Optical Assembly Build Technician

QinetiQ Limited; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched contribution pension

Generous holiday allowance

Private Medical Insurance

Health Cash Plan

Employee discount portal

Job summary

QinetiQ Limited is seeking an Optical Assembly Build Technician in Farnborough to assemble, align and test precision optical and optomechanical products. You will work from engineering drawings, perform laser- and telescope-based alignment, and ensure quality through rigorous inspections in a cleanroom setting.

Join a brand-new team contributing to innovative aerospace and defence technologies, with a competitive salary and benefits package and opportunities to influence manufacturing processes

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in the assembly, integration and testing of precision optomechanical assemblies.
• Proven ability to manufacture and assemble optomechanical products to specification using engineering drawings and production systems.
• Experience carrying out optical alignment, integration and verification on precision optical and mechanical systems.
• Experience in optomechanical, photonics, aerospace, defence, scientific instrumentation or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Experience working in cleanrooms and controlled manufacturing environments with quality and safety standards.
• Experience using quality control processes and controlled documentation to ensure traceability.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, integrate and test precision optical and optomechanical products per drawings and production requirements.
• Perform optical alignment using lasers, alignment telescopes and autocollimators to meet specs.
• Carry out mechanical and optical inspections with precision measurement equipment.
• Maintain accurate manufacturing records and traceability within ERP/MRP systems.
• Support troubleshooting, root-cause analysis and continuous improvement to enhance quality and efficiency.
• Work within a cleanroom and collaborate with engineers and quality personnel.

Skills

Optical assembly

Precision alignment

Quality inspections

Engineering drawings

ERP/MRP

Cleanroom environment

Team collaboration

Education

NVQ Level 3

Apprenticeship

HNC/HND

Engineering qualification

Tools

Lasers

Autocollimators

Alignment telescopes

Precision measurement equipment

Job description

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Job Title: Optical Assembly Build Technician

Location: Farnborough, England, United Kingdom

Role Type: Permanent – Full Time

Package: £32175 - £35000. (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits

Role ID: SF20439

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as an Optical Assembly Build Technician at our Farnborough site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

The Role

As an Optical Assembly Build Technician, you will play a vital role in delivering high-performance optical and optomechanical products that support cutting-edge technologies across a range of demanding applications. This is an exciting opportunity to join a brand-new team, helping to shape manufacturing processes and contribute to the development of innovative products from the ground up. Your expertise will help ensure products are built to the highest standards of quality, precision, and reliability.

Day-to-day, you'll be responsible for the assembly, integration, alignment, and testing of precision optical and optomechanical systems in accordance with engineering drawings, work instructions, and manufacturing processes. Working with a variety of optical components, including lenses, mirrors, prisms, filters, beam splitters, and laser assemblies, you'll use specialised alignment and inspection equipment to achieve demanding tolerances.

You'll carry out quality inspections, maintain accurate production records, and support fault-finding and continuous improvement activities. Operating within a cleanroom and controlled manufacturing environment, you'll work closely with engineers, manufacturing teams, and quality personnel to deliver advanced technology products safely, efficiently, and right first time. As part of a newly established team, you'll have the opportunity to make a genuine impact, influencing ways of working and contributing to the success of exciting next-generation optical technologies.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assemble, integrate and test precision optical and optomechanical products in accordance with engineering drawings, work instructions and production requirements
• Carry out optical alignment activities using specialised equipment including lasers, alignment telescopes and autocollimators to achieve required performance specifications
• Perform mechanical and optical inspections using precision measurement equipment, ensuring products meet quality and compliance standards
• Maintain accurate manufacturing records, production documentation and traceability within ERP/MRP and electronic production systems
• Support troubleshooting, root cause investigation and continuous improvement activities to optimise product quality and manufacturing efficiency
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team while adhering to cleanroom procedures, health & safety requirements and contamination control standards

Essential experience of the Optical Assembly Build Technician:

• Extensive experience in the assembly, integration and testing of precision optomechanical assemblies
• Proven ability to manufacture and assemble optomechanical products to specification using engineering drawings, work instructions and electronic production systems
• Experience carrying out optical alignment, integration and verification activities on precision optical and mechanical systems
• Previous experience within an optomechanical, photonics, aerospace, defence, scientific instrumentation or advanced manufacturing environment
• Experience working within cleanrooms and controlled manufacturing environments, adhering to quality and safety standards
• Experience using quality control processes, inspection methods and revision-controlled manufacturing documentation to ensure product compliance and traceability

Essential qualifications for the Optical Assembly Build Technician:

• NVQ Level 3, Apprenticeship, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Photonics, Physics or a related technical discipline
• Evidence of formal technical training in precision manufacturing, engineering assembly or a related engineering field
• Demonstrable ability to interpret engineering drawings, assembly instructions and technical documentation
• Proven competency in the use of precision measurement and inspection equipment within a manufacturing environment
• Understanding of quality standards, manufacturing documentation and controlled production processes
• Commitment to working in accordance with health & safety requirements and quality management systems within a regulated manufacturing environment

We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based onsite at our Farnborough site.

Farnborough

At our Farnborough site exciting work takes place at our state-of-the-art facility, with high-energy laser technologies, our 5m pressurised wind tunnel which has a simulation capability that is unique in the UK and our large research and development projects is a real hub of creativity, research and innovation. Join our talented teams of Engineers, IT & Cyber Specialists, Project Managers, Group Functions Teams and many more to provide future defences in the UK.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture.www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community

Our Recruitment Process:

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.