Senior Engineer - Costing and Estimating

Through our vital research, the National Physical Laboratory is helping support scientific and commercial innovations, international trade, environmental protection and health and wellbeing. As our Senior Engineer you'll be joining our Engineering Manufacture group, this role will have a strong focus on costing and estimation. This is a full-time role based in Teddington. In this Senior Engineer role, you will be developing and applying leading-edge knowledge, techniques, and technology. Your work will have a tangible impact on our business and the UK as a whole. With your passion for your area of expertise, you will be continually learning and sharing with the broader team to increase their knowledge as well. What you'll be doing:

• Working directly with internal customers and the design team focusing on requirements, understanding what is important to them quickly, and ensuring successful delivery for the department and the customer.
• Collaborating within the Engineering Department supporting design and project activities, e.g. advising on Design for Manufacture issues, and input to project governance such as Manufacturing Readiness Reviews.
• Using your knowledge and experience in engineering manufacturing and estimating techniques to assess manufacturing projects, working from CAD models, drawings and written specifications to produce manufacturing plans, develop cost estimates, budgets and delivery schedules.
• Developing detailed methods for the manufacture of bespoke one-off/ low batch number mechanical manufacturing projects, in a research-led environment.
• Working with manufacturing engineering technicians to ensure successful delivery of projects, products and components to cost, schedule and quality.
• Maintaining and developing relationships with key sub-contract suppliers
We are now working in a hybrid way, with a mix of remote and office working. We strive to offer a great work life balance. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in. Due to the requirements of the role, it is anticipated that you will spend a majority of your time on site here in Teddington. Please note, this role will be known internally as 'Senior Engineer'.


• Highly proficient in assessing resource requirements for manufacturing projects down to component level, identifying manufacturing operations, labour content, tooling, materials and sub-contracted elements.
• Estimating and costing techniques and their application
• Variety of manufacturing methods using both CNC and conventional metal cutting machine tools, CAD to CAM programming and machining techniques, applied to a wide range of engineering materials.
• Strong people management experience and skills to work across functions and multidisciplinary teams and to influence people outside the direct line management chain.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to present complex information effectively
• Engineering Degree (or equivalent) level qualification
• Proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office
• Proficiency in use of a databased production control/MRP system.
• Wider knowledge and experience with electrical and electronics manufacture/assembly are an advantage.
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others. To work in this role, you will need to have an SC clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled, black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditation to ensure we're creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page. We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we're always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.