Optical Scientist /Engineer

IOMI; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

IOMI, a Cambridge-based biotechnology startup, seeks an experienced Optical Engineer/Scientist to design, build and maintain custom optics for core instruments. Start November 2026 or ASAP; 9-month fixed term, part time with potential to become permanent.

You will own end-to-end instrument development—from concept sketches to robust, field-ready systems used by biology and data science teams. This is an early hire with real ownership and input into future directions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with hands-on optics exposure or higher in physics/optical engineering/related field
• Experience building at least one bespoke optical microscope from components, including design, sourcing, assembly, alignment and performance characterisation
• Practical experience with lasers, laser safety, beam paths and fluorescence optics (excitation/emission filtering, dichroics) and basic electronics/microcontrollers for instrument control

Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain custom optics systems for research instruments
• Take instruments from concept to assembly, alignment, characterization and troubleshooting
• Train and supervise students and interns working on the instruments

Skills

Optical design

Microscope assembly

Laser safety

Electronics basics

Polarisation optics

Python programming

CAD & 3D printing

High-speed imaging

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics/optical engineering/related field

Master's degree

PhD

Job description

IOMI is a Cambridge-based biotechnology startup building at the intersection of biology and artificial intelligence. We are a small, fast-moving team, and we are now looking for an experienced Optical Engineer or Scientist to build the custom instruments at the heart of our research.

The role

Cambridge, UK | 9-month fixed term, part time with the possibility of becoming permanent | Start November 2026 or ASAP

This is a hands-on role designing, building and maintaining custom optics from individual components: illumination, lasers, objectives, filters and cameras. You will take each instrument from concept and sketch through assembly, alignment, characterisation and troubleshooting, to a robust system that our biology and data science team use every day.

The work spans brightfield, darkfield, fluorescence and polarisation-resolved microscopy, together with high-speed imaging, automation and the control software that ties it all together. It calls for strong optics theory combined with the practical ability to get designs off the optical bench and into reliable, routine use. You will also help train and supervise students and interns working on our instruments.

This is an early hire. You will have real ownership of the instrumentation, a direct say in what we build next, and the chance to shape how IOMI's technology develops as the company grows.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree with relevant hands-on experience, or a master's or PhD, in physics, optical engineering, engineering, chemistry, materials science or a related field, with a strong grounding in optics theory.
• Demonstrated experience building at least one bespoke optical microscope from individual components, covering design, sourcing, assembly, alignment and performance characterisation.
• Practical experience with lasers and laser safety, beam paths and fluorescence optics (excitation and emission filtering, dichroics and filter sets).
• Basic electronics and microcontrollers for triggering and hardware control.
• Self-motivated, careful and practical, able to work independently in a small team.
• Ideally, a sound understanding of polarisation optics (for example Jones or Mueller calculus) with practical polariser and analyser alignment, plus programming for instrument control (Python preferred), CAD and 3D printing, and high-speed or low-light cameras.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. IOMI welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.