Careers

EI is an international market leader in high-end, high-value scientific instrumentation. Part of the Hong Kong headquartered global Techcomp Instrument Group, we operate within the Techcomp Europe (TEU) division, which consists of a group of scientific instrument manufacturing businesses with production sites across six countries in Europe and with a comprehensive commercial network with sales offices and distribution partners across the globe.

We are immensely proud of our heritage; for 50 years we have been supplying customers at leading-edge research institutes, academic and industrial facilities around the world. Our products combine customisation, user-friendliness, and high performance, and are experiencing higher-than-ever demand worldwide.

Edinburgh Instruments (EI) is recruiting an IT Manager to join us at our Livingston HQ. As a global business we are experiencing transitional change, and a welcome consequence of this is the collaboration of the support functions within the Group.

What You’ll Be Doing

Our new IT Manager will be responsible for the administration of the EI technology and management information systems, in addition to having an input into our technology strategy of the future. We have traditionally operated on a standalone basis, but now lead the transformation of a matrixed Group structure which is really exciting for us.

We are focused on fully utilising our M365 applications across the business, and a significant part of this role will be about making this happen.  Our culture change is more than hardware and software applications, it’s about the people agenda, and so you’ll also be supporting, upskilling and enabling our employees during the transition. Key Responsibilities include:

• Driving the use of M365 applications to improve collaboration across projects & between sites including the use of SharePoint
• Driving digital strategy
• Input into our technology strategy including assisting the formulation and implementation of a technology roadmap for the business
• Cybersecurity
• End User Compute (EUC) facilities
• Application management
• Vendor management & control of IT budgets
• Project manage migrations of business management software such (ERP & CRM)
• Ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., software licencing laws)
• Driving best practice of IT systems throughout the organisation
• M365 & SharePoint – provide user training, advice

What You’ll Need to Bring

• A degree in a relevant subject or appropriate experience
• Extensive M365 knowledge (+ hands-on) is essential
• A track record leading & managing change around IT migration
• An experienced IT trainer who can successfully support our people agenda & culture change
• Experience in vendor management
• Agile delivery experience
• Customer focused
• Results orientated, quick learner & multi-tasker
• Excellent verbal & interpersonal skills, a good communicator
• Curious & innovative – strives for best practice
• Prepared to travel occasionally

Why Us?

This a great opportunity to join an established and growing global business. In return we offer excellent financial rewards and career development prospects. You will work 37.5 flexible working hours between Monday and Friday. After an initial qualifying period and subject to the Company’s terms and conditions of employment, Edinburgh Instruments offers a comprehensive range of benefits including performance-related bonus scheme, death in service, permanent health insurance, private medical insurance, pension scheme, paid holidays and subsidised gym membership.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, EI is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.

If you are interested in applying for this role, please send your cover letter and CV to jobs@edinst.com.

Role: EngD project

Location: Livingston, UK

Type: Temporary

Applications should be submitted on the CDT Applied Photonics website: How to Apply – CDT in Applied Photonics (hw.ac.uk)

Project Description

The UK’s Net Zero targets can only be met by 2050 by drastically reducing carbon emissions and limiting the use of greenhouse gases and F-gases. Meanwhile, climate change will likely result in the increased use of air conditioning and cooling systems, which consequently will derive in increased amounts of refrigerants being leaked in the atmosphere.

There is currently a drive to investigate the use of the so-called 4th generation refrigerants in such appliances, as they are deemed more environmental-friendly due to their low GWP (Global Warming Potential) and having zero ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential). These refrigerants are HFOs, or hydrofluoroolefin, and are unsaturated organic molecules incorporating fluorine. Although there is a risk that in the medium to long term after leakage that some of these refrigerants decompose in tetrafluoroacetic acid and/or HF, they are currently deemed non-toxic but are flammable to mildly flammable and much more expensive than other generation of refrigerants. Therefore, reducing risks of leaks is necessary for energy efficiency, safety and costs reasons.

Leak monitors of HFOs exist on the market and are currently based on two sensing technologies: semiconductor sensors and infrared sensors. While semiconductor sensors are generally used for large leaks detection, infrared sensors are more suitable for small leaks detection and are based on heated diode technology (which suffers from short life-time) or infrared hand held detectors which compare samples to one another, meaning the sampling probe needs to be moving constantly.

The objective of this project is to develop a low-power, cost-effective, HFO-leakage monitoring system, OEM or battery-powered, using LED technology. The emission of commercial LEDs is typically limited to wavelengths under 6 um, which prevents the use of longer wavelength absorption lines of HFOs. The main absorption bands of HFO below 6um overlap with atmospheric gases. The project proposes to develop a dual path system where two LEDs will be pulsed for improved energy efficiency, one LED will be used to determine the baseline atmospheric gas content and the other one will be used to detect the presence of HFO.

The prototype will be designed to be a fixed system deployable across several locations at production sites or at point of use of refrigerated systems. In addition, the system will be IoT-enabled for the remote detection of leaks of refrigerants.

The project fits well with the CDT photonics scope, as light sources (LEDs) and photodetectors will be used for HFOs leak sensing and photonic sensing is one of the priority topical areas.

The novelty of the project is two-fold. First a substantial amount of work is still being done to develop and investigate new refrigerants. This is a developing field and experimental work to understand the spectroscopic signature of these gases will be required. Second, the development of a new sensing platform that outperforms current technology in terms of low maintenance, cost and power consumption. Current HFO leak detectors are either semiconductor-based meant to be in fixed position to detect large leaks of refrigerants or are sensitive hand-held leak detectors based on infrared technology. There will therefore be a real market need for sensitive, fixed and connected HFO leak detectors.

HFOs (and refrigerants in general) can be used in a wide range different applications. For instance, some would be more suited for heat pumps, others for freezers or cooling systems. Therefore this project is the starting point of a large body of work to develop LED-based leak detectors for a variety of markets, at the production site of HFOs or at end use point.

In addition, the successful student will benefit from an existing and successful history of collaboration between Dr J. Marques-Hueso and Edinburgh Instruments Ltd.

The project will provide opportunities for scientific publication: in areas related to the spectroscopy of refrigerants, and in technological advances that can be disclosed. There is scope for presenting the work at scientific conferences.

The student will be based in the facilities of Edinburgh Sensors in Livingston. The project will be mostly lab-based and the student will share an office with other staff members. Remote working will be possible for literature search and writing activities.

Activities will likely overlap with other businesses in the Techcomp Europe group such as Froilabo and Edinburgh Instruments.

We are fully committed to being recognised as an ethical and trustworthy company and try to ensure we embed policies and processes across the group and integrate them into day-to-day business practice.
Wherever possible we work continuously to reduce our carbon footprint and deliver products that are eco-friendly and non-hazardous to the environment.

We also strongly believe in supporting developments in new technology and work closely with universities and companies to bring new ideas to market.

The company operates with flexible working hours, this can be discussed during the interview. The Company is committed to promoting, encouraging, and ensuring equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Funding for this position may vary depending on the nationality/status of the applicant (in this case international students must be self-funded).

CDT Essential Criteria:

A Masters level degree (MEng, MPhys, MSc) at 2.1 or equivalent
Desire to work collegiately, be involved in outreach, undertake taught and professional skills study

Project Essential Criteria:

Enthusiasm and problem-solving skills
Ability and willingness to present technical information to senior management, at international conferences and any other stakeholder such as customers
Commercial mind-set
Experience with experimental optical set up
Thorough understanding of geometrical optics.

Project Desirable Criteria:

Any experience with programming languages such as Matlab or optical design software such as Zemax would be beneficial.
Experience using Hitran database
Any experience or knowledge of optical gas analysis
Awareness of safe gas and light source handling
Understanding of electronics

The CDT

The CDT in Applied Photonics provides a supportive, collaborative environment which values inclusivity and is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and supportive environment for all our applicants, students, and staff. For further information, please see our ED&I statement https://bit.ly/3gXrcwg. Forming a supportive cohort is an important part of the programme and our students take part in various professional skills workshops, including Responsible Research and Innovation workshops and attend Outreach Training.
LED-based gas sensing platform for the detection of leaks of new refrigerants 🌐 – CDT in Applied Photonics (hw.ac.uk)

HOW TO APPLY: CDT in Applied Photonics (hw.ac.uk)

Role: Warehouse, Stores & Packing Operator

Department: Edinburgh Sensors & Techcomp UK Division

Location: Livingston, UK

Type: Permanent

Edinburgh Instruments (EI) is an international market leader in high-end, high-value scientific instrumentation. Part of the Hong Kong headquartered global Techcomp Instrument Group, we operate within the Techcomp Europe (TEU) division, which consists of a group of scientific instrument manufacturing businesses with production sites across six countries in Europe and with a comprehensive commercial network with sales offices and distribution partners across the globe.

We are immensely proud of our heritage; for 50 years we have been supplying customers at leading-edge research institutes, academic and industrial facilities around the world. Our products combine customisation, user-friendliness, and high performance, and are experiencing higher-than-ever demand worldwide.

Edinburgh Instruments are looking to recruit a Warehouse, Stores & Packing Operator to join our Livingston Headquarters.

What You’ll Be Doing?

Reporting into the Production Manager, the Warehouse and Stores Person will be responsible for running a busy incoming and outgoing finished goods stores and logistics function.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Taking delivery of all goods and supplies.
• Helping design and implement continuous improvement into a warehousing environment.
• Recording stock control on a modern ERP based software system.
• Preparing goods for shipment including packing, preparation and affix of documentation and other items associated with a Goods Out function.
• Overseeing replenishment and working closely with procurement and planning to support production.
• Carrying out regular stock control audits.
• Ensuring a 5s type approach to warehouse layout and environment.

What You’ll Need to Bring

• We are looking for a highly experienced Warehouse professional ideally coming from electronic, electro-mechanical and an anti-static component type background.
• Ideally, candidates will have experience in running and improving a warehouse environment.
• Previous experience in transportation and parts and product shipment would be a distinct advantage.
• We will also consider candidates from other busy warehouse environments, including FMCG, food and drink, medical devices and biotechnology. 

Why Us?

This a great opportunity to join an established and growing global business. In return we offer excellent financial rewards and career development prospects. You will work 37.5 flexible working pattern, that allows an early finish on a Friday. After an initial qualifying period and subject to the Company’s terms and conditions of employment, Edinburgh Instruments offers a comprehensive range of benefits including performance-related bonus scheme, death in service, permanent health insurance, private medical insurance, pension scheme, paid holidays and subsidised gym membership.

As an equal opportunities employer, Edinburgh Instruments is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.