NPL is seeking an experienced Higher Scientist to join our Quantum Photonics team within our Quantum Technologies Department, based in Teddington to plan and deliver a number of technical activities to take our research to the next level. This full-time position comes with a generous salary and benefits package.

As a Higher Scientist, you'll be expected to acquire new knowledge to find solutions to advance our research. Also, if commercial opportunities arise from your work, you'll need to flag these – as this is how new products and services are born. At NPL, we learn from each other, respect each other, and work together to do better for ourselves and our customers.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Sharing your learnings so that we all benefit and mentoring those with less experience than you
• Developing partnerships to strengthen our capability
• Acting as an ambassador for our work externally and being willing to promote what we do
• Providing technical support for any bids, we may be undertaking

The team undertakes research to improve understanding of the science underpinning photonic quantum information hardware- e.g. single-photon sources and detectors, quantum key distribution and quantum communication systems, and quantum random number generators -and their applications. You will be joining the team at an exciting time, as it extends this work to construct the first quantum network testbed at NPL.

A permanent position is available to join our team of multi-disciplinary scientists and engineers. In addition to those described above, the activities of the group include test and evaluation of photonic quantum information hardware, and working with industry to provide solutions to current and future measurement challenges.

The initial focus of this position will be to develop a device-independent quantum random number generator for a broadcast service and implement a device-independent communication protocol on the NPL quantum network testbed. This activity is part of the work programme of the new EPSRC Integrated Quantum Networks Research Hub and will require close collaboration with the theory team led by Prof. Roger Colbeck at York. You will also be required to contribute to the NPL Quantum Photonics team’s overarching activity to develop the metrology to measure critical physical parameters of photonic quantum information components and systems. The role will also involve working closely with the emerging quantum industry to provide expertise to solve their measurement challenges. Your role will evolve with the technology landscape, and we are seeking someone with the potential to progress in seniority.

Our work is performed in collaboration with leading UK and international researchers from industry and academia, and our counterparts at other national laboratories. You will have the opportunity to publish your work in high-impact academic journals and present it at prestigious international conferences.  

Key responsibilities (depending on experience):

• Devising experimental methods to implement and characterise optical quantum information devices and systems
• Building experimental set-ups and bespoke instrumentation
• Designing and implementing control and data analysis software
• Analytic and numerical analysis of experimental data
• Collaborating with external partners
• Preparing and presenting project and internal reports
• Writing scientific papers and presenting at conferences
• Contributing to the drafting of international standards
• Leading cutting-edge research, recognising aspects that could be commercially viable and work to grow and maintain a strong industrial network
• Providing technical support for, or leading, winning bids in line with NPL’s growth strategy
• Working inclusively and collaboratively to develop partnership opportunities
• Representing NPL to promote our work and raise our profile