KTP Associate - AI Software Engineering in Paisley

This Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) brings together the University of the West of Scotland and JW Grant & Son Ltd, one of Scotland's largest independent builders' merchants with four branches across Central Scotland. The partnership will support the company's next phase of growth by improving the flow of information, processes, and data-driven decision-making across the organisation. The project focuses on deploying agentic AI and supporting infrastructure into JW Grant's business environment in a secure, reliable, and scalable manner, releasing capacity, empowering staff, enhancing customer engagement and providing a platform for accelerated business growth.

Using advanced AI technologies, including large language models and intelligent AI agents, the initiative will connect existing business systems and data to accelerate sales, improve customer relationships, reduce operational overheads, and support more consistent decision-making to drive innovation.

The KTP Associate role will work in partnership with Innovate UK and the relevant School/Academic Specialism at UWS. You will be working closely with academic supervisors and JW Grant stakeholders, the KTP Associate will play a central role in designing, developing, and deploying the AI capabilities to support JW Grant's long-term growth and sustainability. The associate will apply full-stack AI engineering, including large language models, agentic AI, and emerging Model Context Protocol (MCP) approaches, to integrate data and workflows prioritising sales and service, and stock and supply chain management. They will deliver secure, compliant, and user-focused solutions that provide tangible efficiency gains.

A key part of the role will be engaging and supporting staff through change - building trust in AI through clear communication, training, and demonstrable value - while balancing academic rigour with commercial pragmatism to ensure successful project delivery.

What you'll be doing:

• Data curation, database management and pipeline development for Large Language Models and Agentic AI systems
• Development of AI solutions integrated across multiple real-world systems and data sources
• Technical and non-technical report writing, presentations, whitepapers and case study development
• Software development, testing and deployment of AI models for monitoring and optimisation of various JW Grant Ltd operations
• Working within an agile team and vibrant environment to meet business requirements
• Manage the project lifecycle, prepare reports, and communicate effectively with stakeholders and team members
• Dissemination of project activity in academic journals and conferences

What we're looking for:

Essential:

• Minimum M.Sc./M.Eng. in Computing Science, AI, Data Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
• Experience in programming (e.g. Python, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript)
• Experience of using Large Language Models, open-source AI libraries and frameworks
• Experience in database systems and integration (e.g. MySQL, NoSQL)
• Experience in technical writing and preparation of reports and documentation

Desirable:

• D. in Computing Science, AI, Data Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
• Experience integrating LLMs within applications using APIs, prompt engineering, and fine-tuning
• Experience with Retrieval Augment Generation (RAG) and/or Agentic AI Foundation projects (e.g. Model Context Protocol (MCP), and AGENTS.md)

What you'll get:

• £5.5k personal development budget + access to national KTP leadership training
• The opportunity to study for a higher degree at no extra cost during your KTP Associateship
• Dedicated support from both academic experts and senior company leaders
• The chance to publish academic work and attend conferences
• Access to defined benefit contribution pension scheme (currently 19.3%), including death in service benefits upon joining the scheme
• Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
• Free fitness facilities across our campuses
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme

J W Grant is one of Scotland's largest independent builders' merchants, family owned and trading since 1968. Headquartered in Paisley, the company employs around 90 staff across five branches in Central Scotland: Paisley, Maryhill, Coatbridge, Kilmarnock and East Lothian. The business supplies the full range of building materials and timber to customers spanning national contractors, local builders, joiners and landscapers, and is a member of NBG, the UK's largest buying group for independent merchants. Recent years have seen sustained growth, including the acquisition and integration of Lothian Building Supplies in 2023. The company pairs almost six decades of trading heritage with an unusually strong appetite for technology.

The culture is practical, plain-spoken and people-focused, with long-serving staff and branches that operate with real autonomy. The KTP Associate will work directly alongside the directors and branch teams, with access to live trading data, real commercial problems and the freedom to take solutions from idea through to deployment.

For an incoming Associate, J W Grant offers a rare combination: a stable, profitable, traditional business with a genuine commitment to change and the data to make that change measurable.

This position forms part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Innovate UK. It's essential you understand how KTP works with business and the University, and the vital role you will play if you successfully secure a KTP Associate position.

Closing Date: 2nd October 2026

Interview Date: 28th October 2026

Please note that as this role is primarily funded by Innovate UK, it is not eligible for relocation or visa costs. The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups. UWS is a "Disability Confident" employer. University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520.