Description
British Geological Survey
Geomagnetism Instrumentation & 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 (Heriot-Watt University Campus)
Closing date: Thursday 5th March 2026
Interviews: will be held on 23rd & 24th March 2026 in Edinburgh.
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. The position will be key to ensuring continued, uninterrupted, 24/7 operation of the instrumentation, infrastructure and telemetry of the Geomagnetism programme to the highest international standards.
As well as providing opportunities for travel and fieldwork, the primary focus of the role will be on the preparation, testing, calibration and deployment of instrumentation providing real-time data for research and commercial applications.
This is an opportunity for a candidate willing to undertake the relevant training in instrumentation, engineering, IT, and geophysical measurement to gain unique and varied engineering knowledge and skills in geomagnetic observatory operations.
Key duties and responsibilities
* 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.
About you
Candidates should have a BSc/Diploma or equivalent in engineering, physics, geophysics, or a similar relevant discipline. You should be able to demonstrate a practical aptitude for assembling or maintaining scientific instrumentation (or systems of similar complexity). You will be comfortable manipulating data sets in a common scientific programming language. Being willing and able to learn new scientific theories and engineering skills will be a crucial part of being successful in this role.
The post offers a balance of laboratory, office and fieldwork and will suit a meticulous, resourceful, self-motivated person who is willing to travel and work for prolonged periods in the outdoors.
You will be expected to communicate engineering problems and concepts to your peers and show examples of technical problem-solving ability.
Whilst being able to work on your own and show initiative, you must also be comfortable working as part of a team and be a strong communicator, both verbally and in writing.
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 well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential and desirable criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV. A valid UK driving licence is a key requirement so please confirm this in the application.
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning
A list of benefits below:
* An outstanding defined salary pension scheme.
* 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
* Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
* Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
* Flexible working options.
Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance
For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) OR
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact.
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit or contact