About us
Our mission is to enable professional and continuing education throughout life, and to widen access to higher education. We design, deliver and curate a portfolio of world leading short courses and award bearing qualifications in a broad range of disciplines.
The Digital Skills Team at Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) plays a pivotal role in advancing the University of Cambridge's mission to widen access to high-quality, research-informed education. Our interdisciplinary team designs and delivers pioneering career accelerator programmes that bridge the gap between academic rigour and industry relevance. Building on the success of the Data Science Career Accelerator, we are now launching the AI Engineering Career Accelerator - a new programme developed in partnership with FourthRev that equips working professionals with the skills to design, build, and deploy applied AI systems. Our work spans curriculum co-creation, content development, and the establishment of a growing portfolio of digital credentials that are trusted by employers.
The Role
We are seeking a part-time Senior Teaching Associate to provide academic leadership for the AI Engineering Career Accelerator.
Designed for professionals looking to build practical AI engineering expertise, the programme equips learners with the skills to develop and deploy applied AI systems - working with large language model APIs, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, autonomous agents, evaluation frameworks, and AI governance practices. The programme operates across three tracks, from software engineers deepening their AI capabilities through to professionals new to coding, and has been designed for flexible delivery alongside full-time work.
In this role, you will take academic ownership of the programme's curriculum and delivery, ensuring content is rigorous, current, applied and research-informed. You will work closely with Dr Ali Al-Sherbaz, Academic Director for Digital Skills, and collaborate with FourthRev's curriculum and industry expert teams to shape a programme that reflects both Cambridge's academic standards and the realities of professional AI engineering practice.
This post comes with, flexible working arrangements, and a rare opportunity to shape the future of applied AI education at one of the world's leading universities. If you are ready to help define what it means to teach AI engineering at professional level, we would love to hear from you.
Your skills
- Expertise in applied AI engineering, including hands-on experience with large language model APIs, RAG systems, autonomous agents, or AI deployment in a professional or research context.
- A strong track record in curriculum design and teaching at postgraduate or professional level, with the ability to make complex technical concepts accessible to learners from diverse backgrounds.
- Experience delivering flexible, inclusive education in online or blended learning environments, and the ability to collaborate effectively across academic and industry-facing teams.
- Experience applying software engineering principles to AI systems, including testing, modular design, CI/CD, monitoring, observability, reliability and lifecycle management.
- A PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related field, or equivalent professional experience in AI engineering or applied machine learning.
Benefits
- 41 days annual leave, inclusive of Bank Holidays
- Defined benefits pension schemes
- Flexible working options
- Family-friendly initiatives
- Career and Professional development opportunities
- Support for health & mental wellbeing
- Discounts on shopping
- Rental deposit scheme
- Public transport season ticket loans
To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.