Control Engineer - Banknote Security & Design, Notes Directorate

The Notes Directorate fulfils the Bank's obligations as the sole issuer of banknotes in England and Wales. With staff across Head Office, Debden and Leeds, we rely on expertise in fields as diverse as economic and quantitative modelling, risk analysis, operations and science. In fulfilling this important and highly visible public role, in maintaining confidence in the currency, it is important that we ensure:

• The right note - the public has access to genuine, high-quality banknotes of a range of denominations
• The right place - a well-run cash industry exists to supply banknotes cost effectively across the country
• The right time - the Note Circulation Scheme ensures peaks in public banknote demand e.g. Christmas are met consistently

In addition to our role in relation to Bank of England notes, Notes Directorate fulfils the Bank's statutory responsibility to ensure public confidence in banknotes issued by Scottish and Northern Ireland banks.
Department Overview
The Banknote Security and Design (BSD) team is based within Notes Operations at our Debden Cash Centre in Essex. The team comprises a diverse mixture of technical specialists including product design, scientists and engineers that supports:

• pioneering design and development of Banknote Security features.
• banknote product design for the next generation of banknotes.
• technical support for the continued manufacturing and quality control of existing banknotes.
• counterfeit threat assessment and support for law enforcement.
• a framework for the testing the efficacy of automatic cash handling machines.
• maintain leading edge technology for banknote sorting machines for processing new, circulated and returned banknotes.
  

The team works collaboratively with its contracted supplier of banknotes, technical suppliers from around the globe, academia, other Central Banks, law enforcement agencies and banknote equipment manufacturers.

Job description
This is an exciting technical role for a Control Engineer to make a real impact within the BSD team to:

• Lead on maintaining quality control tools for the inspection and authentication of Banknote Security features, encompassing interacting with contracted suppliers for materials and engineering systems.
• Lead on configuration, testing and calibration of high-speed sensor systems for banknote sorting machines including the data acquisition required as part of the verification process.
  

As part of the BSD team, you will also participate and contribute on technical projects as part of the research and development of innovative next generation security features and banknote authentication solutions. As an engineer you will also provide technical support for the operational teams that carry out quality inspection of new banknotes and processing of used banknotes.

Role Requirements
Minimum Essential Criteria

• Engineer (Electrical/Electronic or Electro-Mechanical) with a proven record of accomplishment in systems engineering in a previous role.
• Have a multidisciplinary engineering background to deliver on maintenance planning work, upgrades to machinery, and innovative improvements.
• Demonstrate good level of knowledge, experience and understanding in the field of electrical and electronic engineering.
• Experienced problem-solving skills and techniques. Judgement and critical thinking based upon evaluating a problem, identifying root cause, analysing solutions and implementing a resolution.
• Interpersonal skills. Strong communication and diplomacy skills to persuade and influence.
  
• An ability to work collaboratively with peers to achieve desired outcome.
• Confidence in public speaking; able to present technical information to non-technical people and ensure their understanding clearly, concisely and with authority.
• Able to answer questions on the spot and handle the situation calmly, be clear on their answers and be authoritative on their reply.
• Educated to Degree level in relevant Engineering field, BTEC HNC/D qualification and/or equivalent would be considered with relevant experience in lieu.
  

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in being a specialist or subject matter expert in banknote sorting machines or cash machine technologies.
• Experience of computer programming using C/C++, PLCs or equivalent programmable controllers.
• Have working experience of data acquisition systems used for sensor systems.
• Experience in CAD for rapid prototyping using 3D Printing technology.
• Experience of using advanced data analytics tools (e.g. Excel, R, Python, Matlab).
• Incorporated engineer status within a related and recognised professional institution.
• Experience in managing people or project managing the delivery of technical projects