Optical and Applications Engineer

Singular Photonics; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension: 5% company contribution

EMI share options

35 days annual leave

Job summary

Singular Photonics, based in Edinburgh, seeks an Optical and Applications Engineer to build and characterise optical systems and turn results into demonstrators and customer-ready materials.

You will work hands-on with our SPAD cameras, collaborate with hardware/ASIC/firmware teams, and contribute to publications and customer engagements. The role offers a hybrid pattern with lab and office time in the UK.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in optical system assembly, alignment, testing and troubleshooting.
• Experience of optical design and simulation using Zemax or equivalent tool.
• Proficiency in at least one of Python, MATLAB, C/C++ or LabVIEW for instrument control and data processing.
• Working knowledge of photon counting or time-resolved techniques such as TCSPC.
• Able to explain technical work clearly to colleagues, customers and non-specialists.

Responsibilities

• Applications Development: Design, build and test applications using Singular Photonics SPAD cameras, taking them from concept to demonstrator.
• Optical Design & Simulation: Support optical system design and validation against measurements.
• Applications Engineering: Contribute to notes, technical material and demonstrations for customers.
• Experimental Work: Build, align and troubleshoot optical setups in the lab with time-resolved measurements.
• Instrument Control & Analysis: Write scripts to control instruments and process results in Python/MATLAB/C/C++/LabVIEW.
• Collaborative R&D: Contribute to joint projects and grant consortia, assist reporting.
• Research & IP: Contribute to publications and patent filings.

Skills

Optical assembly

Optical design

Instrument control code

Photon counting/TCSPC

Communicating to non-specialists

Small-team collaboration

Education

Degree in Optical Engineering

Physics/Photonic related field

Tools

Zemax

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

C/C++

Job description

About Singular Photonics:

Singular Photonics is a fast-growing fabless semiconductor start-up, developing Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensors that bring advanced computation directly into imaging. Our sensors enable innovations across LiDAR, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), spectroscopy and time-resolved optical measurements, powering next-generation solutions for customers worldwide. Based at Orchard Brae House in Edinburgh, we are a close-knit team at the forefront of the photonics revolution.

About the Role:

We are seeking an Optical and Applications Engineer to join our optical and applications team. Reporting to the Lead Optical and Applications Engineer, you will build and characterise optical systems, run the experiments that prove what our sensors can do, and help turn those results into demonstrators, application notes and customer conversations.

This is a hands-on role with plenty of room to grow. The Lead Optical and Applications Engineer owns our optical design and application strategy and will support you on system design, experimental approach and customer-facing work. You will also work alongside our hardware, ASIC, firmware and software engineers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Applications Development: Design, build and test applications using Singular Photonics SPAD cameras, taking them from agreed concept through to a working demonstrator.
• Optical Design & Simulation: Support optical system design and simulation for new camera platforms using Zemax or equivalent tools, and validate designs against measured performance.
• Applications Engineering: Contribute to the application notes, technical material and demonstrations that help customers get results from our sensors.
• Experimental Work: Build, align and troubleshoot optical and optomechanical setups in the lab, including time-resolved and photon-counting measurements.
• Instrument Control & Analysis: Write the scripts that control instruments, acquire data and process results, in Python, MATLAB, C/C++ or LabVIEW.
• Quantum Applications: Contribute to the development and demonstration of quantum applications of our sensors, such as photon correlation and coincidence measurements and quantum-enhanced sensing.
• Collaborative R&D: Contribute technical work and results to collaborative R&D projects and grant-funded consortia, including input to project reporting.
• Research & IP: Contribute to scientific publications and to patent filings arising from the applications you develop.
• Customer & Commercial Support: Support business development with technical input, and take part in customer meetings and application discussions.
• Demonstrators: Build demonstration prototypes for trade shows, conferences and customer visits, and present them clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Documentation: Create and maintain clear system documentation so that applications are reproducible by others, to the standard our ISO 9001 design control process requires.

Experience & Skills:

Essential:

• Hands-on experience in optical system assembly, alignment, testing and troubleshooting.
• Experience of optical system design and simulation, using Zemax or an equivalent tool.
• Proficiency in at least one of Python, MATLAB, C/C++ or LabVIEW for instrument control and data processing.
• Working knowledge of photon counting or time-resolved techniques such as TCSPC.
• Able to explain technical work clearly to colleagues, customers and non-specialists.
• Comfortable in a small company where priorities shift and everyone pitches in.

Desirable:

• Experience in quantum optics: photon correlation and g2 measurements, coincidence counting, entangled photon pair sources, quantum imaging or quantum key distribution.
• Direct experience with SPAD cameras, image sensors or single-photon detection systems.
• Application knowledge in LiDAR, FLIM, Raman spectroscopy, microscopy or other imaging modalities.
• Optomechanical integration and system prototyping.
• Contributions to scientific publications or patent filings.
• Experience of working within an ISO 9001 quality management system.

Educational Background:

Degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Quantum Optics or a related field and 3-6 years' industrial experience in a relevant role.

Key Attributes & Behaviours:

• Scientific Rigour: Designs and runs experiments carefully, and is clear about what a measurement does and does not show.
• Hands-On Experimentalist: Happy on the optical bench, and systematic when a setup is not behaving as the simulation said it would.
• Commercial Curiosity: Keen to learn the commercial side of the work, and to understand why one result matters to a customer and another does not.
• Communication: Explains technical work clearly to engineers, customers and non-specialists alike.
• Collaboration: Works easily across R&D, business development and external partners, and asks for input when a problem needs it.
• Initiative & Ownership: Picks up a piece of work and sees it through, in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift.

Success Indicators:

• Applications designed, built and demonstrated on SPAD cameras, reaching working demonstrator stage on the agreed timescale.
• Optical designs and simulations delivered to support new camera platforms, with measured performance validated against specification.
• Technical contributions to collaborative R&D projects delivered on time and to the standard the funder and partners require.
• Clear, reproducible documentation and data that colleagues can build on, and contributions to publications and patent filings.
• Demonstrators and technical input that support business development, with growing confidence in front of customers.

Benefits of Joining Singular Photonics

At Singular Photonics, we are committed to fostering a rewarding and supportive environment for our team. As an Optical and Applications Engineer, you will benefit from:

• Competitive salary
• Pension: 5% company contribution.
• Share Options: Participation in the Company EMI Share Option Scheme, so you share in the growth you help build.
• Enhanced Annual Leave: 35 days paid annual leave per year, inclusive of UK public holidays.
• Hybrid Working: Primarily office and lab-based, with flexibility to work remotely up to two days per week
• Development & Career Growth: Work alongside experienced engineers, publish your work, attend conferences, and grow into a broader role as the company scales.
• International Exposure: Work with academic and industrial partners and a growing international customer base.
• Additional Benefits: Cycle to work and private medical insurance (once implemented)

Why Join Us

This position offers a rare opportunity to work at the forefront of SPAD sensor technology, driving innovation and shaping future applications in photonics and imaging. At Singular Photonics you will be part of a passionate, close-knit team, where the applications you develop end up in the product and in the hands of customers.

Location & Work Environment

Based at Orchard Brae House, Queensferry Road, Edinburgh. This is a full-time, permanent role. The work is hands-on with optical hardware in our lab, so it is primarily office and lab-based, with flexibility to work remotely up to two days per week. Right to work in the UK is essential. We are unfortunately unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

Singular Photonics is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and make appointments on merit, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.