Research Associate in Multi-Array Sensing System for Non-Ferrous Obscured Waste (MASSNOW)

The University of Manchester - Science and Engineering - Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering - School of Engineering

Job reference: SAE-031609

Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on relevant experience

Location: Oxford Road

Employment type: Fixed Term

Hours Per Week: 1 FTE

Closing date: 30/06/2026

Contract Duration: 36 months

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Research Associate in Multi-Array Sensing System for Non-Ferrous Obscured Waste (MASSNOW). This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a real-time vision system (RGB+NIR) for recognising or differentiating common shapes in scrap metal, followed by integrating multimodal information (magnetic and vision) for optimal detection, within a dynamic and inclusive environment.

You will be responsible for:

• Developing short-to-medium term research objectives and work plans for the project under the original proposal, with the assistance of supervisors.
• Conducting individual and collaborative research and system development for the project.
• Translate knowledge of advances in the subject area into research activity.
• Pro-actively engage with industry to understand sector needs and identify opportunities for impact.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria:

• Have relevant background or experience in engineering and software development.
• Experience in research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge and skills in imaging or image processing
• Knowledge and skills in Python and C/C++ programming on GPUs

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available