Laser Development Engineer

Solutions Driven; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology provider in Glasgow is seeking an experienced Laser Development Engineer to join their R&D team. The role involves designing, developing, and optimizing cutting-edge laser systems. You will conduct feasibility studies, build prototypes, troubleshoot issues, and work with a multi-disciplined team. Ideal candidates will have a PhD or equivalent experience in laser technology and strong skills in communication and collaboration. This is a full-time position offering significant professional growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• PhD in a laser-based area or equivalent experience in a laser development environment.
• Willingness to take responsibility for improvement actions.
• Excellent communication skills and team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Conduct technical feasibility studies for ultrashort pulsed fibre lasers.
• Build and qualify prototypes from feasibility studies.
• Troubleshoot performance issues in laser systems.

Skills

Technical feasibility studies

Prototyping

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Optics understanding

Practical laser system assembly

Test equipment use

Optical modelling software

Python programming

Education

PhD or equivalent in solid state or fibre laser area

Tools

Optical test equipment

Optical modelling software (Zemax)

Electrical test equipment

Job description

A leading provider of innovative laser systems to help people in various global markets, including but not limited to renewables, microelectronics, research, life science, automotive, and medicine.

We are seeking an experienced Laser Development Engineer to join our R&D team in the design, development and optimisation of our cutting‑edge ultrafast and CW laser systems.

This role provides the opportunity to demonstrate and apply your existing skills while also building new technical capabilities and deepening your knowledge in advanced laser physics, opto‑mechanical engineering and system integration.

As part of the development group, you will contribute to feasibility studies, prototype builds and system‑level optimisation, working hands‑on with optical, mechanical, electronics and control‑systems specialists. You will help translate early‑stage concepts into robust, manufacturable products by performing experimental work, analysing performance, and providing clear, data‑driven feedback into the engineering process.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Conducting technical feasibility studies in the design of ultrashort pulsed fibre lasers and their use in laser systems.
• Building, assessing, and qualifying prototypes based on these feasibility studies.
• Troubleshooting laser performance issues.
• Providing detailed and technically thorough reports / presentations to the engineering team.
• Providing technical support to the laser manufacturing teams.
• Working within a multi‑disciplined engineering team to design laser systems.
• Collaborating with local and international experts.
• Defining specifications and sourcing of laser parts and components.

Education & Experience

• PhD or equivalent in a solid state or fibre laser based area or demonstrable experience of working in a laser manufacturing or development environment.
• Willingness to take responsibility for improvement actions.
• Initiative to seek innovative solutions to problems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work closely and collaboratively with colleagues.
• Understanding of the principles of optics and lasers.
• Demonstrable practical ability in the creation of breadboard laser systems or of assembling and optimising laser systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Experienced in the use of test equipment, both optical (power meters, spectrometers, auto‑correlators, etc.) and electrical (oscilloscopes, signal generators, spectrum analysers, etc.).
• Experienced in the use of optical modelling software packages (for example Zemax) and / or the development of optical models via custom code.
• General understanding of electronics and control systems.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks and manage priorities.
• Ability to work from general instructions for new assignments either in isolation or as part of a wider team.
• Occasional travel will be required.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Knowledge of ultrashort laser pulses, mode‑locking techniques, optical nonlinearities and dispersion is desirable.
• Ability to program in Python for data analysis and for modelling systems.
• Knowledge of control systems and familiarity with circuit diagrams to debug complex system issues.
• May have experience of working with SBR’s (saturable Bragg reflectors) and aspects of their design and processing for use in ultra‑fast laser systems.

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time