Jim Duffin

Field Trials Vehicle Engineer

Tell us about your journey before you joined the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy?

I’ve spent over 40 years in the automotive industry, working across a range of roles in research and development. My background is in electrical and electronic design engineering, and I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most iconic automotive brands including Aston Martin Lagonda, Jaguar Land Rover, Lotus Cars, MIRA Ltd, and Bosch.
My expertise lies in whole vehicle electrical and electronics design from concept to final production ready vehicles.

During my last decade at Aston Martin, I was responsible for electrical integration across several high-profile projects such as the Valour, V12 Speedster, Vantage, DB11, DB12, DBS GT Zagato, and Valkyrie. My role involved ensuring the entire vehicle’s electrical/electronic systems were validated and production-ready, coordinating with component owners and suppliers, and signing off final functionality.

What motivates you to work in this area?

I’ve always had a passion for fast cars and cutting-edge technology. What excites me most is seeing how new innovations are applied in real-world automotive environments with a strong focus on safety and assistance. Working in autonomous driving research at the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy allows me to stay at the forefront of this evolution, especially with the incredible work being done by the research teams in Informatics at the University of Edinburgh.

What do you love about Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is a fantastic city—it’s rich in history, culture, and innovation. It also has some of the most interesting and challenging roads in the UK!
The University environment is also very exciting. It’s a place where tradition meets technology, and that balance makes it a great environment to work in.