Job Description and Person Specification
IRCXXXXX
Job Description
Department / Division:
Directorate of Science and Technology (DST)
/ Ocean Technology and Engineering Group (OTEG)
Post Title:
Operational Observation Systems Engineer (1FTE)
Grade:
NERC 6/5 depending on experience
Posts Responsible to (and
Level):
Head of Electronics and Software Subgroup (NERC 5)
Posts Responsible for (and
Level):
None
Job Purpose:
To lead the development and deployment of instrumentation and electronic systems for sustained
observing systems.
This includes:
 Specification of off the shelf platforms, data recording and telemetry systems
 Design, development and test of systems that integrate platforms, sensors and telemetry
 Development of new instrumentation, interfaces, data recording and telemetry systems
 Development and maintenance of embedded and application specific software
 Testing and fault finding
 Field support and deployment of these observation systems
You will be responsible for developing and building (or procuring) such systems, testing them and
deploying them at sea for prolonged periods. You will also have responsibility for managing the flow of
near real time data from these systems, and presenting this data to science customers.
You will disseminate this work internally and externally through training, documentation, and peer
reviewed publications. You will support others in the group through training, design engineering,
fieldwork, administrative functions and supervision of students and junior staff as required.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities





% Time
Design, develop, procure/manufacture, prepare, deploy and validate
instrumentation for sustained observing systems.
Participate in the deployment and operation of these instrumentation systems.
Consult with science customers to agree specifications and prepare costing
estimates.
Work as part of a team by developing and disseminating best practice; by
maintaining facilities; by providing training, engineering, fieldwork, and
administrative support
Prepare documentation, personal log book, reports and papers.
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55
20
10
10
5
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)

Internal
 You will liaise closely with customers in DST paying particular attention to their current and future
instrumentation needs.
 You will share resources, training, expertise and approaches with the members of OTEG team
 You will maintain strong links with the National Marine Facilities Division, collaborating on
deployments and wherever possible transitioning systems you work on to routine support by
NMFD (e.g. as part of the marine equipment pool)

External
 Together with wider support from OTEG, DST technical support and NMFD you will develop and
maintain observational systems for project partners external to DST (e.g. UK HEIs and international
partners)
 You will keep abreast of developments in commercially available oceanographic instrumentation
and sustained observing systems developed by other oceanographic institutions and companies.
Special Requirements:

All staff are expected to:
 Positively support equality of opportunity and equity of treatment to colleagues and students in
accordance with the NERC Equal Opportunities policy;
 Help maintain a safe working environment by:
o Attending training in Health and Safety requirements as necessary, both on appointment
and as changes in duties and techniques demand;
o Following local codes of safe working practices
 Ensure that their actions conform with the overall environmental aims of the Centre and minimise
their environmental impact
 Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your Manager.
 Comply with the NERC Core Expectations
This job description reflects the core activities of the post, as the Centre and the post-holder develops
there will inevitably be some changes in the emphasis to the duties of the post. NERC expects that the
post-holder will recognise this and adopt a flexible approach to work and be willing to participate in
training where necessary. Should significant changes to the job description become necessary, the postholder will be consulted and the changes reflected in a revised job description.
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
How to be
assessed
Personal Skills / Qualities:
Proven ability to solve research, engineering,
manufacture and systems problems.
√
Able to take initiative and to respond to
opportunities
√
Ability to get the best out of colleagues and coworkers as both a leader and member of a team.
√
2
CV, portfolio,
interview,
psychometric
test, written
test, references
Ability to manage own time effectively
√
Ability to provide training and constructive
feedback to colleagues
√
Flexibility and able to adapt to changing project
requirements
√
Able to put design solutions to the team and
pursue a constructive and objective discussion of
the pros and cons.
√
Knowledge & Experience related to position:
Intimate and advanced knowledge of embedded
systems including hardware and software and in
particular the C programming language
CV, portfolio,
interview,
written test,
references
√
More than 3 years experience of system
integration including sensors with logging and
communication systems, vehicles and power
systems
√
Experience of >50% of the following software (or
similar):
 Visual Studio for Windows application
development
 Cadence OrCAD
 Lab View
 MATLAB
 Autodesk Inventor (3D CAD)
√
Experience of >50% the following
 Analogue electronics design
 Digital electronics design
 Electronic test and measurement
 Windows application programming in C# .NET
and ideally WPF
 PCB Layout including high speed digital and
analogue
 Writing applications for cloud services
 Satellite communications systems
√
Qualifications:
CV, references
Degree in Electronic Engineering (Masters, or
bachelors at 2.1 or above)
√
Presence / Communication Skills:
(Including Planning and Organising)
Ability to plan own work and the work of others:
both in projects you lead, and by commissioning
work for completion by other teams and
organisations
√
√
3
CV, portfolio,
interview,
psychometric
test, written
test, references
Project management: Ability to construct and
maintain project plans, financial plan and
statements, critical path analysis and resource
scheduling.
√
Ability to provide reports on project progress in a
timely manner to senior staff and committees.
√
Ability to manage and deliver on multiple
projects and work packages running in parallel
√
Excellent written and spoken English
√
Ability to make clear concise and informative
presentations about your work, and research
problems you face
√
Ability to discuss and resolve complex technical
challenges
√
Ability to diffuse and resolve conflict
Special Requirements:
CV, interview,
references
Willingness to work off-site and outside of
normal hours from time to time as required.
√
Willingness to work at sea for short periods, this
will require mandatory training in Personal
Survival Techniques and the ability to pass an
ENG1 medical examination
√
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