About You

Essential:

• BSc (2:1 or above) in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Space Engineering, Computer Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, or a closely related discipline or relevant equivalent experience.
• Good understanding of, and demonstrable experience in, detector data readout, data acquisition or data handling systems, ideally for imaging sensors or similar scientific instrumentation.
• Experience designing or working with data readout architectures such as HDR imaging, read-up-the-ramp, or non-destructive readout techniques.
• Experience debugging detector or instrumentation issues using laboratory measurements, oscilloscopes, logic analysers, protocol analysers, telemetry or engineering data.
• Experience with FPGA development (VHDL/Verilog or HLS) or close interfacing with FPGA-based systems.
• Demonstrable professional experience developing scientific or engineering software in Python and/or C/C++, including data processing of large datasets generated by scientific instrumentation.
• Experience using Git (or other version control systems) within collaborative software development projects involving peer review and controlled release processes.
• Ability to write software from first principles without reliance on generative AI tools, demonstrated through previous employment, academic work or technical assessment.
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills, with a demonstrated logical and rigorous approach to work.
• A strong commitment to excellence in inclusive learning and teaching for a diverse student population.

Desirable:

• A PhD in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Space Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline, involving the development, characterisation or operation of scientific instrumentation.
• Experience with CMOS and/or CCD imaging sensors, and their associated readout electronics.
• Experience managing, processing or curating scientific calibration data, ideally from space missions such as SMILE.
• Knowledge of on-board data processing, compression or data reduction techniques for high data-rate instruments.
• Knowledge of, or some experience in, Astronomy/Space Science or applications of high performance imaging sensors.
• Electronics experience in fields related to CCD and CMOS imagers, including analogue and digital practice, plus data acquisition.
• Experience contributing to software or firmware releases through formal peer review, issue tracking and configuration control processes.
• Ability to learn quickly and undertake bespoke research as required.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Working location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that the role holder will be required to work from our Milton Keynes campus at least 3 days per week, to support with laboratory-based work.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

If shortlisted, we anticipate interviews taking place between 1st and 6th October.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented. If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• Supporting Statement (Your Supporting Statement should be no more than 1500 words and should outline how your current skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria listed above).

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.