Are you interested in a career in scientific research?

At NPL, we are looking for graduates with a real passion for tackling some of the biggest challenges in industry, energy, the environment, and healthcare to join our Data Science group. We pledge that NPL will be a place to create a positive impact for the world and your career.

As a Scientist on the two-year NPL Graduate Programme – which all push the boundaries of what is possible. You’ll be matched based on your background and interest. Within your department, you’ll rotate 2 or 3 times to ensure you are getting great exposure of the work and projects happening. These rotations will fast track your development through a mix of on-the-job learning, training, and networking and aim to respond to the national challenges of:

• Prosperity: delivering measurement solutions to maximise innovation and prosperity in advanced manufacturing
• Security and resilience: managing the risks to our national security and resilience infrastructure
• Environment: science-directed measurement solutions for environment climate action and a sustainable future
• Health: supporting healthcare, life science and the bio economy

You will be working within our Data Science department at our office on the University of Strathclyde campus and will be working on data-based projects through practical and theory-based learning in the field of informatics by developing data quality frameworks, ontologies and data models to support data used in complex systems. Once you have completed the two-year programme you will join us as a permanent Scientist, with a working knowledge of complementary areas. We will provide the space and support so you can be the best version of yourself, as well as the tools to navigate the different demands of our work. More information about Data Science can be foundhere.

As a Graduate Scientist, you will have the chance to collaborate with a variety of teams, which will help build and grow your network. You’ll be expected to use logical thinking skills for designing and following a work plan, along with developing technical documents as well as scientific publications. You’ll have the opportunity to get involved with building data infrastructure for complex data application areas such as (e.g., medical device readings, satellite imagery or advanced manufacturing instrument readings) which may lead to developing and creating new software tools. Quality is a major part of our scientific delivery will be ensuring you are adhering to our Health & Safety and Quality systems which will help you produce accurate and repeatable results. There will also be occasional travel to our Teddington, Cambridge and Huddersfield sites to collaborate and engage with your colleagues within the Data Science department, the wider graduate cohort, and further NPL based collaborators.

You will also be involved in supporting our community benefit activities – this may be going to local schools, supporting community activities, or helping at large NPL events. We will provide you with the opportunity to be part of a caring and daring community that truly values you and your contribution.

What we offer

• Competitive starting salary
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and the option to buy/sell annual leave days
• 6 – 12 month tailored placements for the duration of the programme
• Pension scheme with a minimum 5% employer contribution (12% employer contribution if you elect to contribute 6%)
• Social and networking events with other graduates both on the programme and previous cohorts
• Paid disability leave
• Access to a wide array of learning and development opportunities
• Employee assistance programme
• Interest free loans (Up to £5k for season ticket loans, house purchase deposit and rental deposit)
• Bike4Work scheme
• Recognition awards
• Civil Service Sports and Leisure discounts

About the process

• Application form with cover letter
• Online Assessment
• Your first interview will be conducted via Microsoft Teams
• If you’re selected, you’ll attend an assessment centre, which will be held at our Teddington site in February / March 2025
• If successful, we look forward to welcoming you in September 2025!

We are now working in a hybrid way. We strive to offer a great work life balance - if you are looking for flexible options, we will try to make this work where possible.