Systems Engineer, Precision Timing & Critical Infrastructure

National Physical Laboratory; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is seeking a Systems Engineer to join our Time & Frequency department. You will apply engineering principles to define concepts, architectures and requirements for high‑reliability timing systems in a UK government-supported programme.

You will model, analyse and document system behaviours, interfaces, and performance, while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to reduce risk and ensure traceability through the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering or closely related discipline.
• Collaborative, proactive approach; comfortable with ambiguity.
• Experience applying systems engineering to the design and development of complex or multidisciplinary systems.
• Experience with early lifecycle activities: requirements definition, system architecture, modelling, or functional decomposition.
• Experience with complex technical systems (instrumentation, research facilities, or bespoke engineered systems).
• Familiarity with systems development approaches (V-model, iterative, or agile).
• Ability to produce clear and structured technical artefacts (requirements, architectures, models).
• Time and frequency measurement, time scales or precision metrology (desirable).
• Real-time monitoring and control of electronic or optical hardware (desirable).
• Satellite communications, optical fibre networks or GNSS-based systems (desirable).
• Research or laboratory-based engineering environments (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Supporting early lifecycle systems engineering activities: concept definition, functional decomposition, and requirements development.
• Defining system and subsystem architectures, including boundaries, interfaces, and packaging with multidisciplinary teams.
• Modelling and analysing system behaviour, interfaces, and performance to inform design decisions and reduce risk.
• Identifying, assessing, and communicating technical risks, assumptions, and trade-offs clearly and proportionately.
• Producing clear, structured systems engineering artefacts (requirements, architectures, models) in line with internal processes, to time, cost, and quality.
• Ensuring traceability from user needs through to system requirements and design decisions across the product lifecycle.

Skills

Systems engineering

Early lifecycle

System architecture

Modelling & decomposition

Requirements definition

Agile / V-model

Technical reporting

Education

Engineering degree or closely related discipline

Job description

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is seeking a Systems Engineer to join our Time & Frequency department. You will apply engineering principles to define concepts, architectures and requirements for high‑reliability timing systems in a UK government-supported programme.

You will model, analyse and document system behaviours, interfaces, and performance, while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to reduce risk and ensure traceability through the lifecycle.