BGS Seismic Network Engineer
Grade: UKRI Pay Band C/S1
Salary: £33,838 per annum
Hours: Full time – 37 hours a week (the role attracts a large amount of fieldwork and therefore part time hours are not supported.)
Location: BGS Edinburgh, Heriot Watt University Campus
Closing date: Monday 31st August 2026
Interviews: Thursday 17th September 2026

A great benefits package is offered! including an outstanding pension scheme (with a generous employer contribution – on average 27% of your pay), 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays!

About the role

A vacancy has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Seismic Network Engineer. Providing on-site field engineering support to the BGS’s seismic monitoring network. You will be required to monitor the quality and performance of the real-time seismic monitoring system in co-operation with data analysis staff and react to system failures accordingly. The construction and installation of permanent and temporary seismic stations will also be a significant component of the work.

Key responsibilities:

The role will require you to work with;

Geophysical sensors for measuring ground velocity and ground acceleration, together with associated digitisers and data loggers.
Fibre optic cable, including making fibre optic splices.
Ethernet and serial (rs232/rs422) line drivers.
4G, satellite and ADSL data links, including the configuration of their associated routers/modems (mainly manufactured by Cisco and Teltonika).
Off-grid solar/battery power systems.
Low voltage DC power systems.
TCP/IP network hardware, its configuration and firewalling.

And

Provide on-site field engineering support to the BGS’s earthquake monitoring network predominantly in the UK, involving up to 70 days per year away from home.
Travel throughout the UK in all seasons, including driving to remote locations, off-road driving and undertaking physically demanding work in potentially challenging conditions
Monitor the quality and performance of received data in co-operation with data analysis staff and react to system failures and drops in performance.
Carry out the installation and removal of the BGS’s seismic monitoring network stations as required, including the construction of seismic vaults and other on-site structures for housing equipment.
Oversee contractors particularly in relation to telecoms services and civils work (having cable laid, small building construction, mains electrical provision, concreting and excavation work).
Liaise with equipment manufacturers and communications service providers to ensure the timely resolution of equipment faults.
Oversee and contribute to the maintenance of the seismology asset tracking and records systems to ensure that the status of all the Earthquake Seismology equipment and seismic sites are accurately recorded and up to date.
Comply with and contribute to health and safety procedures relating to fieldwork, remote working, workshop and laboratory activities.
Ensure that sufficient levels of equipment and consumables are maintained to ensure the efficient operation of the section.
Maintain and author internal documentation for the use and construction of equipment used in the earthquake monitoring network. Where appropriate this must be accessible to a non-technical audience.
Problem-solve technical issues as they arise
Work with the general-public during the process of obtaining permission from landowners to install or maintain seismic sites.
Testing of geophysical and other electronic equipment to verify function before deployment.

About you

Candidates should have an understanding of engineering systems in an area such as electronics, communications, IT or ideally a combination of these. A Degree/Diploma in a science/engineering discipline or equivalent work experience is expected. You must be able to work well on your own initiative, and as part of a team. A demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise your work in an environment relevant to the role is essential.

Please note – For this role some of our work involves accessing nuclear facilities. You will be required to undergo periodic security screening/vetting and drug testing. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during your employment.

The following essential skills criteria for this post will be assessed at shortlist (S) stage, interview (I) stage, or both (S&I).

Essential

An understanding of engineering systems in an area such as electronics, communications, IT or similar. Ideally, this should be in areas relevant to the key responsibilities of the role and include experience in those areas (S&I).
Hold a full driving licence valid in the UK, ideally with off road driving experience (S&I).
Degree/Diploma in a relevant science/engineering discipline or equivalent work experience. Ideally this should be relevant to the key responsibilities (S&I).
Good communication skills and able to communicate engineering problems and concepts to both specialists and non-specialists (S&I)
Able to drive yourself across the UK (including at short notice and willing to work in remote outdoor locations in less than ideal conditions which at times can be physically demanding (S&I).
Able to work well on own initiative as well as in a team (S&I).
Ability to plan and prioritise your work in an environment relevant to the role (S&I).
Willingness to comply and develop relevant health and safety procedures. Ideally, to include experience of Health and Safety environments similar to those detailed in the key responsibilities (S&I).
Knowledge of instrument testing procedures (ideally in areas detailed in the key responsibilities, and to ideally to include experience) (S&I).
Ability to problem solve technical issues (ideally with experience detailed in the key responsibilities). (S&I).
You will be committed to a diverse and inclusive approach to work in the geosciences (S&I).

A well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV.

If you experience any issues applying for this role, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is a world leading geological survey that provides a core science mission to advise government of science related to the subsurface and its interfaces and also undertakes applied research for solutions to earth and environmental processes, both in the UK and globally. It is funded directly by UKRI as well as through research grants and via private sector contracts.

BGS has an annual budget of approximately £60 million and employs 650 people. It has two main sites, a head office in Keyworth near Nottingham and the Lyell Centre, which is a joint collaboration with Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. BGS works with more than 150 private sector organisations as well as having close links with 40 universities and sponsors approximately 100 PhD students each year.

We strive to promote equality and diversity across our organisation in order to continuously improve our scientific and organisational efficiency. As such, we aim to have a workforce with employees from all backgrounds with people who are passionate about earth science and who share our dedication to work for the good of the environment and the benefit of society.

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