Research Fellow in AI Engineering and Commercialisation

About the role

The Health Data, MLTC and AI Group (HMAI) at the University of Southampton's Primary Care Research Centre combines complex data with AI and clinical expertise to turn research into scalable technologies for more personalised, predictive and preventative healthcare. This Research Fellow contributes to the development and commercialisation of AI-enabled healthcare tools, combining software engineering and system architecture with product development, evaluation and implementation. The post is part-time (20 hours per week), fixed-term until 30 April 2027 at Level 4, with potential for extension.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement technical architectures that connect datasets, research algorithms, AI components and external services.
• Build, test and deploy software, including large language model and agentic AI capabilities where appropriate, and turn clinical and user requirements into product features.
• Work with the Chief Investigator and clinical, academic and industry partners.
• Support product planning, commercial partnerships, customer discovery, business models, demonstrations, funding applications and pilot delivery.
• Maintain engineering workflows and documentation, covering interoperability, security, governance and responsible AI.

Required profile

• A relevant PhD or equivalent professional experience in software engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence or a related discipline.
• Strong programming skills and demonstrable experience of building functioning software.
• Experience of system architecture, APIs, databases, testing and deployment, and of integrating AI into applications.
• Technical rigour combined with commercial awareness and an interest in turning research into usable products.
• Ability to organise development activities, deliver milestones and explain technical decisions clearly to clinical, academic and commercial colleagues.
• Advantageous: experience of digital health, commercial product development, industry partnerships, customer discovery or university spin-outs.

What we offer

• Flexible working approach.
• Generous holiday allowance and additional university closure days.

Applications close by 11:59 pm UK time on the closing date; candidates apply online through the university's recruitment process.