Computer Vision Engineer - Placement Student (AI & Rapid Prototyping)
Summary
A 12-month placement student role at PurpleSector, an F1-born engineering consultancy in Thursley, Surrey (hybrid), building computer vision and AI tools for industrial non-normal event detection. Day to day: rapid prototyping in Python, capturing and labelling real-world image, video and sensor data, and validating solutions at client sites.
- Deadline: November 20th, 2026
- Salary: £30,000
- Location: Thursley (Surrey) (Hybrid)
- Degree required: Bachelor's
- Duration: 12 months
- Disciplines: Computing, Data, Software, Maths, AI/Machine Learning
Who are PurpleSector?
Born in the white heat of Formula 1, PurpleSector is an engineering-led, data-driven consultancy that solves complex, high-value challenges.
With a team of over 60 engineers and data scientists, we use race-derived tools, technologies and techniques to uncover critical insights, prototype and validate solutions, and embed lasting performance improvements. Our mission is to decode complexity, unlock efficiency, and deliver measurable results at race pace - turning challenges into performance gains in weeks, not months.
Role Overview
We are looking for an early-career engineer who is excited by using computer vision and AI to solve real-world industrial problems. You will help develop our non-normal event detection capability, turning captured images, video and sensor data into practical tools that reveal defects, unusual behaviour and opportunities to improve performance.
- Fast experimentation and working prototypes over lengthy theoretical studies
- Careful capture, labelling and validation of real-world data
- Close collaboration with instrumentation, software and data science engineers
- A Formula 1 mindset: curiosity, precision, pace and continuous improvement
This role suits someone who wants to learn quickly, build useful tools and see their work tested in real operating environments.
Location: Hybrid (ability to work at our Head Office in Thursley, Surrey and travel to client sites when required).
Key Responsibilities:
- Rapidly prototype computer vision tools and applications in Python
- Use, test and help develop PurpleSector's non-normal event detection algorithms
- Work alongside instrumentation engineers to define and capture useful image, video and sensor data
- Label, categorise and correlate behaviours such as manufacturing defects, process changes and equipment events
- Develop and evaluate computer vision and AI approaches using representative real-world datasets
- Turn successful experiments into clear, repeatable demonstrations and usable applications
- Support trials at PurpleSector and client sites, including equipment setup, data capture and results validation
- Document methods and findings clearly, and contribute reusable code and learning to the wider team
General Requirements:
- Studying towards a degree in computer science, engineering, data science, mathematics or a related subject
- Comfortable using Python and keen to develop high-quality, maintainable code
- A practical foundation in computer vision, image processing, machine learning or AI
- Curious and experimental, with the confidence to test ideas and learn from imperfect real-world data
- Able to communicate clearly and work effectively across software, data and hardware disciplines
- Flexible to travel to client sites in the UK and Europe; an interest in motorsport is desirable
Employee Benefits (subject to contract eligibility):
- 25 days' holiday (pro-rated for part time employees)
- Pension (4% employee, 5% employer)
- Life insurance x 4 of salary
- Healthcare (after 6 month probation)
- Income Protection (after 6 month probation)
- Employee Assistance Scheme
- Up to 10% discretionary annual bonus (based on individual/company performance)