Assistant or Associate Professor (Research and Education) in Digital Manufacturing - School of Engineering - 107924 - Grade 8 or 9

Position Details

School of Engineering

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £58,225 to £67,468 with potential progression once in post to £87,974

Grade: 8 or 9

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 8th October 2026

There are 2 positions available at either level.

Background

This is an exceptional time to join the University of Birmingham's School of Engineering. Established in 2016, amalgamating the disciplines of Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the School has invested heavily in infrastructure and people; with a new £65M flagship building, a £28M UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) Centre, and a £26M National Buried Infrastructure Facility. The School of Engineering has also recently secured over £1M in funding for practical robotics teaching.

Our School is renowned for world-class research and strong ties with industry, ensuring rapid practical application of our innovations. We continue to strategically grow our research portfolio and we are now recruiting an Assistant or Associate Professor in Digital Manufacturing to help tackle the engineering challenges of applying artificial intelligence and digital technologies across modern manufacturing and robotics.

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are reshaping how products are designed, made, maintained and given a second life. The School of Engineering hosts strong activity in digital, advanced and sustainable manufacturing and robotics, with close links to the Manufacturing Technology Centre and the University's Institute for Robotics. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to engage with and contribute to our national research hubs – the Co-AIMS Hub (Collaborative AI for Manufacturing Sustainability) and the RESCu-M2 Hub (robotics- and smart-machine-enabled circular manufacturing).

We are seeking a researcher in the engineering of artificial intelligence for manufacturing and robotics – spanning challenges such as trustworthy and data-efficient machine learning, autonomous and collaborative robotic systems, digital twins, and physics-informed or hybrid AI models. The role supports growth across sectors including automotive, aerospace, clean energy, medical devices and circular (‘Re-X’) supply chains, and contributes to succession planning in manufacturing leadership.

The successful candidate will be expected to create and disseminate knowledge through initiating and conducting original research, and publication in the above-mentioned areas. They will develop and deliver undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes relevant to digital manufacturing and robotics. In addition, they will contribute to the department, and wider school, through management/leadership and enterprise activities, as appropriate.

Candidates will have an appropriate engineering or computer science background, including a PhD. Experience of mechanical engineering, along with experience in working or engaging with industry stakeholders would be desirable. A demonstratable track record in working within multi-disciplinary research teams and contributing towards grant pursuit is also desirable. The successful candidate will be expected to engage actively with industrial and policy partners in the UK and internationally.

The School of Engineering is committed to upholding the principles of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all our pursuits, and we actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and genders, will consider part-time, job-share and flexible-working arrangements, and may appoint at either Assistant or Associate Professor level according to experience.

Role Summary

This involves initiating, leading, conducting, and disseminating original research. This research should not only have measurable outcomes and foster a growing national and incipient (ideally) international reputation but also be inclusive and equitable, considering diverse perspectives and promoting underrepresented voices in the field.

Your teaching role will contribute to the management, development (including program/module review), and delivery of teaching and assessment within engineering and the wider college. Your pedagogical approach must be inclusive, accessible, and responsive to diverse student needs, experiences, and backgrounds, enhancing all students' experience and employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including (a) providing expert advice to staff and students of all identities, (b) supervising and examining PhD students, ensuring fair and equitable treatment, and (c) advising others on inclusive learning and teaching methods and strategies in manufacturing and mechanical engineering. A particular focus of this post is developing modules that embed artificial intelligence and digital engineering tools into the manufacturing and mechanical engineering curriculum.

Management and administration are likely to involve contributions within the allocated research group and at Departmental and School level and or making an essential contribution to some managerial/leadership activities (e.g., working groups) within the University. This may include developing and making substantial contributions to EDI initiatives, knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools’ outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

Appointments will be made at either an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level please specify which role you are applying for in the application

Informal enquiries to Dr Carl Anthony, email: ***email_hidden***

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone  on our website .