Lead Electro-Optical Engineer, Space Systems

Foundational; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous compensation and pension

Offices in central London

Regular socials

Job summary

Foundational in London seeks an Electro-Optical Engineer to lead optical subsystem development for SLR and Space Situational Awareness products. You will design, integrate, test, and qualify laser-based sensing systems, focusing on electronics, optical architectures, and instrument performance.

You will drive projects from concept through qualification, hands-on in the lab, and collaborate with systems, software, and mechanical engineers to deliver integrated solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in electro-optical or photonic systems from concept to validation.
• Strong optical design and performance analysis skills.
• Experience with lasers, detectors, imaging sensors or precision optical instrumentation.
• Experience designing/testing analogue or mixed-signal electronics for optical systems.
• Hands-on lab skills in optical alignment and system integration.
• Ability to own work packages and drive them through to completion.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop optical and electro-optical subsystems for SLR/SSA applications.
• Create optical architectures with lasers, detectors, lenses, and mirrors.
• Support analogue/mixed-signal electronics for detector readout and timing.
• Perform optical performance modelling and error budgeting.
• Lead lab integration, alignment, characterisation, and testing.
• Collaborate with systems/software/mechanical engineers on integrated products.
• Contribute to new sensing concepts within the SSA domain.

Skills

Electro-optical design

Photonic systems

Lab testing

System integration

Electronics design

Optical alignment

Project ownership

Education

Physics/ Optical Engineering degree

Electronic engineering degree

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

Code V

LabVIEW

Job description

Foundational in London seeks an Electro-Optical Engineer to lead optical subsystem development for SLR and Space Situational Awareness products. You will design, integrate, test, and qualify laser-based sensing systems, focusing on electronics, optical architectures, and instrument performance.

You will drive projects from concept through qualification, hands-on in the lab, and collaborate with systems, software, and mechanical engineers to deliver integrated solutions.