Optical Engineer

TOP SECRET; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A Manchester-based deep-technology startup is seeking an adaptable optical engineer to act as a rapid prototyping engineer. The role focuses on building and evaluating optical systems that demonstrate key aspects of the technology, with a fail-fast approach to prioritise novel techniques.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with rapid prototyping of optical systems and a track record in designing and developing systems around lasers, laser drivers and spatial light modulators.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of lab experience in an industrial environment.
• Comfortable with designing and maintaining optical systems for product development.
• Experience with Zemax, Code V or similar optical design software.
• Experience with metrology techniques for characterising optical systems is a plus.
• MATLAB for data collection and image processing; Python is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and evaluate optical systems through rapid prototyping to demonstrate core technology.
• Take concepts from ideation through conception and characterisation.
• Apply a hands-on problem-solving approach in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with MATLAB for image processing and data collection.

Skills

Optical design

Rapid prototyping

MATLAB

Python

Education

Bachelors/Masters in Optics/Physics/Engineering

Tools

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Aa deep-technology company based in Manchester, born out of one of the UK’s most innovative technology organisations. Our mission is to develop truly game-changing optical products that push the boundaries of what’s possible.

This is a rare opportunity to join a ground‑grading, best‑in‑class team at the very start of its journey. As a startup, we’re looking for trailblazers — people who thrive on innovation, move fast, and want to help shape something exceptional from day one.

Role and responsibilities

We are looking for an adaptable and curious optical engineer that will act as a rapid prototyping engineer to build and evaluate optical systems that demonstrate key aspects of its technology. This will require a fail‑fast paradigm to evaluate and prioritise novel techniques and concepts, then characterising them from ideation through conception.

You will have a hands‑on approach to problem solving and will be experienced in the rapid prototyping of optical systems, and will have prior experience in the design and development of systems, ideally consisting of lasers, laser drivers and spatial light modulators.

You will be familiar with Zemax, Code V or other optical design software and have experience in metrology techniques associated with optical systems. You will be familiar with MATLAB for image processing and data collection implementing image processing operations.

The ideal candidate will be one who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, can adapt to changing circumstances and has the flexibility to approach problem‑solving in a pragmatic way.

Qualifications

• Bachelors/Masters degree in Optics, or Physics/Engineering with 2+ years of lab experience in an industrial environment
• Comfortable with designing and maintaining optical systems, with experience in developing products around them
• Experience with Zemax, Code V or other optical design software
• Experience with metrology techniques for characterising optical systems is a strong plus
• Experience with MATLAB for data collection and image processing tasks; Python is a plus