Senior Technologist

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced Senior Technologist to lead the design, delivery and operation of IT solutions that support nationally important science and research programmes.

At NPL, we tackle some of the UK's most important scientific and technological challenges, delivering the measurement science that underpins innovation, industry and society.

Our team designs, builds and operates specialist IT platforms that enable cutting-edge scientific research, experimentation and data-driven discovery. Working alongside scientists, engineers and technical experts, you'll help create solutions that don't exist anywhere else.

About You

Key Responsibilities :

This is a unique opportunity to work on technical challenges that don't exist in typical IT environments - collaborating with world-leading Scientists, Engineers and technical experts, you'll design innovative solutions , apply technology in novel ways and help deliver systems that support some of the UK's most important scientific research programmes and real-world innovations ; including

• Design, build and operate reliable IT systems and services that support scientific research, experimentation and innovation
• Lead technical discovery, solution design and architecture decisions , balancing business needs, risk, maintainability and operational requirements
• Develop, automate and improve platforms, infrastructure and services across a diverse technology estate
• Collaborate with world-leading Scientists, Engineers and stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver effective technical solutions
• Ensure services are documented, supportable and successfully transitioned into operational support where required.
• Provide technical leadership through mentoring, knowledge sharing, technical reviews and the promotion of engineering best practice.

About you:

To be successful in this role, you will have the following skills and experience:

Essential skills :

• Degree-qualified in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or equivalent practical experience
• Proven experience designing, building and supporting complex IT systems, platforms or services (within an enterprise, research, engineering or technical environment)
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical solutions and influence technical decision-making

Essential Technical Skills :

• IT infrastructure , systems engineering and service delivery expertise.
• Experience with Linux environments and modern infrastructure platforms .
• Strong automation and scripting skills, ideally using Python .
• Solid understanding of networking , security and application protocols .
• Experience delivering containerised solutions and cloud-based services .
• Ability to build reliable , resilient and supportable systems.

Desirable Skills :

• Experience with Microsoft Azure and other cloud platforms .
• Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) , configuration management and automation tools.
• Experience with monitoring , observability and operational support tooling.
• Understanding of software development practices , source control and CI/CD pipelines.

Why Join NPL?

You'll work on unique technical challenges that directly support world-leading science, national capability and real-world innovation. From data acquisition systems and research platforms to edge computing, automation and distributed services, you'll have the opportunity to build solutions that have genuine impact to society.

In return, you'll join a collaborative team that values technical excellence, continuous learning, knowledge sharing and professional growth, while giving you the autonomy to shape solutions, influence standards and make a meaningful contribution to the future of our technology capability.

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.

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.

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. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview