Civil Engineering and Materials (KTP Associate)

University of East London

Founded in 1898, we at the University of East London (UEL) are proud to change lives through education. Our goal is to advance industry 5.0 careers-first education and provide a clear path to the jobs and opportunities of the future. We’re committed to driving diversity in the 5.0 talent pipeline, working in partnership to promote talent wherever it is found and creating a balanced, inclusive, and green future.

But we can't achieve this goal alone. We need forward-thinking, innovative, and curious individuals like you to join our community and help us craft our future. As part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people who share your passion for creating positive change. We’re an inclusive and welcoming community that is constantly moving forward, never satisfied with the status quo.

STRABAG UK

Operating in the UK since 2011, STRABAG UK is a division of STRABAG SE, a leading European-based construction technology group with a global footprint, offering world-leading services in the water, energy, transport, and building sectors. We integrate digital innovation, sustainable practices, and engineering excellence, underpinned by STRABAG's legacy of smart construction solutions.

About Us

The Construction and Engineering Department at the University of East London is home to a wide range of innovative and industry-focused courses, from Civil, Structural, and Robotic Construction Engineering to Mechatronics, Aeronautical, Biomedical, and Electrical Vehicles Engineering. With strong links to industry and array of professional accreditations, the department equips learners and researchers with the skills needed to thrive in rapidly evolving sectors. Our research includes areas such as biomimetic materials, self-healing concrete, extreme wave and flood modelling, IoT and intelligent control systems, renewable energies, robotics, automation, and supply chain management with academics and students working together on projects that address global challenges and support sustainable futures. Ranked highly in student satisfaction and teaching quality, the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering provides a dynamic environment where hands-on learning, cutting-edge laboratories, and real-world projects combine to prepare graduates for impactful careers across engineering, technology, and the built environment.

Our department also holds an Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our clear commitment to gender equality, our sustained progress in advancing equality across our community, and the demonstrable impact of our actions in supporting an inclusive working environment.

About the Job

The University of East London (UEL) in partnership with STRABAG UK is embarking on a collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with the overall aim of development and commercialising a pioneering, sustainable grout made from repurposed organic and earth-based materials. The project leverages advanced materials engineering expertise to deliver an innovative, eco-friendly, low-carbon tunnelling solution that is first-of-its-kind. This will contribute to addressing the urgent need to address the climate emergency and help achieve carbon emissions reduction targets. We are seeking a Civil Engineering and Materials (KTP Associate) to join the team. As a KTP Associate you will deliver an innovative project as an employee of the University of East London, but will spend most of your working time at the company’s premises and sites.

Technical

• Tracing the complex binding, self-forming, self-regulating and self-healing mechanisms (e.g., hydration, silicatisation, sequestration) reactions in Realtime, their interdependencies, and complex response to the environmental factors and controllers.
• Adaptation of the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) current technology to suit the new grout.
• Learning, deploying, and transferring a novel risk-based, probabilistic design approach
• Mastering and deploying a holistic design approach, with diverse performance indicators including environmental, engineering, ecological and financial, alongside logistical targets including workability, time, material procurement and flow.
• Deploying the novel grout at large for a highly sensitive infrastructure.
• Overseeing material adaptability, supplier diversification and compliance integration.
• Transferring the methods, tools, and techniques to STRABAG employees and stakeholders, who will be both technical and non-technical.

People and Change Management

• Working well within the multi-disciplinary teams in STRABAG.
• Understanding impact on existing staff.
• Understanding impact, the new material will have on existing equipment and site storage areas.
• Working out how to embed the new technology associated with the new grout within the organisation and wider company group.

Project Management

• Effectively communicating the knowledge with internal staff and clients.
• Delivering the project according to requirements/standards, within budget.
• Understanding the challenges in designing/implementing new methods.

About You

You should have

• A good honours degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Engineering Geology.
• A Master of Science (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering,        Geotechnical Engineering, Tunnelling Engineering, Material Science and/or Engineering (e.g., Concrete Technology), Engineering Geology or a relevant area.
• Good knowledge of geotechnical engineering and/or engineering materials.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills.
• Independence and ability to work with little supervision. 
• An ability to use initiative and apply creativity, to solve problems.
• An ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
• An Ability to communicate clearly using different means and produce professional reports. 
• An ability to effectively manage time and meet project deliverables deadlines.

You ideally (desirable but not essential) have 

• Ph.D. in relevant subject areas.
• Good knowledge of grout technology.
• Awareness/knowledge of geochemistry.
• Coding, programming, and machine learning.
• Experience in the field of Tunnelling Boring Machine.
• Publication portfolio.

Benefits Package

Here at UEL we understand it’s about more than just a salary. It’s about the entire package on offer along with our outstanding work environment and inclusive culture. We know the market rates for this vacancy and will offer a genuinely competitive salary DOE.

• An opportunity to develop technical capabilities and commercial awareness. 
• An opportunity to lead a project, develop project management skills and improve long-term career prospects. 
• A dedicated development and training budget. 
• Full access to university resources to complete the project. 
• An opportunity to work across an industry-academic partnership. 
• Mentoring by an experienced team of supervisors from industry and academia.

You can explore our full benefits package here: https://uel.ac.uk/benefits-professional-services-positions

Equal Opportunities

As an inclusive, equal-opportunities employer, our multiple Charter awards (Stonewall, Race Equality and Athena Swan) reflect our ongoing dedication to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and we’re committed to closing the " ethnicity pay gap". We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and honest that there’s more to do. We’re determined to keep moving forward so everyone at UEL can thrive. 

So, if you’d like to take your career to the next level with us here at the University of East London and are inspired by our environment and commit to success, we want you to apply today! 

Please note that this advert may close earlier than the deadline if we receive many applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must therefore already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

To contact the recruitment team please phone +44 20 8223 3000 x 4600 or e-mail jobs@uel.ac.uk

CVs without a completed application form will not be accepted.

At UEL we are committed to working together to build a community which values diversity in both our staff and student populations, is representative and inclusive, enabling all to progress and thrive.