KTP Associate

Research and Development Post Graduate Engineer (KTP Associate) – Enhancing Head Protection Products in the Equestrian sector

The successful applicant will be joining Cardiff University, one of the UK’s leading research led universities, working as a Research and Development Post Graduate Engineer (also known as a KTP Associate). This post is funded by the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and Champion Manufacturing and serves to transfer knowledge from the University research team, to our Cardiff-based industrial partner. The KTP Post-doctoral Research Associate will be employed by Cardiff University, though will be based at Champion, forming a vital conduit between these two Wales-based collaborators. 

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme has been active for over 40 years and has now developed a programme of support for all KTP associates that focusses clearly on career and personal development. This 3 year post-doctoral position includes a development budget, alongside an expectation that the associate will dedicate 10% of their time to development-related activities. Such activities include the opportunity to shadow senior management, involvement in commercial decision-making and the anticipation of taking a product from concept to market. Furthermore, this position has already attracted an enhanced travel budget, funded separately via the Welsh Government, to ensure that the successful applicant is able to have extended overseas visits to learn from our international collaborators. 

The successful candidate will play a key role in transferring the academic knowledge relating to enhancing head protection to our industrial partner, with the specific aim of developing a new product line that offers enhanced performance. This will require the candidate to develop existing research concepts and ideas, before identifying those that meet a comprehensive range of design criteria. Commercial and technological research will then be required to determine the most appropriate means by which to achieve a commercially viable route to market. Hence, this position will develop a host of technical, commercial, and entrepreneurial skills.

This post is full time (40 hours per week) and is fixed term for a period of 36 months from 1 October 2025.

Fixed Salary £42,254 per annum
For informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Peter Theobald (theobaldps@cardiff.ac.uk) 

For further details about working at Cardiff School of Engineering please contact Karen Baldwin/Chiara Riolo /Bev Jones at Enginadmin@cardiff.ac.uk

Closing date: Friday, 26 September 2025

Online interviews will be held soon after the closing date.

The School of Engineering holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in science. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. For this vacancy we actively encourage women to apply. We will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities. 

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

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