Hey, I remember you sending me a message during my troubling times, so thanks for your support!

I was expecting the worst, but even though I mentioned quitting the doctorate, this new company seem eager to get me started! I've never been so glad to be taking this route - I actually have my life back and will be getting paid even more for working less hours! Very glad to hear things worked out well for you, also! :)

Glad to hear that things are working out for you!
Do let us know how you get on :)
I quit mine not long back and already have a few good things lined up so I'm hoping the same happens for you :)

Why would you want a grad scheme if you've got a PhD? Wouldn't you have been better going straight in as a grad?
Sounds fairly specialised but there are lots of opportunities in engineering still around here. Unfortunately I don't know who deals in nuclear magnetic signal acquisition - maybe try some of the defence companies like BAE?

Update!

So I have until December(ish) until my current work dries up. Thankfully grad recruitment is opening up again this month!

Luckily, I've found another engineering job close to home with good prospects - lots of positions available! I've passed the first round of interviews and have been invited to the second, so fingers crossed! Really holding out for this - otherwise there are still engineering jobs going round.

Phew! I just know when I secure a full-time job I can start putting my mind at ease a bit more! :)

No problem - I wasn't judging :)
I do have a chip on my shoulder regarding insane house prices, however, and after a lot of research I apportion a lot of the economy's woes on this. I'll spare you all the rant :)
Congrats and enjoy!

As long as it's not a 5x salary job, congrats!
Housing is what's effectively brought the economy to it's knees - research it ;)

Ah, so you decided to continue with your PhD! I was wondering what you'd decided to do after I messaged you. Best of luck.

Got to agree with the last few replies - you'd be mad to pay it back. Very noble of you, but you did put in the work and it just hasn't worked out for you.

I never flagged you to the mods, but I did find your reply plain rude and wrote a scathing reply until I realised I couldn't be bothered getting into a flame war. I feel it was justified.

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Regards graduate jobs - my first paid £28k and is still quite high (hopefully it'll last for a while longer!). Much more than my PhD monies! I have a friend who is a printer, works 7 hours a day and gets £35k for it - if he works overtime he can clear £50k easily, and he left school in 5th year! IMO there are many more high paying jobs regarding few qualifications than there are lecturing positions which I reckon are more high stress. I'm not trying to put a red mist over anybody here - if you love your PhD then great! But for the OP.. consider that.. I've even considered leaving engineering and going into the police - great pension and decent pay for little intellectual rigour. My sort of job lol!

Emotional intelligence - this is actually quite interesting!!

I invested one and a half years into my doctorate before I quit. I got on fine with MSc modules I had to take (almost straight As) but when it came to the research side of things, I was pulling my hair out. I dragged it out for one month and then could handle it no longer. I WAS going to keep going for the money but quickly realised that it would never work out and would only make me more depressed. 3-4 years is a LONG time... do what's right for you. It honestly sounds like you should just get a job - that's what I'm aiming for. You may find that if you see the PhD through, you'd be considered overqualified for a lot of jobs - probably the last thing you'd want, right?
Although I'm still mildly stressed about getting a job, so much has been lifted off my shoulders after having quit. For me, it was THE best decision to make - I felt so true to myself for having quit. It was gruelling, though - I had to tell at least 5 people who were in charge and it almost felt like a life or death decision. Keep this in mind - don't get too far in if you don't like those kind of confrontations!
Offering balance, a lot of people are really suited to doing a PhD. You'll know if you're that sort of person. Send a pm if you wish and good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Don't let the supervisor get away with it - basically ruining your further education/life!! Sink your teeth in and make sure you come out ok. Best of luck!

I agonised over quitting mine as well. I was not well informed of the cons when taking it, only pro pro pro by those sponsoring the doctorate. I started a mammoth thread called 'Seriously Thinking About Quitting' not long ago, check it out. Kept in touch with somebody who also quit. Has to have been the best thing I've ever done, I think my job prospects are now better than ever and am applying to big engineering firms come September. Very interested in hearing more of your tale - do share!