Position Details
School of Engineering
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to November 2026
Closing date: 2nd November 2025
Background
The Sustainable Manufacturing Group at the University of Birmingham leads research in developing innovative solutions to support a greener and more sustainable future. Manufacturing began the industrial revolution, unlocked the power of fossil fuels, and became central to modern life. However, it also contributed to man-made climate change. Our group focuses on reimagining manufacturing to reduce energy use, decarbonise industrial processes, create environmentally friendly products, and slow the growing rate of consumption in society. We are committed to enabling sustainable manufacturing systems, processes and products, recognising that a sustainable society depends on sustainable manufacturing.
This project aims to develop a digital monitoring solution that enhances energy efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing systems. It will combine advanced sensing, data analytics and sustainability metrics to provide manufacturers with actionable insights for improving energy performance. The work will be carried out in the laboratory to develop and validate smart monitoring technologies that can reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions and support the transition towards net zero manufacturing. The anticipated impact includes measurable energy savings, improved process efficiency and a pathway for broader adoption of sustainable practices across high value manufacturing sectors.
The position will be based within the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham, offering access to world class research facilities and collaboration opportunities within the Sustainable Manufacturing Group.
Role Summary
* Designing, developing and testing hardware and software components for real time energy monitoring.
* Conducting experimental work in the laboratory to validate monitoring and data analysis systems.
* Developing frameworks for sustainability metrics and performance assessment.
* Analysing data to identify trends, assess process efficiency and evaluate energy performance.
* Preparing technical documentation, project reports and research publications.
* Contributing to research dissemination through presentations, workshops and outreach activities.
* Supporting the supervision and mentoring of postgraduate and undergraduate students.
* Collaborating with academic colleagues within the Sustainable Manufacturing Group to advance shared research goals.
Main Duties
* Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
* Analyse and interpret data.
* Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc.
* Contribute to writing bids for future research funding.
* Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
* Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.
* Undertake management/administration arising from research.
* Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
* Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, etc.
* Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
* Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
* Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, process monitoring and energy efficiency.
* Knowledge of sustainability principles and approaches for improving resource efficiency is desirable.
* Ability to design and implement data acquisition and sensor systems.
* Competence in programming and data analysis using tools such as Python, MATLAB or LabVIEW.
* Analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to accuracy and detail.
* Ability to plan, organise and manage experimental work in a laboratory environment.
* Effective communication skills, including preparation of technical reports and publications.
* Capacity to work collaboratively within a research group and contribute to joint project objectives.
Qualification and Experience
* PhD (or near to completion) in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics or a closely related field.
* Experience in experimental research related to manufacturing, energy monitoring or process optimisation.
* Proven record of conducting independent research and achieving project milestones.
* Evidence of publishing or contributing to research outputs in relevant areas.
* Experience in integrating hardware and software for monitoring or control applications.
* Experience with laboratory equipment setup, data collection and analysis.
* Desirable experience in laser based or other advanced manufacturing processes.
* Desirable familiarity with sustainability assessment tools such as life cycle analysis or carbon footprint evaluation.
Informal enquiries to Shoaib Sarfraz, email: s.sarfraz@bham.ac.uk
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
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