{"id":2490396,"url":"https://alion.io/job/national-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop","title":"Higher Engineer (Workshop)","company":{"id":1766463,"name":"National Physical Laboratory","domain":"npl.co.uk","url":"https://alion.io/company/npl-co-uk","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Eploy","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":40000,"max_usd":86000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":690},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Fusion 360","optional":true},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-13T04:15:42Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-14","last_verified_at":"2026-10-14T21:48:25Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"About the Role\nWe have an exciting opportunity for a Higher Engineer (Workshop) to join our Engineering Manufacture Group. NPL are the UK’s National Metrology Institute, providing the measurement capability that underpins the UK’s prosperity and quality of life.\nNPL has a substantial in-house manufacturing workshop which is equipped with current state of the art machinery and production processes. NPL runs its own mechanical design group which is responsible for the design and specification of special purpose research machinery and other precision metrology equipment that is used by the NPL science teams and also other third party institutions. The components and machinery built at NPL are generally high precision and in low volume, often resulting in a single unit produced, this drives a strong right-first-time philosophy.\nThe Engineering team creates many state of the art facilities used to deliver cutting edge science and precision measurements that underpin science, health, environment, industry, and commerce. We are looking for self-motivated individuals, who can work as part of the team delivering engineering solutions to our customers through the application of good engineering practice and standards.\nAs the Higher Engineer, you will join our mechanical manufacture team.\nWhat you will be doing\nLeading the manufacture, assembly and commissioning of complex engineering systems and equipment.\nProviding technical leadership on challenging manufacturing and engineering activities.\nManufacturing precision components using CNC and conventional machine tools.\nProgramming, setting and operating machining equipment to produce parts to specification. \nAdvising engineers and designers on manufacturability, assembly methods and practical engineering solutions.\nSupporting project planning, estimating and scheduling activities.\nActing as a key technical interface between workshop staff, design engineers and project stakeholders.\nLeading troubleshooting, fault finding and problem-solving activities.\nIdentifying opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, equipment and workshop capability.\nSupporting the introduction of new technologies, tools and methods.\nEnsuring high standards of quality, safety and engineering best practice are maintained.\nCoaching, mentoring and developing colleagues, apprentices and junior engineers.\nSupporting resource planning and prioritisation of workshop activities.\nTaking ownership of technically complex or high-profile deliverables.\nContributing to the long-term development of workshop capability and expertise.\nAbout You\nWhat you can bring to the role:\nSignificant experience in precision engineering, manufacturing or mechanical engineering.\nAdvanced knowledge of CNC machine programming, setting, machining, assembly and manufacturing techniques.\nExperience delivering technically complex engineering projects.\nThe ability to interpret complex engineering requirements and translate them into practical manufacturing solutions.\nStrong technical problem-solving and decision-making skills.\nExperience collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams and customers.\nThe ability to lead technical activities and influence project outcomes.\nStrong communication and mentoring skills.\nA commitment to continuous improvement, quality and safety.\nDesirable:\nPreferable experience in CNC Milling, Turning and/or Manual Grinding. \nKnowledge of NC controls, preferred; Mazatrol, Siemens and Heidenhain\nKnowledge of modern CNC, CAM and CAD systems, including SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or FeatureCAM.\nUnderstanding of engineering drawings.\nHNC, HND, degree or equivalent engineering qualification.\nExperience working within a quality-managed engineering environment.\nWe 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.\nPlease 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.\n\nAbout Us\nThe National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a\nworld-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement\nscience, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life\nin the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview\nNPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity,\nand welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background,\ngender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required\ncriteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority\nethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as\ndefined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role\nwill be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.\nAt NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our\npeople. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone\nfeels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits\nand abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our\ncommitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an\nenvironment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about\nthis on our Diversity & Inclusion page.\nWe are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible\nworking and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive\nwork-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards,\nbenefits and recognition. Our values are\nat the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our\npeople and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance,\nwe’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.\nIf you would like to discuss, please contact us.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6148,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Testing, Inspection & Certification","Research Institutes","Standards & Industry Bodies"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-14T02:01:24Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Skilled Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Skilled Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-14T06:20:30+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":17,"reasons":["conf:4","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-14T06:34:16Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/national-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/national-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-14T23:46:51Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":203,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-15T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1766463},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1766463"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnational-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnational-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnational-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/national-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnational-physical-laboratory-higher-engineer-workshop"}]}