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 Science groups. 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 you will join one of our departments – 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

Graduate placements are available in the following departments (to find out more information please click on the department name):

• Time and Frequency
• Data Science
• Quantum Technologies
• Electromagnetic & Electrochemical Technologies: (Electrochemistry Group & Electromagnetic Technologies Group)
• Chemical and Biological Sciences
• Medical, Marine and Nuclear
• Atmospheric and Environmental Science
• Thermal and Radiometric Metrology

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 analysing complex data sets such as (e.g., satellite imagery or instrument readings) which may lead to developing and creating new software tools. A key part of the role will be ensuring you are adhering to our Health & Safety and Quality systems which will help you produce accurate and repeatable results.

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
• Annual pay reviews (non-contractual)
• 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
• Free parking on site
• Located in South West London, our main site in Teddington is one of the most advanced metrology facilities in the world

About the process

• Application form with cover letter
• Online Assessment
• Your first telephone 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!