Salary for UKTL specialist roles are benchmarked against the external market and may include additional compensation to recognise in-demand technical expertise.
Help shape the future of secure telecoms
You’re not just another telecoms expert—you’re someone who wants to influence the future of global connectivity. You understand how networks work today, but you’re equally driven by how they should evolve tomorrow: more secure, more resilient, and secure-by-design from the ground up.
If that sounds like you, this is your opportunity to step into a high-impact, senior role where your technical voice will be heard, internationally.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll represent UKTL on the global stage, working within international standards bodies to influence how telecom networks are designed, secured, and governed in the future. Your insight won’t just stay in the room—you’ll bring it back, shape strategy, and translate complexity into clear, actionable direction.
Day-to-day, you will:
You’ll take the lead through attendance, participation in and contribution to global telecom standards forums, ensuring UKTL’s perspective on security and resilience is clearly articulated and adopted.
- Be a trusted technical authority
You’ll provide expert guidance on telecom architecture, standards, and emerging technologies, helping shape decisions across UKTL and its stakeholders.
- Translate complexity into clarity
Whether you’re briefing senior stakeholders, writing reports, or delivering presentations, you’ll turn complex standards into practical, strategic insight.
- Shape the future of telecom architecture
You’ll provide forward-looking direction to ensure UKTL stays aligned with emerging technologies, trends, and threats.
- Inspire and support others
You’ll mentor colleagues, build capability across the organisation, and help elevate technical excellence throughout UKTL.
- Keep your finger on the pulse
You’ll monitor global developments, from AI in telecoms to satellite networks, ensuring UKTL stays ahead of the curve.
The impact you’ll have
Your work will directly influence:
- How telecom networks are secured globally
- The UK’s position within international standards
- Strategic decisions across government, operators, and vendors
- The development of future telecom technologies
You won’t just contribute, you’ll lead, guide, and shape.
Successful Applicants must be able to commute to the UKTL offices in Birmingham at least twice a week - put part of this role you will be traveling up 9 weeks of the year
We strive to offer a great work life balance - if you are looking for full time, part time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in.
What you bring
You’re already operating at a senior level and are confident engaging with both technical experts and executive stakeholders. You combine deep technical expertise with strategic thinking and strong communication.
You’ll likely have:
- A solid grasp of global telecom ecosystems and standards environments, particularly 3GPP and GSMA.
- Expertise in areas including:
o Mobile or fixed core networks
o AI in telecoms
o Security principles and their translation in Standards
o Mobile authentication
o Non-terrestrial (satellite) networks
- Experience interpreting and influencing technical standards
- An understanding of UK telecom regulations and operational security, and how this fits on a global stage.
- The ability to clearly communicate complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong analytical, documentation, and stakeholder engagement skills
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others. To work in this role, you will need to hold an SC clearance with no restrictions. You are welcome to apply without already holding SC clearance; however, you will not be able to start in post until the clearance has been successfully granted.
UKTL is building leading edge Telecoms testing facilities to keep our telecommunications networks safe, accelerate the roll-out of new technologies, and grow our world leading telecoms sector to maintain resiliency and security.
Read more about UKTL here!
Successful candidates will join a state-of-the-art facility and be supporting the team conducting testing and research on the latest technologies and innovations in the industry. You will work alongside our infrastructure and Cybersecurity professionals to ensure that the UK’s world class Telecoms infrastructure grows in a resilient and secure manner underpinning growth in other industry sectors.
As a trusted and independent national capability, UKTL interacts with standards bodies, Academia, and Government Departments as well as Communications Service Providers and equipment vendors.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview
NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.
At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.
We offer a wealth of above industry standard benefits, such as enhanced pension scheme, flexible working, and more that can be found here rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.
