Research Engineer – Connectivity & Smart Devices

Centrica plc; Clewer Village; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working pattern

Opportunity to publish research

Competitive salary and benefits

Exposure to smart energy devices and标准

Job summary

Centrica plc is seeking a Research Engineer – Connectivity & Smart Devices to explore how connected devices and protocols can support the energy transition. You’ll research, prototype and publish findings that drive practical experiments and technical recommendations.

Work combines hands-on prototyping with formal analysis, collaborating across Energised Futures and external partners to deliver end‑to‑end energy use cases and robust solutions.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, Embedded Systems or related.
• Master’s degree desirable but not essential; PhD advantageous but not mandatory.
• Equivalent industrial research, product‑development or experimental‑engineering experience valued.

Responsibilities

• Research connectivity technologies, evaluate performance, security and scalability.
• Prototype systems using Raspberry Pi, embedded Linux and edge gateways.
• Develop software for device communication, data acquisition and testing.
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers and external partners; produce reports and demonstrations.
• Contribute to reference architectures and interoperability standards.

Skills

Networking knowledge

Python

Rust

C/C++

Embedded Linux

Raspberry Pi

Device communication protocols

Troubleshooting hardware/software

Cybersecurity awareness

Technical reporting

Education

BSc in CS/CE/EE/ET or related

Master’s degree desirable

PhD advantageous

Tools

AWS IoT

Azure IoT

Edge computing services

Job description

Location

UK Flexible with travel as required to key hubs in Reading and Leicester

Role Overview

We are looking for a curious and hands-on Research Engineer – Connectivity & Smart Devices to investigate how connected devices, communication protocols and interoperability standards can support the energy transition. You will research, evaluate and prototype connectivity solutions for smart energy devices, including electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps, batteries, smart meters, home energy systems, sensors and edge gateways. You will work with researchers, architects, software engineers, technicians and external partners to turn emerging technologies into practical experiments, demonstrators and clear technical recommendations.

Research and Evaluation

• Research emerging connectivity technologies, communication protocols and interoperability standards
• Design and undertake technical experiments to evaluate performance, reliability, scalability, security and suitability for energy applications
• Translate experimental findings into clear recommendations for technical and non-technical stakeholders

Prototyping

• Build proof-of-concept systems using Raspberry Pi, embedded Linux, microcontrollers, edge gateways and smart energy devices
• Develop software for device communication, protocol integration, device simulation, data acquisition and automated testing
• Connect physical devices to edge and cloud platforms to demonstrate end-to-end energy use cases

Connectivity and Interoperability

• Investigate how heterogeneous devices and platforms can communicate securely and consistently
• Evaluate IoT and energy protocols such as MQTT, CoAP, Modbus, Matter, Thread, OCPP, OpenADR, EEBUS, DLMS/COSEM and IEC 61850
• Contribute to reference architectures, interface definitions, test approaches and reusable research assets

Collaboration and Communication

• Work with multidisciplinary teams across Energised Futures and Centrica
• Collaborate with universities, technology companies, research organisations and standards communities
• Produce technical reports, research papers, presentations and demonstrator documentation
• Contribute to publications, conferences and industry engagement where appropriate

Key Skills and Experience

• Good knowledge of computer networking and Internet protocols
• Programming experience in any of Python, Rust, C/C++ or another relevant systems or embedded language
• Hands‑on experience with Raspberry Pi, embedded Linux, microcontrollers or similar platforms
• Knowledge of device communication protocols and integration patterns
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware, software and connectivity problems
• Understanding of connected-device cybersecurity
• Experience conducting structured technical investigations or experimental engineering
• Ability to communicate technical findings clearly through reports, presentations and demonstrations
• Interest in smart energy devices, distributed energy resources, flexibility and the digitalisation of energy systems

Nice to Have

• Experience with electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps, smart meters, battery systems, solar inverters or home energy‑management technologies
• Knowledge of energy‑sector interoperability standards such as OCPP, OpenADR, EEBUS, SAREF, IEC 61850, IEEE 2030.5 etc
• Knowledge of AWS or Azure IoT and edge‑computing services
• Experience working with external research partners, standards organisations or collaborative innovation programmes
• Publications, patents, conference presentations or open‑source contributions

Education and Background

A degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, Embedded Systems, Energy Systems or a related subject, or equivalent professional experience

A relevant Master’s degree is desirable but not essential

A relevant PhD is advantageous, but not mandatory. Equivalent industrial research, product‑development or experimental‑engineering experience will be equally valued

Benefits

• An attractive salary and compensation package appropriate to the successful candidate’s skills and experience
• A competitive set of additional benefits, depending on the hiring location
• A flexible hybrid‑working pattern
• The opportunity to work with smart energy devices, advanced connectivity technologies and experimental test environments
• Scope to publish research, attend conferences and collaborate with academic and industry partners
• A high‑calibre multidisciplinary team in which your technical and creative input can have a visible impact
• An inclusive working environment that values different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives
• The opportunity to contribute directly to a greener, fairer energy future

Company Culture

Join us, be part of more. We’re so much more than an energy company. We’re a family of brands revolutionising how we power the planet. We're energisers. One team of 21,000 colleagues that's energising a greener, fairer future by creating an energy system that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels, whilst living our powerful commitment to igniting positive change in our communities. Here, you can find more purpose, more passion, and more potential. That’s why working here is #MoreThanACareer. We do energy differently - we do it all. We make it, store it, move it, sell it, and mend it. Want to help the world move towards Net Zero and shape the future of energy from within the UK’s leading energy providers? Energised Futures is Centrica's in‑house science, research and innovation incubator, established to systematically explore the possible and catalyse Centrica’s purpose of energising a greener, fairer future. To do this, we’ve built a dynamic and diverse team of researchers to perform cutting edge innovation across its core themes of flexibility, automation, connectivity, markets, engagement, and access, and pairing this with a strong support team to publish and promote research activities, engage with other research institutions and energy innovators, and grow our portfolio of activities. Based in Antwerp and London since 2024, we continue to grow and evolve, giving newcomers to the team the chance to play a pivotal role in shaping the team and its processes, as it in turn shapes the roadmap for the wider organisation and industry.

We’re not a perfect place – but we’re a people place. Our priority is supporting all of the different realities our people face. Life is about so much more than work. We get it. That’s why we’ve designed our total rewards to give you the flexibility to choose what you need, when you need it, making sure that you and your family are supported not only financially, but physically and emotionally too.

When it comes to energy, no one does it like us. We make it, store it, move it, sell it and mend it. We’re made up of 12 different businesses, but united by our purpose as Centrica. We’re energisers. Our journey to a greener, fairer future is powered by individuals like you. Through innovative green products, intelligent energy solutions and developing smarter ways to use and save energy, we’re not just part of the energy transition, we’re leading it. Our commitment goes beyond sustainability. Together we’re bringing our collective energies to create positive change in our local communities. If you immerse yourself in our fight to change tomorrow, you might just find your why. We’re looking for people to add to our culture – not fit in with it. We're building a community where you can be unapologetically you, where differences are celebrated, and where everyone can belong. Real inclusivity also means supporting the different realities our people face. That’s why we have the UK’s best Carers Policy and are continually building our approach to flexibility and wellbeing. Of course, we love having fun too. We’re a people place after all.