We’re seeking an experienced Higher Scientist to join our Microphotonics team within our world-leading Time & Frequency department. 

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. 

You will be joining our Microphotonics team at an exciting time – we are leading the national effort to develop compact and chip-based microresonator-based frequency combs, or microcombs, as part of the UK Quantum Technologies Flagship Programme. 

Microcombs are a game-changer in:

• Astronomy
• Health monitoring 
• Explosives detection
• Telecoms
• Lidar and radar, and
• Gravity sensing with portable optical clocks. 

As Higher Scientist, you’ll play a pivotal role at the forefront of bringing these remarkable new technologies to fruition. You’ll enjoy collaborating with prominent scientists and engineers at our state-of-the-art laboratories, to commercialise microcombs and incorporate them into exciting new technologies such as portable optical clocks and handheld real-time multispecies trace detectors based on dual-comb spectroscopy. 

Excitingly, this role provides the opportunity to publish your work in high-impact academic journals and present it at prestigious international conferences, contributing to a rapidly growing field of research.  

Key responsibilities:

• Contributing to world-leading science and development of disruptive technologies
• Sharing your learnings
• Developing new and existing partnerships with academia and industry
• Acting as an ambassador for our work externally and promoting our capabilities

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.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. 

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. 

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. 

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.