Data Engineer

Focal Point Positioning; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in GNSS technology is seeking an Engineer to enhance testing processes and data collection methods. The role involves developing lab setups, planning real-world experiments, and analyzing results to improve GNSS receiver capabilities, located in Cambridge with standard benefits and opportunities for career growth.

Benefits

8% employer-contribution pension scheme

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Enhanced sick and parental leave

Daily in-office lunches

Private Healthcare - Vitality Health

Paid professional memberships

Work from Abroad

Qualifications

• BSc/MSc or equivalent hands-on experience required.
• Experience running tests and data capture desired.
• Familiarity with hardware testing and experimental setups essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain lab-based test harnesses for data collection.
• Plan and execute real-world data collection exercises.
• Produce detailed documentation of test setups and configurations.

Skills

Knowledge of standard hardware test equipment

Ability to create and maintain supporting test scripts

Understanding of file transfer and networking protocols

Flexible, pragmatic problem solving

Proactive technical learning

Education

BSc/MSc in a numerate subject

Job description

Location:Cambridge (in office, 5 days a week)

Hours of work: 40 hours per week

Length: Full-time / Permanent

Job Reference: FPP/JTE1

Salary: £35,000 - £45,000 p/a

Our purpose is simple:To improve every positioning solution

We develop groundbreaking technology that boosts the accuracy, reliability and security of GNSS receivers. Chipset manufacturers partner with us to enhance the capability of their devices, helping to improve the lives of billions of people who rely on location technologies in their smartphones, watches and cars.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for an Engineer who is keen to join a team of expert engineers, working together collaboratively to create groundbreaking technologies that transform the capability of all GNSS receivers.

To develop our product we need to capture and process a large amount of data. The collection process varies from lab-based scenarios using simulation or replay of real-world scenarios using a complex set of hardware installed on a vehicle or on a person. The resulting data needs to be archived in a repository and carefully analysed before being passed on to core developers.

This role has two primary aspects:

• Developing and maintaining lab-based test harnesses and ensuring the data is collected efficiently and reliably
• Planning and running real-world data collection exercises locally in Cambridge, further afield in the UK or internationally

There is considerable scope to build expertise in GNSS, Signal Processing and FocalPoint technology in the analysis of the results and, with experience, to help steer algorithm and software development.

The successful candidate must be local to Cambridge and be available to work in our Cambridge office 5-days per week and will ideally possess a UK driving licence. The role is primarily office-based but may require travel, testing our devices around the UK and occasionally globally.

Applications close: Friday 13th June 2025

Interviews will be held, in person, at our Cambridge office w/c 16th and 23rd June

Key Responsibilities:

• Determine test requirements and use these to maintain and design test
• Assist on development and maintenance of test tools, scripts and hardware setup
• Produce detailed documentation of the setup used and its configuration
• Configure equipment and monitor to ensure its correct operation
• Accurately transfer, organise, store, label and document trials data
• Validate and analyse the data obtained using in-house and third party software
• Help train colleagues on how to conduct tests

Other Responsibilities:

• Debug test hardware/software/firmware to identify and fix problems
• Arrange the ordering of equipment, parts and lab supplies as/when necessary
• Construction and assembly of prototype boards used for testing

Your Experience

Essential:

• BSc/MSc in a numerate subject (e.g., Electronics, Engineering, Computer Science, Maths, Physics) or equivalent hands-on experience in relevant fields
• Experience running tests and data capture
• Familiarity with hardware testing and creating experimental hardware setups
• UK driving licence and full passport with willingness to travel as required

Desirable:

• Experience working with large data sets
• Experience programming and working with open source hardware

Your Skills

Essential:

• Knowledge of standard hardware test equipment, especially radio, RF, or GNSS
• Understanding of file transfer and networking protocols
• Ability to create and maintain supporting test scripts and software
• Familiarity with Windows, Linux, or MacOS, and standard office software tools
• Ability to produce and work with detailed technical specifications
• Flexible, pragmatic, determined approach to problem solving
• Proactive approach to learning about the technical domain

Desirable:

• Knowledge of GNSS, Inertial Navigation, RF, Software Defined Radio
• Knowledge of low-level hardware units/CPUs including Serial, I2C, SPI, USB
• Scripting skills in Matlab, Python, Bash
• Programming skills in C, C++, or C#

Our Guiding Principle and Values

Our guiding principle, Strive for Excellence, sets the expectation of how we operate.

It helps to shape our work environment, and how we should navigate everything we do from our day to day behaviours to the way we interact across the organisation.

We value high integrity.

We demonstrate this through honesty, transparency and ethical behaviours.

We value high performance.

We demonstrate this through active problem solving, proactively seeking out solutions.

We value high collaboration.

We demonstrate this through empowering our people and teams, creating an environment that encourages inclusivity and respect.

Your Development and Perks

Our people are the reason why our business continues to thrive. We lead the way in the industry, we care for our people and we are always looking to support your development. Staff are regularly mentored by our team of experts and all employees are offered, bi-annual appraisals, career development plans, training courses relevant to their field and feedback sessions through 1-2-1 meetings.

Our generous benefits package includes the following:

• 8% employer-contribution pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
  
• Additional annual leave after 3 years
• Extra annual leave at the end of December
• Enhanced sick, special and parentalleave
• Daily In-hub (office) lunches on us
• Company Options Scheme (determined by Executive Team)
• Up to £5000 Recommend a friend scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free Car Parking
• Showers available
• Private Healthcare - Vitality Health
• Social events and in-hub lunch and learns
• Paid professional memberships
• Work from Abroad

*Company options are not offered as part of the package. You may be offered them throughout your employment*

Our purpose is to improve every positioning solution

At FocalPoint, our purpose is to improve the accuracy, reliability, and security of everyday devices that rely on positioning technology. We believe that GNSS is one of the marvels of the modern world, considering over a trillion dollars of the US economy and over 800 billion euros of the European economy currently depends on this incredible positioning and timing system.

However, the sensitivity and accuracy of current receivers cannot fulfil the demands of 21st century businesses and users. We develop groundbreaking technology that boosts the accuracy, reliability and security of radio receivers. Chipset manufacturers and Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) partner with us to enhance the capability of their devices, helping to improve the lives of billions of people who rely on location technologies.

We are an equal opportunities employer

We believe in diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that diversity fosters innovation and creativity, and we welcome and encourage candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.We are committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all.