Field Instrumentation Engineer

SOLM Systems develops deep-tech infrastructure and applications. The company operates across two tightly connected domains: SOLM Computational, its engineering arm, and SOLM Biological, its primary research arm. These teams work on a shared architecture, cross-validating research and engineering outcomes. The company holds a substantial patent portfolio across both domains. As a lean, high-ownership organisation, SOLM offers opportunities to work on foundational technologies at the intersection of computation and biology.
Role Description
This is a UK-based, contract or equity-based role for a Field Instrumentation Engineer at SOLM Systems, largely remote with occasional site work. The person in this role will design and build rugged sensor units that measure their surroundings, keep precise time and record what they sense reliably, outdoors.
Day-to-day work may involve designing sensor front-ends for a range of physical signals, such as sound, vibration and environmental measurements; setting up precise timing so readings are accurately timestamped; writing on-board software for small computers and microcontrollers; building weatherproof enclosures; and installing and maintaining units at field sites.
The Field Instrumentation Engineer will collaborate closely with the founders and technical team to take a first sensor unit from bench prototype to working field deployment, and to iterate it against real conditions. The role includes both hands-on hardware and software work and close iteration with the people using the data.
This role is suited to someone who has built kit that works outside the lab, and who cares that every reading is accurate, timed and traceable, rather than simply plentiful. The company would consider candidates early in their career with strong demonstrated ability, alongside more experienced applicants.
Qualifications
Hands-on experience designing and building field sensor hardware. Formal qualifications less important than demonstrated ability.
Solid grounding in analogue signals and data acquisition: amplifying and digitising sensor signals cleanly, sampling and filtering.
Experience with small Linux boards and microcontrollers, and writing the on-board software that runs them.
Familiarity with precise timing, such as GPS-disciplined clocks, or willingness to learn it quickly.
A portfolio of relevant work, personal or professional, such as instruments, data loggers or sensor stations that have run in the field.
A careful approach to data: self-checks, timestamps and honest records, logging "no reading" rather than filling a gap.
Practical experience with weatherproofing, power and installing equipment on site.
Interest in environmental, geophysical or infrastructure sensing; experience with groundwater, geophysics, or community sensor networks is a strong plus.
High degree of ownership, adaptability and self-direction, with experience or willingness to work remotely and asynchronously.
Eligibility to work as an independent contractor in the UK, and openness to evolving responsibilities as the company grows.
Comfortable with the ambiguity of frontier work, where some of what is being built has not been built before and the role involves shaping the approach alongside executing on it.

Work arrangement
Yes