Electronics Engineer

UK Research and Innovation; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institute in Cambridge is seeking an Electronics Engineer to design and develop electronic instrumentation as part of a collaborative team. The role involves ensuring safety regulations and providing expertise to scientists. Successful candidates should have a degree in engineering, strong experience in electronics design, and software development skills, particularly in C. The position offers competitive salary and access to a range of employee benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and generous leave policies.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

30 days holiday plus 2.5 privilege days

Health and Wellbeing Support

Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in high-level electronics-based design with analogue and digital techniques.
• Experience of software development in C for embedded systems.
• Technical knowledge of latest developments in electronics.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electronic equipment to meet scientific needs.
• Keep up to date with technological developments.
• Provide expertise to scientific staff to develop novel protocols.

Skills

High level electronics design

Software development in C

PCB layout

Creativity in design solutions

Strong organizational skills

Education

Degree or HND in engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

Arduino

Raspberry Pi

Job description

Electronics Engineer - Electronics Workshop - Structural Studies - LMB 2760

Open Date: 23/12/2025, 08:00

Close Date: 20/01/2026, 23:55

Research Institute: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB)

Location: Cambridge

Band: MRC - 4

Salary: £45,869 - £51,547 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Job Type: Technical & Scientific Professionals

Overall Purpose

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is one of the leading scientific institutions in the world and has been at the forefront in the development of techniques and instrumentation for many years. A major part of this success has been the support given by the Electronics and Mechanical Workshops. The purpose of the role is to design and build electronic instrumentation, unavailable commercially, as part of the team of electronic & software engineers in the Electronics Workshop and to provide support and expertise to the scientific staff.

Main Duties / Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the design, production and development of electronic equipment and instrumentation to meet the needs of the science in an innovative and flexible way and conforming to all statutory and local health and safety regulations.
• Designing electronics circuitry, developing the embedded or PC control software and converting this to hardware including the design and layout of circuit boards, manufacturing all the required infrastructure, and carrying out any testing and debugging.
• Consulting with engineers from the Mechanical Workshop where necessary in developing workable solutions to problems in an efficient and timely manner.
• Keeping abreast of technological developments to ensure that advice given on possible solutions to challenges is based on an up to date knowledge of leading‑edge technology.
• Providing a high level of electronics and software expertise to scientific staff in order to develop novel protocols and methods not available with existing commercial equipment.
• Ensuring that work is suitably documented.

Working Relationships

The role reports directly to the Head of the Electronics Workshop. The Workshop, which is part of the Structural Studies Division, is also staffed by two Senior Electronics Engineers and an Electronics Technician. On a day to day basis, the role deals directly with Scientific Staff and works closely with other departments concerned with technical support including the Engineering Workshop, the IT department and Instrument Services.

Person Specification

Education / qualifications / training required

Essential:

• Degree or HND level qualification in an engineering discipline.

Previous work experience required

Essential:

• Extensive experience in high level electronics‑based design, including analogue & digital techniques and PCB layout.
• Experience of software development in C for embedded systems.
• Technical knowledge regarding the latest developments in electronics.

Desirable:

• Experience of instrumentation design in a scientific environment, in particular with sensor technology and low noise measurement techniques.
• Experience of data acquisition using LabVIEW.
• Experience of programming for Windows/Linux applications in C and Python.

Creativity and initiative

Essential:

• Track record in providing innovative solutions to diverse design challenges.

Desirable:

• The ability to approach problems with creativity and an open mind.
• Knowledge and interest in Arduino, Raspberry Pi, making things etc.

Independent working

Essential:

• The ability to work safely without close supervision.
• The ability to take on and see a project through from start to completion, coupled with experience in project management and systems design.

Verbal and written communication skills

Essential:

• The ability to communicate with other staff at all levels, and able to create clear and precise documentation.

Personal skills / behaviours / qualities

Essential:

• A mature and conscientious attitude.
• Ability to approach problems in a creative manner and to suggest engineering solutions to scientific questions.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work to deal with several projects simultaneously. Working to strict deadlines, whilst providing accurate information.

Desirable:

• An inquisitive nature with regard to finding engineering solutions to challenges and a desire to understand the work of the department and how it relates to the science carried out in the LMB.

Further Information

You must at all times carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the UKRI:

• Code of Conduct
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy
• Health and Safety policy
• Data Protection policy

Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between you and your manager. The above lists are not exhaustive, and you are required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, co‑operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post, the MRC and UKRI.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re‑run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world‑class innovation and collaboration opportunities and can develop their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council. In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre‑employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re‑run security clearance as required during the course of employment.