Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision (KTP Associate position) in Salford

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Artificial Intelligence & Computer Vision graduate to fast-track their career development as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate. The successful candidate will undertake a 36-month collaborative project between Ace Grading and The University of Salford. Ace Grading is a rapidly growing trading card grading company that authenticates, grades, encapsulates and labels collectible trading cards for customers across the UK and internationally, combining industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver trusted, high-quality grading services.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme is one of the UK's largest graduate recruitment schemes and is a three-way collaborative project between the Associate, the company and the knowledge base. It provides an opportunity for the successful applicant to manage a challenging project central to the company's strategic development and long-term growth. The successful Associate will lead the development of innovative AI solutions that automate grading, defect detection, OCR, similarity search, metadata capture, and label generation, helping transform a rapidly scaling business through advanced machine learning and computer vision.

The position will be based at the company premises in Banbury, working across their grading, operations, IT, systems and creative teams to develop, implement and embed advanced AI and computer vision solutions into live business processes. Alongside the technical aspects of the role, the Associate will support organisational change by delivering training, creating technical documentation and helping colleagues adopt new digital tools and ways of working. The successful candidate will also be expected to travel regularly to the University of Salford for project meetings, training and collaboration with the academic team.

Throughout the KTP, you will gain valuable experience working with senior leaders, operational staff, technical specialists and academic experts, providing a unique opportunity to develop both technical and commercial skills while leading a high-profile innovation project within a fast-growing technology-driven business.

What will you be doing?

This project presents a significant technical and organisational challenge, offering substantial opportunities for technical, commercial, leadership and professional development. You will be responsible for developing and embedding advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision solutions within Ace Grading's live trading card grading operations. This will include designing and implementing automated defect detection, card centring analysis, metadata extraction, visual similarity search, intelligent label generation and human-in-the-loop grading systems to increase capacity, efficiency and accuracy.

A key challenge will be translating cutting-edge AI research into robust, scalable systems that can operate reliably within a fast-growing, high-volume commercial environment. You will need to manage large image datasets, develop and deploy machine learning models, establish MLOps processes and ensure solutions deliver measurable business value while maintaining the high grading standards for which Ace Grading is known. You will manage a strategically important innovation project and work closely with colleagues across grading, operations, IT, systems and creative teams. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills will be essential, as you will be required to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences, support organisational change and help embed new AI capabilities across the business.

Who are we looking for?

• A graduate with a minimum 2.1 BEng/BSc in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning or a closely related discipline.
• Knowledge and demonstrable experience in machine learning, deep learning, computer vision and software development, with the ability to apply these techniques to solve real-world business challenges.
• Experience of developing, testing and deploying machine learning models using common frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch or similar technologies.
• Experience of working with image-based datasets, object detection, image classification, OCR or related computer vision applications would be advantageous.
• A postgraduate qualification (MSc or PhD) in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Data Science or a related field is desirable, but not essential.
• Excellent communication, organisation and project management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels and drive the successful adoption of new technologies within a commercial environment.

Additional added benefits

To facilitate professional development, the successful candidate will receive extensive practical and formal training, gain highly desirable specialist business skills, broaden knowledge and expertise within an industrially relevant project, and gain valuable experience from their industry and academic mentors. The KTP Associate will also benefit from a Personal Development Budget of £6,000 (over and above their salary).

About Us

Join us here in Salford and be part of one of the UK's fastest growing universities. At Salford, you'll find a career that works for you, with flexible working, great benefits, generous annual leave and continuous professional development. All our people are important to us, and we have services dedicated to your mental and physical wellbeing from an Employee Assistance Programme to discounted gym membership. All of this on either our Peel Park campus or our MediaCity campus, at the heart of a world-renowned digital and media hub. We value diversity - in backgrounds and in experiences. Our difference makes us stronger, and together we share a passion for improving students' lives. We have a commitment to be Net Zero by 2038 and embed sustainability in all aspects of university life. And, most importantly, we offer you a rewarding career. A career where everything you do will make a difference - to the students, our local community and the world around you. At the University of Salford we are committed to an inclusive approach to promoting equality and diversity. We aim to have a more diverse workforce at all levels of the institution and particularly welcome applications from people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities, who are under-represented in our workforce. At the University of Salford you'll join a place to be inspired, connect and thrive.