Senior R&D Scientist

About Camlin

Camlin is a global technology leader that operates with the vision of bringing revolutionary products to life for a wide range of industries, including power and rail, and also has interests in a number of R&D projects in a variety of scientific sectors.

At Camlin we believe in high quality engineering and design, allowing us to develop market leading products and services. In short, we love creating value for our customers by solving difficult problems. As of now, Camlin operates in over 20 countries worldwide.🌐

What to expect day to day:

Our Applied Sciences & Technology team develops the technologies behind new and existing products. Current products include dissolved gas analysis (DGA) for high-voltage asset monitoring, fault and load management for low-voltage distribution networks, and gas sensors for biogas plants. 

You will plan and carry out experimental research into new technologies, taking ideas from first principles to a working proof of concept. Most of this work sits at early technology readiness levels (£TRL 6): feasibility studies, laboratory & field experiments, rapid prototypes and first demonstrators. Your results will help decide which technologies and techniques we develop into products. 

The role suits a physicist or chemist with a strong experimental background, or an engineer with hands-on research and development experience in fields such as aerospace, photonics, semiconductors or scientific instrumentation. You will plan your own work, make careful measurements, analyse data rigorously and explain clearly what the results mean. The team is collaborative and hands-on, with laboratory, test and rapid prototyping facilities on site. 

Example technology areas include: photonics, spectroscopy, materials science, and electromechanical systems. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and run feasibility studies and experimental investigations into new sensing and measurement technologies, from literature review and first-principles analysis to lab proof-of-concept. 

• Design experiments and test plans with clear objectives and success criteria. 

• Build, commission and operate test set-ups. 

• Characterise, calibrate and linearise sensor and instrument responses; analyse data statistically and quantify measurement uncertainty. 

• Interpret results critically, including root cause analysis when results are unexpected, and present data through clear visualisations. 

• Write detailed technical reports and present findings and recommendations to technical and non-specialist audiences. 

• Design and build prototypes and demonstrators with mechanical, electronics and software colleagues, using rapid prototyping such as 3D printing and in-house CNC. 

• Compare technical options, identify risks and recommend which concepts should progress into product development. 

• Work safely in the laboratory, including with lasers and electrical equipment. 

• Keep accurate records and contribute to invention disclosures and external collaborations where appropriate. 

Key Competencies:

• Rigour in measurement, analysis and record-keeping. 

• Curiosity about how things work, and willingness to test your own assumptions. 

• Ability to plan and pursue research independently and make timely decisions. 

• Willingness to put ideas forward for open debate and to change course when the data says so. 

• Clear written and verbal communication, including with non-specialists. 

• Works well in a small multidisciplinary team and with external partners. 

• Willingness to learn new skills as projects require. 

Essential Criteria:

• Masters or PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering or equivalent. 

• Experience of research and development in an industrial setting, including product design or taking a technology towards a product. 

• Experience of 3D mechanical CAD. 

• Programming experience in one or more languages for data acquisition, analysis or instrument control, with Python preferred. 

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of electronics design using ECAD tools, including schematic capture and PCB layout. 

• Experience of digital signal processing techniques, such as filtering, spectral analysis and phase-sensitive detection. 

• Experience of embedded programming in C or C++. 

• Experience of rapid prototyping, such as 3D printing and CNC machining. 

• Experience of working with lasers and of optical system design. 

• Knowledge of spectroscopic techniques such as Raman, FTIR or photoacoustic spectroscopy. 

Our Values

• We work together
• We believe in people
• We won’t accept the ‘way it has always been done’
• We listen to learn
• We’re trying to do the right thing

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Individuals seeking employment at Camlin are considered without regards to race, colour, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital states, ancestry, physical or mental disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.