Software Engineer Full Time

National Physical Laboratory
About the Role

Please note this role is known internally as ‘Higher Engineer’

We are looking for a Software Engineer to join our Engineering Design team. Software design is key to the design and innovation of NPL projects delivered all over the world through engineering excellence. At NPL, we touch ordinary lives in extraordinary ways, what if you could too?

This Engineering Design team is a key part in the design and preparation for manufacturing systems and instruments that are used within the organisation and for external customers. You’ll be involved in the design, development and test of new products and their supporting software via a combination of simulation, mathematical modelling and experimental verification using physical sensors and mechanical systems.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting external clients, and internal teams with queries
• Designing modular LabVIEW architectures.
• Ensuring compliance with regulations and NPL policy, following recognised best practice.
• Conducting Design Reviews using artefacts from multiple sources and making recommendations to the Chief Engineers for continued operations.
• Maintaining and designing products and systems safely, following governance processes and preparing for review meetings.
• Taking part in design discussions with various electronic and mechanical hardware design teams.
• Developing new embedded software, maintaining software in existing products and developing for associated production equipment.
• Specifying, performing and documenting software testing.
• Peer reviewing of code and documentation produced by the division’s engineers.
• Use of NI Compact RIO/PXI chassis and modules.

We are now working in a hybrid we will 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

You’ll be a driven individual who enjoys creating and documenting well thought out software designs, and then implementing them in readable code. You’ll also have an excellent attention to detail.

What you can bring to the role:

• Be a Certified Labview Developer
• Experience using version control tools – e.g.Git and Subversion.
• Experience of Gitlab/Github workflows and software development life cycle.
• Strong understanding of software documentation management.
• Experience with optical bench and laboratory instrumentation.
• Excellent problem-solving ability
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to engage with internal and external customers at all levels.
• The ability to estimate development timescales and produce high quality design documentation.

Desirable Criteria

• Use of FPGA and other languages such as Python and Practice in writing software using the C programming language and assembler
• Experience with Linux systems.
• Knowledge of using maths simulation/analysis packages, preferably Matlab.
• Knowledge of electrical design.
• Experience of software development
• An aptitude for geometry.
• Interest in image processing and optical systems.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

If you are applying for this position and you have been displaced by the Ukrainian crisis, please apply and email email protected or text highlighting you are applying under the “We support Ukraine” initiative – Ukraine employment support – NPL

About Us

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.