Python Developer

The Role

Senior Python Engineer with expertise in mechanistic modelling and first-principles simulation to design and build digital twin capabilities for sewage treatment sites. This role focuses on developing physics and chemistry based models of wastewater processes (e.g. primary treatment, secondary treatment, tertiary treatment) and implementing them in robust, scalable Python code.

work closely with process engineers, data scientists, and operations teams to create high-fidelity models that enable optimisation, forecasting, and operational decision support

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Your responsibilities: (Up to 10, Avoid repetition)

Mechanistic Model Development

• Develop first-principles models of wastewater treatment processes (e.g., activated sludge kinetics, primary sedimentation).
• Translate process design equations, mass balances, and kinetics into computational models.
• Implement models of hydraulics, biological reactions, and process control systems.

Python Engineering

• Build clean, modular, and well-tested Python code for simulation and optimisation.
• Ensure code is production-ready with version control, testing, and documentation.

Digital Twin Development

• Integrate mechanistic models into a real-time digital twin framework.
• Combine sensor data (e.g., flow rates, DO, ammonia levels) with simulations.
• Enable features such as:
• Scenario simulation
• Predictive forecasting
• Process optimisation

Data Integration & Calibration

• Use sensor data to calibrate and validate models.
• Implement parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis.
• Work with historians (e.g., SCADA systems) and data pipelines.

Collaboration

• Partner with:
• Process engineers (domain expertise)
• Data scientists (hybrid modelling/ML integration)
• Operations Team (End User)
• Communicate complex modelling results to non-technical stakeholders.

Your Profile

Essential skills/knowledge/experience: (Up to 10, Avoid repetition)

Technical Expertise

• Strong Python development experience (5+ years preferred).
• Proven experience with mechanistic / physics-based modelling.
• Solid understanding of:
• Differential equations and numerical methods
• Mass & energy balances
• Reaction kinetics

Domain Knowledge (at least one of the following)

• Wastewater/sewage treatment processes
• Environmental engineering
• Chemical/bioprocess engineering
• Process systems engineering

Tools & Libraries

• Scientific Python stack/Simulation: NumPy, SciPy, pandas
• Modelling/optimisation: Pyomo, CasADi, Swarm Optimisation or similar
• Visualisation: Matplotlib, Plotly
• Version control: Git

Preferred Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Python , mechanistic modelling, or Digital Twin roles.
• Proven experience Python Modules.
• Experience in Utilities, Water, Energy, Manufacturing, or Infrastructure sectors.
• Experience delivering Digital Twin, Asset Intelligence, Smart Operations, or IoT transformation initiatives.

Desirable skills/knowledge/experience: (As applicable)

Desirable Skills

• Experience with wastewater modelling frameworks (e.g., ASM models, STOAT)
• Knowledge of digital twin architectures
• Experience integrating ML with mechanistic models (hybrid modelling)
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure/AWS) and data pipelines
• Real-time systems or industrial IoT experience

Key Attributes

• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Ability to translate real-world processes into mathematical models
• Comfortable working across disciplines (engineering + software + data)
• Attention to detail and commitment to model accuracy