Manufacturing Engineer (Optics)

Infinitesima; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Private Healthcare

Pension

Share Options

Job summary

Infinitesima in Abingdon, UK is seeking an Optics Manufacturing Engineer to lead the development and optimization of manufacturing processes for advanced optical and optomechanical assemblies. You will bridge design engineering with production to scale prototypes into robust, repeatable processes while maintaining stringent performance.

The role requires hands-on problem solving, expertise in optics and precision alignment, and a track record of delivering high‑quality, scalable manufacturing in

Qualifications

• Experience manufacturing complex optical, photonics or optomechanical systems.
• Expertise in optical systems, lasers, fibre optics and precision alignment techniques.
• Experience scaling low-volume, high-complexity products into manufacture.
• Strong understanding of NPI, DFM, DFA and manufacturing process development.
• Experience with precision assembly and tight-tolerance manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of vibration isolation systems and precision motion control technologies.
• Track record improving process capability, quality and manufacturing performance.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced engineering and scale-up environments.
• Hands-on approach with excellent fault-finding and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manufacturing Process Development: Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for high-precision optical and optomechanical assemblies.
• Optical Assembly & Alignment: Develop precision alignment processes for lasers, optics, and fibre-optic subassemblies.
• New Product Introduction (NPI): Collaborate with development teams to transition new products into manufacture; provide DFA/DFM guidance.
• Production Scale-Up & Continuous Improvement: Improve throughput, quality and productivity; drive automation and flow improvements.
• Tooling, Fixtures & Test Development: Design precision tooling, fixtures and production test equipment.
• Cross-Functional Engineering Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams across Engineering, Production, Quality and Supply Chain.

Skills

Optics expertise

Manufacturing know-how

Hands-on problem solving

Job description

Optics Manufacturing Engineer

Abingdon, Oxfordshire | £45,000 to £58,000 + Equity + Private Healthcare + Pension + Share Options

Shape the Manufacturing Future of Semiconductor Metrology

Are you an Optics Manufacturing Engineer, Optomechanical Manufacturing Engineer, Photonics Manufacturing Engineer or Precision Manufacturing Engineer looking to build technology that enables the world’s most advanced semiconductor devices?

This is an opportunity to join one of the UK’s most exciting deep-tech scale-ups, developing cutting-edge Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) systems used by leading semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. Backed by major industry investors, including Applied Ventures, we’re scaling rapidly and investing heavily in our manufacturing capability.

You’ll play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between advanced engineering design and scalable production, ensuring that highly complex optical and optomechanical systems can be built with exceptional precision, repeatability and reliability.

If you thrive in environments where optics, lasers, photonics, precision mechanics, automation and manufacturing excellence intersect, we’d love to hear from you.

About The Role

As an Optics Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll own the development and optimisation of manufacturing processes for highly complex optical, laser and precision mechatronic assemblies.

Working closely with Design Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Production teams, you’ll help transform prototype designs into robust manufacturing processes that can scale without compromising performance.

This is a rare opportunity to influence both product design and manufacturing strategy while working on some of the most advanced metrology equipment in the semiconductor industry.

What You’ll Be Doing

Manufacturing Process Development

• Develop and implement manufacturing processes for high-precision optical and optomechanical assemblies
• Convert R&D and prototype builds into repeatable, scalable production workflows
• Design assembly methods, production tooling, fixtures and work instructions
• Drive manufacturing readiness and process capability for new product introductions
• Improve yield, repeatability and build efficiency across production operations

Optical Assembly & Alignment

• Develop precision alignment processes for lasers, optics, fibre-optic systems and optomechanical subassemblies
• Establish best practices for handling sensitive optical components
• Create alignment, calibration and verification procedures suitable for production environments
• Ensure manufacturing processes maintain critical system performance specifications

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Partner with development engineers to transition new products into manufacture
• Provide Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) guidance
• Support pilot builds, design verification and early production ramp-up activities
• Identify manufacturing risks early and implement practical solutions

Production Scale-Up & Continuous Improvement

• Improve manufacturing throughput, quality and productivity
• Drive process optimisation initiatives and operational excellence activities
• Identify automation opportunities and assembly flow improvements
• Support capacity planning as manufacturing operations expand

Tooling, Fixtures & Test Development

• Design and implement precision tooling and assembly fixtures
• Develop production test systems and calibration equipment
• Ensure measurement systems provide reliable validation of product performance

Cross-Functional Engineering Leadership

• Work across Engineering, Production, Quality, Supplier Management and Customer Support teams
• Support supplier qualification and development activities
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions
• Provide technical mentorship and manufacturing expertise to production teams

What We’re Looking For

We’re interested in speaking with engineers who bring a combination of optics expertise, manufacturing know-how and hands-on problem-solving ability.

Essential Experience

• Experience manufacturing complex optical, photonics or optomechanical systems
• Expertise in optical systems, lasers, fibre optics and precision alignment techniques
• Experience scaling low-volume, high-complexity products into manufacture
• Strong understanding of NPI, DFM, DFA and manufacturing process development
• Experience with precision assembly and tight-tolerance manufacturing environments
• Knowledge of vibration isolation systems and precision motion control technologies
• Track record improving process capability, quality and manufacturing performance
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced engineering and scale-up environments
• Hands-on approach with excellent fault-finding and problem-solving skills

Desirable Experience

• Semiconductor equipment manufacturing
• Semiconductor metrology systems
• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
• Laser manufacturing or photonics production
• Precision instrumentation
• CAD and engineering documentation tools
• Automation and advanced manufacturing techniques

A bit about us:

Infinitesima is a privately owned company founded in 2001, as a spin-out of the University of Bristol, by CTO Professor Andrew Humphris. Our dynamic team of scientists and engineers is focussed on enabling the next generation of semiconductor devices through delivery of innovative products to customers around the world.

Our strength lies in the varied perspectives that come from different cultures, experiences, and identities. We believe that true innovation is fuelled by collaboration, locally and globally. We strive to foster an environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully and thrive.

If you require adjustments to take part in the recruitment process, please let us know, we’ll do our best to support you.

Your recruitment journey:

We will interview you: Monday to Friday UK Time 9am to 4.30pm and we’ll be as flexible as we can with Global Scheduling

1st stage: (45 minute) Remote meeting to evaluate your experience and technical ability

2nd stage: (2.5 hours) Face to face onsite evaluating technical, presentation and communication skills along with your ways of working and your opportunity to to know more about us

If you’re not comfortable with eye contact, let us know at the start of your interview and if REMOTE, once we’ve said hello, feel free to turn your camera off until the end.

Informal attire is absolutely fine for onsite interviews, we want you to feel comfortable when you meet us and if there’s anything else we can do to support your journey, just let us know.

A note on how we use AI:

We use AI only to transcribe our interviews so we can focus fully on you instead of scribbling notes. The AI does not take part in any decision making at any stage. All hiring decisions are made by real humans based on the conversation we have with you.

Location and working pattern:

We recognise the value of flexibility and offer a hybrid working model wherever possible. Most employees work onsite three days per week, although some positions require a greater onsite presence due to the nature of the work and business need