Ultrasound / Acoustics Engineer
Contract: 9 months
Status: Outside IR35
Location: Reading (hybrid)
Start: ASAP
Rate: £50-£70 per hour (DOE)
Project Overview
We are seeking an experienced Ultrasound / Acoustics Engineer to support the development of advanced sensing and measurement systems based on ultrasonic and acoustic principles. The project involves the design, modelling, testing and validation of acoustic systems used to extract physical measurements in demanding environments.
Applications may include NDT, medical imaging, industrial sensing, flow measurement, structural monitoring, defence or subsea systems, with a strong emphasis on performance, repeatability and reliability.
The engineer will work across the full development lifecycle, collaborating with electronics, mechanical and software teams to deliver acoustic solutions from concept through to validated hardware.
Technical Scope
Development of ultrasound / acoustic sensing systems for measurement, imaging or inspection
Transducer selection, characterisation and integration (piezoelectric, MEMS, or equivalent)
Acoustic modelling and simulation (wave propagation, attenuation, reflections, coupling)
Design of excitation and receive chains (pulse generation, amplification, filtering, timing)
Signal processing for acoustic data (TOF, phase, amplitude, frequency-domain analysis)
System-level testing, calibration and performance validation
Operation in challenging environments (temperature, pressure, noise, mechanical coupling)
Close collaboration with electronics, firmware, mechanical and systems engineers
Clear technical documentation for design reviews, validation and handover
Required Experience
Strong background in ultrasound or acoustics engineering, either theoretical or applied
Practical experience working with ultrasonic transducers and acoustic measurement systems
Understanding of acoustic wave physics and signal propagation
Experience with lab testing, instrumentation and data analysis
Ability to work across disciplines and contribute at system level
Comfortable operating in structured engineering environments with formal documentation