{"id":2124731,"url":"https://alion.io/job/npl-higher-scientist-2","title":"Higher Scientist","company":{"id":1766463,"name":"NPL","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":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","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":48000,"max_usd":85000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":114},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-01T10:47:29Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-11T16:40:55Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":10,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":10},"description":"About the Role\nHigher/Senior/Principal Scientist - Quantum networks\nHelp Build the UK’s Quantum Network infrastructure\n\nJoin the team shaping the future of quantum communications, as we expand our Quantum Network activities. We are looking to recruit several roles at different levels of seniority, based on experience, to join the Quantum and Timing Business unit. This is a unique opportunity to perform research with national impact at the frontier of quantum communications science.\nYou will be joining the team at an exciting time, as we develop one of the UK’s leading quantum network testbeds, an ambitious programme uniting world-class teams across NPL, academia and industry. You will be directly involved in developing the hardware, software and metrology that will help define the next era of quantum communications (Quantum photonics - NPL).\nYou will help develop measurement capabilities for photonic quantum systems, working with industry to solve key metrology challenges and support the advancement of current and future quantum technologies.\nThese positions offer the opportunity to work hands-on with state-of-the-art systems, develop bespoke instrumentation, and collaborate with researchers in the UK and internationally - in academia, industry and other national laboratories - leading innovation across the global quantum ecosystem.\nYou will have opportunities to publish in high-impact journals and present your work at major international conferences. Your role will evolve with the field, offering strong opportunities for career progression.\nThese positions are for on-site working, based at our Teddington site.\nKey responsibilities (depending on experience):\nDesign and implement experimental methods to characterise quantum photonic devices and systems\nBuild advanced experimental setups and develop custom instrumentation\nDevelop control systems and data-analysis software\nPerform analytical and numerical data analysis\nCollaborate with academic partners, industry and government\nPublish in high-impact journals and present at international conferences\nIdentify commercial opportunities and support industry engagement\nContribute to or lead bid submissions\nDefine and lead projects and technical activities\nRepresent NPL within the UK and international quantum community\nAbout You\nWe are looking for candidates with a range of the following skills, experience, and qualifications, depending on the role:\nEssential\nExperience with photonic systems (fibre, free-space or ‘on-chip’)\nExperience with single- and entangled-photon sources and technologies, single-photon detectors, coherent optical detectors, quantum optics experiments \nExperience with classical network technology\nProgramming expertise (Python, MATLAB) for modelling quantum processes \nWriting software (LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB) for instrument control and data analysis\nElectronics design and system integration \nPhD, or equivalent experience, in experimental physics, engineering, hardware development, software programming, systems engineering, classical networks\nStrong scientific rigour and problem-solving ability \nExcellent written and verbal communication skills\nAbility to work across multiple teams and manage priorities \nDesirable\nExperience setting up and/or working in a testbed environment\nPost-doctoral experience in a relevant field\nExperience collaborating with industry, academia or national laboratories\nExperience of delivering commercial technical work and developing innovative solutions to industry challenges\nTrack record of publications, funding and/or commercial impact in a relevant scientific area\nExperience of leading collaborative, multidisciplinary research\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.\nAs we are recruiting across different levels, we will consider applications from candidates with varied experience. Offer and salary will depend on experience.\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.\nAbout Us\nThe 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.\nNPL 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.\nAt 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.\nWe 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.\nTo 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6183,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-09T00:28:14Z"}],"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":"2026-10-10T06:21:00+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":84,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.841,"p_room":1,"age_days":8,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/npl-higher-scientist-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/npl-higher-scientist-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-11T19:35:52Z","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":6625,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z"}},"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%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-2"},{"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%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-2"},{"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%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-2"},{"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/npl-higher-scientist-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnpl-higher-scientist-2"}]}