Sensor Development Engineer - CUI & Corrosion Monitoring (KTP Associate)

University of London (BUL) / ETher NDE Ltd (ETher)

Location:18 Brick Knoll Park, St Albans, AL1 5UG

Salary (Grade): Up to £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience

Hours: Full-time

Contract Type: Fixed term 36 months

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer or physicist to fast-track their career development as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate. You will undertake a 36-month collaborative project between ETher (https://ethernde.com) and BUL. The post will be based predominantly at the company’s premises.

As the KTP Associate, you will lead the development of a novel sensor system to detect CUI using pulsed eddy current (PEC) technology - addressing one of the most persistent challenges in the oil and gas industry. Collaborating with ETher and BUL, you will design both handheld and permanently mounted systems for real-time condition monitoring.

The Associate will benefit from academic and industrial mentorship, gaining hands-on experience in sensor miniaturisation, materials selection, and system integration. By the end of the project, two commercial-ready systems will be developed, along with the capability to adapt the technology to other sectors.

The Company

ETher is the only UK manufacturer of Eddy Current Non-Destructive testing (NDT) equipment, probes, and accessories. ETher supplies solutions to sectors including aerospace, automotive, energy, and oil & gas. The company engages in advanced R&D, including EU-funded programmes.

The University

BUL is a multidisciplinary research-intensive technology university delivering economic, social and cultural benefits.

The KTP is led from within BCAST which is an academic research centre dedicated to fundamental and applied research on the solidification of metallic materials.

Academic advice & supervision will be provided by Dr. Ebad Bagherpour, and Prof. Aamir Khalid.

The candidate

You will be a highly motivated graduate with a PhD in Electronic or Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or Materials Science. Candidates with an MSc and relevant industrial experience will also be considered.

The successful candidate will have experience in electromagnetic instrumentation and inspection.

The associate will work with ETher and BUL to develop conceptual design, detailed system design, and prototypes for testing, and to expand the existing PEC capability at Ether.

With support and training, you will take ownership of the project, including management of finances, resources and timing.

Benefits

The position offers the following benefits:

• A £6,000 personal development budget and access to training courses.
• Access to BUL’s resources.
• The potential for career development with the company, continuing to lead sensor innovation beyond the project.

Closing date for applications: 2 September 2025

For further details about the post including the Job Description and Person Specification and to apply please click the Apply button.

If you have any technical issues, contact us at: hrsystems@brunel.ac.uk.

Brunel University London has a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Our aim is to promote and achieve a fully inclusive workforce to reflect our community.

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