Senior Telecoms Standards Specialist (UKTL)
| Posting date: | 17 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 17 July 2026 |
| Location: | Solihull, West Midlands |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | National Physical Laboratory |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | UKTL |
Summary
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:
• Lead internationally
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.
About You
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.
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:
• Lead internationally
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.
About You
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.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.