Physicist – Photonics & Optics

Cambridge Consultants; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a passionate Physicist to join their Applied Science team. The role involves tackling diverse challenges in industries like Defence and Healthcare, while developing photonic integrated circuits. Offers excellent personal development opportunities and mentorship, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Benefits

Mentoring and training

Opportunities for career progression

Qualifications

• Research experience in optics or photonics.
• Practical experience with photonic devices or optical systems.
• Eligibility for UK security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop photonic integrated circuits.
• Conduct practical and desk-based analysis.
• Collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Hands-on laboratory skills

Education

PhD in Physics or related field

Tools

Zemax

Python

MATLAB

Job description

We are looking for a Physicist with a passion for innovation and technology to join our Applied Science team. You will be motivated by the idea of applying your theoretical knowledge and experimental skill to create real-world solutions.

This is an exciting opportunity for a recent PhD graduate or early career researcher to tackle challenges across a range of industries—including Defence, Healthcare, and Energy—by applying your scientific understanding, and your drive and curiosity to learn new things.

What we offer

This role offers a wide variety of technical challenges and opportunities for personal development. It will involve both practical and desk-based work across diverse technical areas, working within multidisciplinary teams.

While your work will span diverse areas of optical physics and beyond, a central focus will be on designing and developing photonic integrated circuits, and the next-generation products they will enable.

A background in integrated photonics is not a requirement for the role; there will be tailored opportunities to learn and upskill. This position offers an excellent chance to become an expert in the rapidly growing field of integrated photonics.

We take pride in being ahead of the curve—working with and developing innovative new technology. The projects we work on are highly diverse, and you will combine your existing skills and knowledge with an appetite to rapidly identify and assimilate whatever new information is necessary to solve the problem at hand. Examples of recent work undertaken for our clients include:

• Design and test of a photonic chip for sensing biomolecules
• Development of a novel imaging system based on multi-wavelength holography
• Teardown and reverse engineering of complex high-power laser instrument for industrial application
• Development of a miniaturised magnetic positioning system for a high-volume consumer product
• Development of a photonic chip for the projection of structured light

We are a nurturing team. You will be supported to develop your career in the direction you want, with mentoring and training provided. Opportunities for development and progression are varied and will be tailored to the interests, experience, and skills of the successful candidate, with scope to develop increased technical, commercial, and/or programme expertise and leadership.

What you bring

You will have research experience in a field related to optics or photonics, combined with excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and a collaborative approach. We are looking for someone who enjoys being hands on in the lab as well as conducting desk-based analysis.

You should have:

• A desire to work on both on optical and photonic systems.
• Practical experience of either free-space optics, fibre-optic systems, or photonic devices.
• This role will include work on technologies for defence. Therefore, you must be eligible for UK security clearance.

In addition, you should have experience with 1 of the following:

• Fabrication and test of photonic devices
• Optical system design (e.g. using Zemax)
• Optical metasurfaces
• Numerical simulation and data analysis using scripting tools, like Python or MATLAB
• Electronics or software for experiment automation
• Practical/research experience in other areas of applied physics, e.g. magnetism, RF, ultrasound

Most importantly, you must be keen to take on new challenges, learn on the job, and grow your capabilities.

Cambridge Consultants is a workplace where everyone is welcome. When the brightest minds come together and feel included, that’s when we develop the most important technology breakthroughs. We believe that equality can only flourish when everyone feels involved and has a sense of belonging. We welcome and value all people regardless of their characteristics and encourage applications from all backgrounds and dimensions of society.

Cambridge Consultants is committed to developing its employees’ careers and has a flexible policy for individual capabilities and preferences. Promotion is linked to merit.