National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

Permanent

Full time (37 hours per week)

£43, 703 - £47, 941

Who are we?

We are the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) - the UK’s leading institution for integrated coastal and deep ocean research. Through our ground-breaking research, collaboration, and game-changing innovation we work to gain a deeper understanding of our ocean, helping every living thing on our planet flourish.

We are made up of a dynamic and vibrant community focused on solving challenging long-term marine science problems, underpinning international and UK public policy, business and societal outcomes.

The ocean has the potential to provide the solutions to so many of the social, economic and environmental challenges we face worldwide. To truly harness the value of the ocean, we put ocean research, science and discovery at the heart of our culture.

Join us in shaping the future of oceanographic research and contribute your unique perspective to our organisation.

About the role

The Ocean Technology and Engineering group at NOC invents and provides new technology to enable important measurements for marine science. Technology that we develop has been used all over the world’s oceans, to study climate change and carbon transport, to measure ecosystem health and biodiversity, and to help researchers understand processes at both the local and global scale. 

We are seeking an R&D focused engineer with experience in the improvement and production of prototypes to assist in the creation and advancement of our technology. You will be a key link between prototype development (design/manufacture) and scientific application. As we are a research group, our systems are made in small numbers, but their use in scientific studies in remote ocean environments means that reliability and robustness are critical. This role will include learning about and contributing to the building of autonomous sensor systems, analysing failures after production or use, identifying areas for improvement, and, with support from colleagues, undertaking experiments and design work to implement those improvements. Our instruments often apply complex interdisciplinary measurement techniques, drawing in expertise from custom mechanical and electronic systems, as well as microfluidics, optics, chemical assays, and materials science.

About you

You will have experience with evaluating and improving production processes and feeding into interdisciplinary design problems, ideally in a small-scale prototyping environment. You will be meticulous and careful, and would enjoy engaging, practical hands-on work. 

You will bring creativity and problem-solving skills to tackle complex engineering challenges and support root cause analysis, while also influencing best practices within the team. You should be able to contribute to multiple projects simultaneously, balancing timelines and resources (with support from your manager and colleagues) while maintaining quality outputs. The work that we do is diverse and covers many different interdisciplinary subfields, so we recognise that training will be required, and provided, for the successful candidate. Familiarity with one or more of the following skills would be an asset: soldering, design or assembly of circuits; assembly, design or testing of precision mechanical components, microfluidics, or optical systems; materials chemistry as it relates to mechanical production; experience with instruments meant for a harsh environment.

You will have the opportunity to work with a highly interdisciplinary team which is at the forefront of marine technology development.  Willingness to learn new skills and develop familiarity with new technical areas is essential. Good documentation (, technical report writing, SOPs, engineering documentation) and communication skills will be needed to succeed in this position. Over time, you should become familiar with the group’s projects and suggest ways in which your work could better support them or improve standard practices.

Participation in field testing of new equipment, either shore-based or at sea, is an option for the successful candidate if it matches their interests, but is not a requirement for this position. 

Why NOC?

We offer a generous set of benefits, including:

- 30 days contractual annual leave, plus 3.5 extra closure days and bank holidays

- a 10% employer contribution pension scheme

- access to our Employee Assistance Programme, offering free and anonymous support on mental, physical, emotional, health and financial issues

- access to a flexible benefits portal offering online discounts, cashback and eGift cards

- a Cycle2Work scheme allowing employees to acquire bikes and accessories

- a great working environment with a number of social events, including summer and Christmas celebrations

- we are proud to be a Living Wage Employer

Location

This position will be based in Southampton. The centre is well connected by public transport and has ample cycle parking in addition to free onsite car-parking with over 40 EV charging points.

We have a hybrid working approach where for most positions staff can work from home up to 2 days per week. If you are interested in this position, but require a more flexible working arrangement, please contact the recruitment team using the contact details below.    

We may be able to offer financial support for applicants who will need to relocate for this position.  

Submitting an application 

Please click ‘Apply for this job’ and submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the NOC recruitment team at careers@ / 07955 851648.

Before submitting your application please ensure you have reviewed the attached job description and person specification. 

We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position, as we strive to create a supportive and equitable environment where all voices are valued and heard.

Those seeking employment at NOC are considered solely on their qualifications, skills and experience, without regard to gender, gender identity, age, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, relationship status, family status (including pregnancy / maternity leave) or any other protected characteristic.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the position and declare a disability. NOC is an Investors in People organisation.

Date advert posted: 7 October 2025.

Closing date: 4 November 2025. This vacancy may close earlier depending on the number of applicants. 

Please note we are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this position.