Project jobs in United Kingdom

Every minute of every day, in nearly every country across the globe, Smiths Detection people and technology make the world a safer place. We safeguard people, business and infrastructure with the latest innovations and screening technology for aviation, ports, borders, defense, and security across 55 countries around the globe.

• Global leader: We impact critical systems every day with sites in 17 countries and six centers of research excellence. From pioneering to powering life‑changing innovation, we’re delivering threat detection and screening solutions to safeguard the world from threat.
• Digital growth: A key part of our capability is the integration of digital technology across our business and our operations in more than 55 countries, will be critical to our continued success.
• Exciting opportunities: Our growth is creating exciting opportunities to work with experts in physics, chemistry, electronics, mechanics, production, computer science, and AIML.
• International environment: With some projects, work requires global collaboration and the potential to travel and grow with the business.

We have an exciting opportunity here at Smiths Detection for a Field Scientist to join our Technology Projects team on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract basis. Working from our Hemel Hempstead R&D site, it will also include regular visits to other 3rd‑party laboratories. This really is a fantastic opportunity to join an expanding team where you will play an integral part in providing scientific expertise and support, covering items such as technology and product development and support for current/future chemical, explosives and narcotics detection products. You will also be instrumental in the planning and execution of experiments, analysis of data and instrument/experimental design.

• Support scientific aspects of R&D and product development, including prolonged campaigns at third‑party facilities.
• Provide scientific input to the design, build and testing of experimental equipment.
• Plan and conduct original research for the purposes of design and performance enhancement.
• Critically appraise experimental data and theory and provide guidance based on interpretation of data.
• Identify gaps and propose additional work.
• Contribute to project planning and review activities.
• Support scientific aspects of products throughout their lifecycle.
• Manage own time and work with a high degree of autonomy; may lead work of a technician.
• Provide support to off‑site trials and tests.
• Work in accordance with local company policies and procedures.
• Provide hands‑on support and up‑to‑date technical advice to Technical Authorities, Programme and Product Managers at proposal, design specification, development, testing and production stages and assist in bid preparation.

• PhD in Chemistry or Physics highly desirable. Documented hands‑on laboratory experience essential.
• Analytical instrument design and operation knowledge; ion mobility spectrometry desirable, but not necessary.
• Demonstration of experimental and data analysis skills.
• Proposes innovative ideas for original research.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to interact effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• Must be a motivated and self‑starting individual capable of driving themselves to succeed in project goals as part of a multi‑disciplinary project team.
• Able to successfully carry out projects/assignments of reasonable scope.
• Suggests and contributes to determining general approach and specific solutions to technical problems.
• Basic knowledge of other related disciplines.
• Frequent use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.
• Provides solutions to a variety of technical problems of moderate scope and complexity.
• Plans, progresses and delivers required work from instructions.
• Able to work independently day‑to‑day, makes recommendations based on results and recognizes when to review or elevate.
• Well organized and adaptable, able to prioritize tasks and work effectively as part of a team.
• Makes contributions to determining feasibility of achieving goals/objectives.
• Follows established procedures, makes suggestions on how to develop solutions.