Careers

Last Updated on Friday, 05 April 2013 09:58

We currently have vacancies for the following roles:

Other Plextek Group vacancies: 

Telensa Ltd

 

For details about the working environment at Plextek and our selection process please click on the relevant link below:

 

WHAT WE LOOK FOR 

For all electronic engineering positions you should have a good class degree (probably Electrical/Electronic Engineering although other relevant subjects may be appropriate) and are likely to have had an early interest in practical electronics. Typically you will have a BEng or MEng, and possibly a 2nd degree (PhD candidates are of interest where you have also gained some relevant commercial experience).

For other positions we advertise any requirement for specific qualifications will be clearly stated.

Together with relevant experience you will be an ideal candidate if you have a practical/innovative approach to problem solving and a keen interest in understanding precisely how things work. You are likely to be comfortable working with hardware and software, and be keen to broaden your knowledge outside your core area of expertise.

Plextek offers a unique opportunity to take charge of projects/discrete tasks within projects and so suits candidates who desire this level of personal responsibility. You are also likely to have close contact with clients and other third party suppliers so good communication and client liaison skills are essential (foreign languages are not essential but would be an added bonus). As we are prepared to give our design consultants responsibility and accountability, you must be comfortable and able to work with minimum supervision. You should be highly motivated, with a keen desire to produce high quality designs and derive satisfaction from producing good quality pieces of work.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND BENEFITS 

Plextek was established by its founders to provide a unique working environment for creative engineers, conducive to producing high quality work. This is partly provided by the nature of the work we undertake which, as you see from other pages on this website, gives exposure to a wide variety of clients and technologies, encompasses the whole product development cycle from inception through to manufacture and gives the opportunity to develop proprietary systems as well as work with standards-based products. We have created an environment conducive to producing high quality work through our attention to the physical and environmental aspects of the workplace. For the most part our engineers work at our purpose-built 37,000 square foot office, laboratory and meeting-room complex set in a picturesque semi-rural location with ample parking, a direct train link to Cambridge and London Liverpool Street, and easy access to the M11, Cambridge and many surrounding towns and villages. This allows you to make best use of the prototype development and test facilities available in the dedicated laboratory and EMC area, as well as to enhance project team co-operative working styles. There is some opportunity for business related travel, both in the UK and internationally.

Good career development opportunities are offered by a combination of interesting project assignments for a wide variety of internationally renowned clients, a formal appraisal and development process which focuses on the individual's specific needs over both the short and medium term, and a mature attitude to training which allows individuals to develop appropriate expertise at their own pace and via a method that suits their own personal learning style. Personal development is achieved by a combination of on-the-job and off-the-job training, focusing on technical skills and knowledge as well as non-technical skills such as foreign language training. Career progression is offered through the many opportunities to broaden technical and commercial competence by working on different client assignments with fellow engineers from a broad range of other technical disciplines. Promotion opportunities exist and Plextek is unique in permitting vertical progression on a technological skill/expertise basis as well as a more traditional people/project/client management basis.

In keeping with this approach the headline items of our remuneration and benefits package for permanent employees currently include a competitive salary, all-employee share plan, annual bonus, private medical insurance, life assurance, permanent health insurance, 25 days holiday, bank and public holidays and a non-contributory pension scheme. Relocation assistance is available where necessary. Being concerned with the working environment a full range of refreshments is available including fresh fruit, and the premises provides a dedicated dining area and the availability of a full range of snacks. A calendar of regular company-sponsored social events helps to ensure the appropriate balance between work and non-work activities is maintained.

SELECTION PROCESS 

Plextek's selection process is designed to establish your suitability as well as giving you a thorough overview of the work we do and what we have to offer new recruits. Any information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and only be used by authorised staff in order to assess your suitability for working with us. Throughout our selection process we do encourage you to ask as many questions as possible.

Our normal process consists of the following:

First Meeting

Introduction and overview of the company, examples of our work, career development, training and progression

Technical interview designed to establish your breadth and depth of technical expertise. Because we are a technology consultancy this interview is very much aimed at assessing your skills against our minimum technical entry requirements.

Second Meeting

Interview with a Director/Senior Consultant and usually someone outside of your immediate area of technical expertise. This is designed to establish the breadth of areas across which your technical experience can be applied, your level of commercial acumen, and how your skills and experience would best fit into our organisation

Human resources interview designed to establish your suitability for our environment and understand how you would fit in with our working practices and the people we already employ

Explanation of our remuneration and benefits packages, understanding of your expectations and any particular issues such as relocation.

This process can be condensed into one meeting should there be a good reason to do so. However, our preference is to have two separate meetings as the interview process can be quite intense and we want to give you the best opportunity to display your abilities. At an appropriate stage during the selection process we will usually give you the opportunity to have a tour of the premises, giving a view of the working environment including the dedicated laboratory, workshop and EMC testing areas.

We are also very happy to offer an initial exploratory telephone interview, especially where you are located a long distance from our premises. This can be arranged at a time to suit your convenience.

Our standard process suits all applicants irrespective of level of seniority and experience. Our interviewers are experienced at dealing with applicants at all levels and our questions are moderated accordingly.

At all stages of the selection process we endeavour to give feedback on a timely basis, directly or via the agency for agency submitted applications.

MEET US 

We regularly attend a variety of industry events which give you the opportunity to come and talk to us in more detail.

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES 

Plextek recognises the difficulties associated with recruiting the highest quality electronic engineers and is prepared to work with professional recruitment agencies. For the benefit of agencies who have not worked with us before we describe below our process for establishing an appropriate professional relationship.

'New' agencies are strongly advised to read all relevant sections of this website. We take seriously our duty to communicate clear information about our organisation using this medium and have gone to a great deal of trouble to arrive at the content which you see here (we do recognise that we can always improve and would welcome suggestions if there are other areas which are not covered about which you would like further information).

If you feel you operate in the appropriate sector and have candidates who are likely to be suitable for our needs please submit their CV by e-mail to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please note this is not a secure method for transmitting personal data and if preferred you should send a hard copy by surface mail to the address given at Contact Us. Under the Data Protection Act 1998 you should ensure that your candidate is aware you are sending their details to us.

There is no particular need to telephone or send an e-mail in advance of submitting candidate details. We are prepared to receive candidate details 'cold'. However, we do ask that you only send CVs for candidates whose experience is directly relevant to the positions we are currently advertising. It is a waste of both your and our time to send speculative CVs and we cannot guarantee to review and give feedback on such CVs.  Please do not contact our staff directly. If you need to speak to someone please ask for our Human Resources Manger only.

All CVs received are logged and checked to see whether they have been received before. For that reason we ask that a candidate's name is provided - we will, of course, treat this information in the strictest confidence. It is not in our interest to be unprofessional in our dealings with agencies or our treatment of candidates.

We endeavour to give feedback on all CVs received. Where candidates are inappropriate for our current needs or we have already received their details this feedback will be given quickly. Where we are more interested in a candidate feedback may take a little longer while their technical suitability is assessed by the appropriate line director/manager.

If we wish to interview one of your candidates this will be in accordance with the format shown under Selection Process.

STUDENTS 

Details of our 2013 Summer Student placement opportunities can be found here.

CONTACT US 

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter stating two referees and current salary package to the address below or alternatively you can email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Human Resources Dept
Plextek Ltd
London Road
Great Chesterford
Essex, CB10 1NY

All information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and only be reviewed by authorised Plextek staff for the purpose of assessing your suitability for working with us.