Senior Scientist / Engineer - Time & Frequency

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Client:

National Physical Laboratory

Location:

Teddington, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

35abdeb572ac

Job Views:

11

Posted:

25.08.2025

Expiry Date:

09.10.2025

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Job Description:

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and practicing Senior Scientist / Engineer.

We now work in a hybrid mode, combining remote and office work, aiming to offer a great work-life balance. We accommodate full-time, part-time, or flexible options where possible.

You will join our team at an exciting time — we maintain the UK’s National Time Scale, UTC (NPL), and are developing a system that will support our Critical National Infrastructure. This system will address risks associated with our reliance on global navigation satellite systems (like GPS), which are vulnerable to natural and intentional interference.

About the Role

Our team seeks an experienced Senior Scientist / Engineer. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team developing new Time and Frequency infrastructure within the UK, playing a key role in creating robust systems for ground- and satellite-based Time and Frequency dissemination, based on Atomic Clocks at multiple UK sites.

This includes testing and implementing:

• Satellite communication
• Optical fibre
• GNSS-based and monitoring subsystems

Key responsibilities:

• Leading a team of System Engineers and Scientists to deliver projects on time, within scope, and budget
• Designing and implementing hardware and software for satellite communication, optical fibre, and GNSS-based time and frequency transfer techniques
• Developing innovative time dissemination systems, equipment, and applications to support UK sovereignty and industry
• Collaborating with wider teams to develop high-specification solutions
• Interacting with internal and external stakeholders to understand and meet their needs

This role offers opportunities to partner with external organizations and work across multiple UK sites.

About You

We value diversity and encourage applications from underrepresented groups in STEM, including women, disabled, Black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates.

Reporting to a Principal Scientist, you will contribute to designing critical UK infrastructure to advance the UK’s new resilient Time Scale.

To succeed, you should have:

Essential:

• Experience in Time and Frequency measurement/Time scales
• A relevant degree in Science or Engineering
• Leadership in Systems Engineering processes
• Team management skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong problem-solving abilities

Advantageous:

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field
• Postgraduate experience in software engineering (Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB)
• Experience in engineering or R&D environments
• Experience managing Systems Engineering projects
• Practical knowledge of SATCOM, optical fibre, GNSS systems
• Experience with electronic hardware monitoring and control
• Knowledge of atmospheric propagation of radio/microwave signals or space systems
• Experience developing robust operational software

We actively recruit candidates of all backgrounds, but security and nationality requirements may apply. BPSS security clearance is required to work at NPL.

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