About the Role
We’re looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to join our Materials and Mechanical Metrology department here at NPL! You’ll have the exciting opportunity to work on a range of our instrumentation and metrology projects and provide the technical expertise that informs the strategy that helps shape our site infrastructure. As our Principal Systems Engineer, you’ll have strong experience and a full understanding of Systems Engineering, the V-Model and associated processes/lifecycles. In previous roles, you would have been involved in all stages of the instrument development lifecycle, from early concept development through to delivery and reporting. In this role, you’ll be responsible for the requirements definition & management, overall system architecture, assembly, integration, validation & verification, installation, commissioning, and delivery of scientific instrumentation. You’ll identify that the highest quality technical solutions are applied, in a cost-effective way and within schedule. Using your technical knowledge, you’ll appraise equipment and make recommendations for further efficiencies and compliance whilst ensure that all safety procedures are followed and reported. One of our current projects involves, click on the link to find out more! You’ll also be involved in:
1. Overall Systems Leadership of large and complex Science/Engineering projects, leading, coordinating and managing all technical inputs to instrument design and development.
2. Development of design specifications and conducting design activities
3. Completion of technical analyses and investigations, including evaluation and selection of technical options, and prepare reports/presentations with suggested recommendations to support the design of improvements.
4. Review/agreement and control of External & Internal Interface documents and management of interface baseline
5. Application of end-to-end systems analysis and modelling.
6. Development of instrument performance models, manufacturing and alignment tolerances, and component specifications.
7. Derivation of and management of technical budgets/tolerances.
8. Development of assembly, integration, and test plans to verify compliance with requirements.
9. Management of the assembly, integration, and testing of systems and sub-systems of instruments and scientific products
10. Technical delivery of complex hardware and software systems
11. Planning, coordination, and delivery of internal and external reviews. Review and sign-off of associated documentation.
12. Documentation of System Design, processes/procedures, and test results
13. Liaising with other specialists to ensure performance is maintained and requirements are met throughout the instrument development lifecycle.
14. Generation and review of technical proposals, providing accurate estimates for the associated effort, costs, and risks, for bids and proposals, resulting in contract awards.
We are now working in a hybrid way, with a mix of remote and office working. We strive to offer a great work life balance - if you are looking for full time, part time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in
About You
Our Principal Systems Engineer will have people management skills, who has previously managed multidisciplinary science/engineering teams. You will mentor and lead a small team of Systems Engineers allocated to each project, delegating, and reviewing work.
With excellent stakeholder management and collaboration skills, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure a satisfactory design, development, and delivery process. You will also provide technical leadership of project teams, alongside project managers and science leads.
Key Skills and Experience:
15. Degree in Physics / an applicable engineering subject area (Optical, Mechanical, Electronics, Systems or Software), or equivalent
16. Industry Systems Engineering experience across the full Systems Engineering Lifecycle.
17. Experience in developing and delivering complex instrumentation and control systems, working to deadlines in a multi-project environment.
18. Knowledge of a wide range of technologies.
19. Excellent analytical and technical problem solving.
20. Project management skills
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.