
• Drive organisational and cultural change, breaking down siloed working, enhancing digital skills, and supporting succession planning to sustain innovation beyond the project.

About the business

Nehemiah is a long-established, well-run housing association which grew out of the social conscience of the area’s Black churches — the name Nehemiah meaning “God comforts”. The Association owns and manages 1,230 homes across 6 local authorities. Its mission is to “build successful, sustainable and diverse communities by providing housing and well-being services in a culturally sensitive way to our current and future customers”. More information can be found at the Nehemiah website.