AEC Solution Architect (AI/LLM Developer) KTP Associate - 24 Months Fixed Term

About the Role and Organisation

Birmingham City University is seeking a high-calibre graduate to join as an AEC Solution Architect (AI/LLM Developer) KTP Associate within the Department of Architecture and Built Environment and the Department of Computer Science. This full-time position is based in Shropshire at Lime Green Products Limited. The role is a 24-month fixed-term Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), co-funded by Innovate UK and Lime Green Products Limited, which specialises in eco-friendly lime-based building materials used in heritage restoration and sustainable construction.

Key Project Overview

The Associate will collaborate closely with academics and company staff to deliver an AI-driven system that captures and structures expert knowledge relating to architecture and building services. The project focuses on developing a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) system and tailored Large Language Models (LLMs) integrated with Lime Green Products’ offerings, respecting regulatory standards and heritage expertise. The post holder will also be responsible for embedding multimodal AI guardrails, integrating AI solutions with the company's CRM, website, and training platforms, and conducting research into AI applications in architecture.

Main Responsibilities

• Distil tacit and explicit expertise from staff into structured AI systems.
• Design, develop and implement architecture-specific RAG systems and LLMs aligned with company products and industry standards.
• Integrate multimodal safety and accuracy guardrails encompassing text and image data.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including architects, designers, researchers, and technical experts.
• Lead project delivery from inception to implementation, including managing timelines, milestones, and reporting.
• Conduct stakeholder engagement and provide training to staff in generative AI technologies and tools.
• Ensure responsible, secure, and ethical deployment of advanced AI systems.
• Prepare and disseminate project outputs through reports, presentations, and publications.
• Carry out administrative duties related to the project as assigned.

Specific Project Development Tasks

• Assess existing AI environment and derive business AI requirements.
• Design a shared data repository enabling concurrent access for multiple users and applications.
• Implement novel algorithms for data embedding and vectorisation.
• Optimize AI language model configurations to serve diverse customer inquiries.
• Engineer comprehensive prompt libraries anticipating user questions.
• Apply RAG framework for developing small and large language models integrated with data stores.
• Develop multimodal guardrail architecture and thoroughly test systems pre-deployment.
• Support knowledge embedding and facilitate effective knowledge transfer.

Candidate Profile

Applicants must have detailed knowledge of Architecture and Built Environment disciplines, ideally supported by at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree in Architecture, AI, Computer Science, or a related field with strong AI/technology interest. Professional experience or skills in AI/LLMs, digital transformation, data analysis, architecture software, and CRM systems are required. A master's or PhD and understanding of AI governance, Python programming, Retrieval Augmented Generation, vector databases, and modern AI frameworks (e.g., LangChain, Semantic Kernel) are desirable. Strong project management, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills are essential. Enthusiasm, self-motivation, and an ability to liaise effectively with academic and industry stakeholders are also necessary.

Additional Information

The role offers access to Birmingham City University’s facilities including offices, laboratories, and the library. The associate will receive mentorship from both university academics and company supervisors. A personal development budget of £4,000 is provided to support skill enhancement throughout the project.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The employer advocates for equality, diversity, inclusive recruitment practices, and guarantees interviews for disabled candidates meeting essential criteria. The appointee will normally be employed via the university’s subsidiary company.