Photonics Characterisation Engineer

Salience Labs; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Salience Labs in the United Kingdom is seeking a Photonic Characterisation Engineer to lead experimental characterisation of advanced integrated photonic devices. This hands-on role designs and runs experiments, operates optical test equipment and analyzes data to deliver engineering insight for design, manufacturing and testing teams.

You will work across die-level and wafer-level testing, using Python for data analysis and automation, and will progressively own characterisation activities,

Qualifications

• MSc, PhD or equivalent practical experience in Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Strong understanding of optics and photonics fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience designing and running experiments.
• Experience working in an optics/photonics laboratory environment.
• Experience analysing real-world experimental data using Python.
• Familiarity with NumPy, SciPy or pandas.
• Practical understanding of experimental uncertainty and data quality.
• Strong fault-finding and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Strong attention to detail and critical thinking.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills; ability to present results to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to characterise integrated photonic devices and structures.
• Operate optical and photonic laboratory equipment across varied measurement setups.
• Carry out die-level and wafer-level testing and data analysis using Python.
• Develop scripts and workflows to automate data collection and analysis.
• Translate experimental requirements into repeatable test methodologies.
• Identify measurement issues and troubleshoot experimental setups.
• Validate data quality before sharing with wider engineering teams.
• Produce technical reports and summaries from experimental work.
• Collaborate with photonic design, manufacturing and system testing teams.
• Support development and improvement of laboratory processes and automation.
• Take ownership of characterisation tasks with realistic delivery timelines.

Education

MSc/PhD or equivalent practical experience in Physics/Photonics/EE/Optical Engineering

Tools

Python

NumPy/SciPy/Pandas

Job description

Job Overview

We are looking for a Photonic Characterisation Engineer to join our Photonics team and play a key role in the experimental characterisation of advanced integrated photonic devices.

This is a highly hands‑on position where you will design and run experiments, operate optical test equipment, analyse measurement data and help turn experimental results into clear engineering insight. Your work will support teams across photonic design, manufacturing and system testing, helping ensure technical decisions are grounded in high‑quality, repeatable data.

You will work across both die‑level and wafer‑level characterisation, combining practical laboratory work with Python‑based data analysis and experimental automation. Over time, you will take increasing ownership of characterisation activities, from defining test approaches through to delivering results and communicating conclusions to stakeholders.

This role is particularly well suited to someone who enjoys being in the lab, working through difficult experimental problems and moving comfortably between optics, software and data.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design and execute experiments to characterise integrated photonic devices and structures
• Operate optical and photonic laboratory equipment across a range of measurement setups
• Carry out die‑level and wafer‑level testing
• Analyse experimental data using Python and relevant scientific computing tools
• Develop scripts and workflows to automate data collection and analysis
• Translate experimental requirements into practical, repeatable test methodologies
• Identify measurement issues, investigate unexpected results and troubleshoot experimental setups
• Validate data quality before results are used by wider engineering teams
• Produce clear technical reports, analysis and summaries from experimental work
• Collaborate closely with photonic design, manufacturing and system testing teams
• Support the development and improvement of laboratory processes, test methods and automation
• Take ownership of characterisation tasks and provide realistic timelines for delivery

As you develop in the role, you will be expected to work increasingly independently, building new test methods where required and taking experiments from initial planning through execution, analysis and communication of results.

What We’re Looking For

• An MSc, PhD or equivalent practical experience in Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a closely related discipline
• A strong understanding of optics and photonics fundamentals
• Hands‑on experience designing and running experiments
• Experience working in an optics, photonics or similarly technical laboratory environment
• Experience analysing real‑world experimental data using Python
• Familiarity with scientific Python libraries such as NumPy, SciPy or pandas
• A practical understanding of experimental uncertainty, noisy data and measurement quality
• Strong fault‑finding and troubleshooting skills
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team
• Strong attention to detail and critical thinking
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to present technical results clearly to different audiences

Even Better If You Have

• Experience working with photonic wafer‑level test systems or probe stations
• Experience with integrated photonic devices and their characterisation
• Experience automating experimental setups or measurement equipment using Python
• Familiarity with optical alignment, calibration and measurement techniques
• Experience with free‑space optics
• Knowledge of photonic integrated circuit fabrication or semiconductor processes
• Experience developing reusable experimental or data‑analysis tools
• Previous experience in an R&D or product development environment
• Experience working in a startup or another environment where processes are still evolving
• Familiarity with Agile ways of working, Jira or similar project‑management tools
• Experience communicating the same technical results to both specialist and non‑specialist audiences

The role is UK-based and predominantly on site, with a minimum of four days per week in the lab.

Salience Labs Limited is a leader in photonic solutions targeting connectivity for AI datacenter infrastructure.

Backed by over a decade of research from the University of Oxford in the UK and the University of Münster in Germany, Salience’s innovative developments in photonic switching technology enable high‑speed, ultra‑low latency networking fabrics that remove infrastructure bottlenecks for AI workloads.