Location
Teddington, South West London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£30,644 per annum

About the Role
Our world-leading Time & Frequency department seeks a Time Scale Engineer to join at an exciting time. You will be part of the team maintaining the UK’s National Time Scale, UTC (NPL), and developing the UK’s first resilient Time Scale facility to underpin Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). This facility will address risks associated with dependency on global navigation satellite systems such as GPS, which are vulnerable to natural and intentional interference.

As a Time Scale Engineer, you will work within a multi-disciplinary team of Scientists and Engineers in the National Timing Centre to develop new Time and Frequency infrastructure across the UK. Your role will involve a mixture of desk-based and laboratory-based activities supporting robust systems for the UK’s Time Scale, based on Atomic Clocks located at several UK sites.

Your responsibilities will include:
- Building domain-specific knowledge to support cross-functional teams
- Performing calibration and measurement activities in laboratories
- Supporting through-life management of hardware assets including specifying and procuring equipment
- Contributing to engineering artefacts such as compliance reports and obsolescence planning
- Testing and integration of new equipment like time interval counters
- Maintaining accurate records and contributing to information management
- Conducting ad-hoc data processing and analysis to review the performance of the time scale and its components

This role offers exposure to an international network of time and frequency experts and a central position in the design and implementation of critical UK infrastructure.

Experience
- Degree in a relevant field of Engineering or Science, or equivalent experience
- Rigorous problem-solving skills with the ability to develop solutions to complex problems
- Good task management skills with the ability to shift focus based on changing priorities

About you
- Motivated to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment
- Able to work both independently and collaboratively
- Interest or experience in Time Scales, Atomic Clocks, or Time and Frequency measurement is advantageous
- Experience in engineering or research and development environments is desirable
- Laboratory experience is beneficial
- Scripting skills (e.g., Python or Bash) are advantageous

Qualifications
- A degree or equivalent experience in Engineering or Science is essential

Additional Requirements
- Ability to obtain SC security clearance with no restrictions is mandatory to work in this department
- BPSS security clearance is required to work at NPL

Diversity and Inclusion
NPL is committed to diversity, equality of opportunity, and creating an inclusive environment. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged, particularly women, disabled, Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates. Reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process are available on request.