Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) Associate in Human Factors, Behaviour & Human-AI Teaming

Synoptix is an award-winning engineering consultancy delivering advanced solutions across defence, aerospace, healthcare, energy and cyber security sectors. The company develops innovative AI-powered products including Synx-Lookout, an edge-computing maritime awareness platform that uses computer vision and autonomy technologies.

We are seeking an ambitious behavioural researcher to join a new Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project investigating how humans and AI systems interact in complex operational environments.

The project will develop a simulation-supported threat-modelling methodology that identifies how cyber and technical disruption across systems-of-systems can affect the stability of interconnected human–AI teams and command structures, supporting the assessment and resilience of AI-enabled systems in defence and other high consequence sectors.

Working alongside computer scientists, systems engineers and AI specialists, you will help ensure that behavioural and organisational factors are incorporated into the development of next-generation threat modelling and simulation tools.

This role offers a unique opportunity to apply behavioural science and human factors expertise to challenges at the forefront of AI assurance, defence innovation and socio-technical systems research. You will contribute to an innovative collaboration examining the future of human-AI systems in defence and other high-consequence sectors, working directly with experts in digital security, AI, behavioural science and systems engineering.

Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct literature reviews and evidence gathering relating to human-AI teaming.
- Support the design of behavioural frameworks for simulation and threat modelling.
- Contribute expertise on trust, decision making, communication and workload within human-AI systems.
- Develop and evaluate case study scenarios.
- Support the validation of project outputs across representative operational environments.
- Collaborate closely with technical researchers and industry stakeholders.
- Contribute to project reports, dissemination materials and future funding opportunities.

We welcome applications from candidates who have:
- A degree in Psychology, Human Factors, Behavioural Science, Cognitive Science, Social Science or a closely related discipline.
- Experience of study design and research methodologies.
- Strong analytical and critical evaluation skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

This AKT project is funded by UKRI through Innovate UK. This programme has been designed to create short-term collaborations between a university and business to deliver a rapid and targeted intervention to accelerate the development of an innovation project, with potential for significant impact on the business.

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