Sustaining Scientist: Advanced Detection & Data

Smiths Detection; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Detection is seeking a Sustaining Scientist to join our Portfolio Team. You will support existing detection products, analyze data, and help drive ongoing development and performance improvements across aviation, ports, and security applications.

The role requires designing experiments, applying advanced instrumentation, and communicating findings to engineers, managers, regulators and customers. A PhD or Master’s with experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience planning and conducting experimental investigations.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.
• Experience working with analytical instrumentation in a laboratory environment.
• The ability to design experiments from a high-level problem statement.
• Excellent technical report writing and presentation skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• A proactive and inquisitive approach to problem solving.
• The confidence to challenge assumptions, identify gaps and propose solutions.

Responsibilities

• Designing and executing experiments to investigate product performance and solve technical challenges.
• Analysing complex datasets and translating findings into practical recommendations.
• Supporting the introduction of new capabilities, chemicals and detection requirements into existing products.
• Contributing to algorithm development and performance optimisation activities.
• Providing scientific expertise to Product Managers, engineers, customers and regulators.
• Producing clear technical reports, presentations and documentation.
• Investigating product issues and identifying root causes through structured experimentation.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across product management, engineering and science functions.
• Occasionally supporting external testing, trials and industry events.

Skills

Experimental design

Data analysis

Report writing

Communication

Problem solving

Education

PhD in Chemistry or Physics (preferred)

Master's + industrial lab experience

Tools

Analytical instrumentation

Mass spectrometry

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)

Spectroscopy

Computational data analysis

Job description

Smiths Detection is seeking a Sustaining Scientist to join our Portfolio Team. You will support existing detection products, analyze data, and help drive ongoing development and performance improvements across aviation, ports, and security applications.

The role requires designing experiments, applying advanced instrumentation, and communicating findings to engineers, managers, regulators and customers. A PhD or Master’s with experience is preferred.