Post Title: Riser Engineer (KTP Associate)
SBU/Department: School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science (SPECS)
FTE: 1.0 (40 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: Fixed term for 30 months
Salary: Between £31,000 and £35,000 depending on skills and experience.
Annual Leave: 28 days paid leave per year for a full year worked, including eight bank holidays
Location: College Lane, Hatfield and Ambar Kelly Ltd, Unit 4A Bridgefields, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1RX
About the programme: This position forms part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme (KTP) funded by Innovate UK (IUK). A KTP is a 3-way collaboration between a graduate (or post-graduate), a business (or not for profit organisation) and a university or research institution. KTPs are designed to deliver an innovation project and bring about lasting, transformative change. As a KTP Associate, you will lead the project with full support from company and academic supervisors, while benefiting from expert coaching and mentoring with one of IUK’s highly experienced Advisers.
The University of Hertfordshire wish to recruit a motivated, highly skilled and qualified graduate to lead and deliver a project with Ambar Kelly, who manufacture RiserSafe, a flooring solution for riser shafts of multi-storey buildings. This project aims to optimise RiserSafe design that
will enhance fire safety in high-rise buildings, eliminating fire risks in riser shafts by introducing advanced thermodynamic simulations, structural design for fire safety and materials science. The KTP includes access to management skills training delivered by Ashorne Hill, in addition to a £5,000 training budget.
About Ambar Kelly: Ambar Kelly is the developer and manufacturer of RiserSafe - a patented modular solution designed to eliminate the risk of falls and prevent fire propagation within riser shafts. Each unit is fully tailored to the specific requirements of multi-storey buildings, ensuring seamless integration and compliance. The company collaborates closely with leading construction contractors across the UK, including Tier 1 clients to deliver safe, efficient, and compliant riser protection solutions on some of the country’s most high-profile projects. For more information, visit: https://www.ambar-kelly.com.
Main duties and responsibilities
The Associate will support the research team by undertaking research and development to develop a new product, attending and leading project meetings as required. You will handle data collection and analysis and contribute on the design and organisation of the project as well as work with academic team members on peer reviewed papers and presentations. You will be expected to disseminate the results and outputs of the project and ensure the collating and writing of final project are of a high standard. You will take an active part in the academic life of the School of Physics Engineering and Computer Science through participation in seminars and other similar events.
Skill and experience required
You will be methodical, have good attention to detail, able to work to deadlines as a team and independently, as well as be able to handle sensitive data with strict confidence. It is essential that the successful candidate has experience in at least one of the following areas: fire engineering, thermodynamics / heat transfer / fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, materials engineering, and structural design. It is also crucial for the successful candidate to possess an understanding of numerical simulation of finite element analysis, and thermal-stress analysis. Knowledge and proficiency with software such as Abaqus, ANSYS, and Start CCM is desirable.
Hours of work: Monday – Thursday, 07:30 – 16:30; Friday, 07:30 –14:00
Qualifications required
An MSc in Civil or Mechanical Engineering; a PhD in Civil or Mechanical Engineering would be desirable.
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
An appointment to this role may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
Due to the structure of KTP funding, appointees will be able to commence employment only after confirmation of their having UK right to work that covers the entirety of the project. You must be available to start work by no later than 27 March 2026.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Kieran Hogan, Accounts & Operations Officer, k.hogan3@herts.ac.uk
Closing Date: 08/SEP/2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference Number: REQ000191
Date advert placed: 11/AUG/2025
Our vision is to transform lives and UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document
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