Geomagnetism Instrumentation and Field Engineer
Grade: UKRI Pay Band C/S1
Salary: £33,838 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time – 37 hours a week
Location: BGS Offices in Edinburgh
Closing date: Thursday 5th March 2026
A great benefits package is offered, including an outstanding pension scheme (with an generous employer contribution – on average 27% of your pay), 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
About the role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Instrumentation & Field Engineer to join our Geomagnetism Team. The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic and multi-disciplinary team of engineering and science staff, with a specific role in the development and operation of BGS's global network of magnetic observatories, magnetic and magnetotelluric surveying, and space weather monitoring.
Key duties:
Developing the instrument engineering skills necessary to maintain and improve the delivery of real-time geomagnetic data from the BGS observatory network as part of a wider engineering team
Assembly of instrumentation components and cabling, with development opportunity to an engineering design role
Test, verification and deployment of new instrumentation and equipment
Travel and fieldwork in support of BGS Geomagnetism UK and overseas observatory operations, magnetotelluric surveying and magnetic north resurvey
Procurement of instrumentation, equipment and electronics laboratory tools, parts and consumables
Maintenance of UKAS-traceable calibration standards and QA records for electronics laboratory and observatory test equipment
Quality and performance monitoring of real-time magnetic observatory data systems in co-operation with data analysis staff and reacting to system failures.
The following specific essential and desirable skills criteria for this post will be assessed at shortlist (S) stage, interview (I) stage, or both (S&I).
Essential
Be educated to BSc/Diploma level, or equivalent, in an engineering, physics, or geophysics discipline. (S)
Have practical experience in or extensive knowledge of engineering systems in areas such as instrumentation, electrical systems, communications, IT or similar (S&I)
Have experience in scientific computer programming, familiarity with scientific data analysis techniques and demonstrable programming skills in one or more scientific computing language (e.g. C++, Java, Python, Matlab, R) (S&I)
Be able to travel extensively in the UK and overseas; be prepared to work alone in remote environments; be resilient and physically competent in rough terrain; and willing to occasionally work out of office hours. (I)
Have good communication skills and ability to present work clearly to experts and non-experts alike. (S&I)
Possess a full driving licence valid in the UK (S&I)
You will be committed to a diverse and inclusive approach to work in the geosciences (S&I)
Desirable
Have had experience in the preparation of instrumentation or sensor networks, particularly the assembly, testing and/or design of electronic or electrical equipment (S&I)
Experience in managing or contributing to safety or quality control processes (S&I)
Be able to work unsupervised, prioritise tasks, and manage own time and workload to meet deadlines (S&I)
A valid UK driving licence is a key requirement so please confirm this in the application.
Interviews will be held on 23th & 24th March 2026 in Edinburgh.