Principal Optical Scientist/Engineer

QinetiQ; Malvern; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Malvern is seeking a Principal Optical Scientist/Engineer to provide technical leadership across projects in optical and laser-based technologies. Responsibilities include leading research and product development, managing technology roadmaps, and mentoring teams. Candidates must possess a relevant degree and experience with optical systems. This full-time role offers competitive salary and benefits including a matched pension scheme and generous holidays.

Benefits

Matched contribution pension scheme

Generous holiday allowance

Private Medical Insurance

Employee discount portal

Volunteering Opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience bidding for scientific or technical projects.
• Knowledge of physical and engineering principles as applied to optical communications.
• Experience in product development and introduction.

Responsibilities

• Leading the delivery of optical product development and research programmes.
• Writing technical content for proposals, bids, and white papers.
• Mentoring and developing multi-disciplinary technical teams.

Skills

Technical leadership

Experience delivering new products or projects

Strong initiative

Practical knowledge of optical technologies

Education

Science or engineering degree relevant to optical technologies

Tools

Python

Matlab

LabVIEW

C

C++

Job description

Package: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role ID: 19159

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 a Principal Optical Scientist/Engineer at our Malvern site, where you will have the opportunity to lead projects in optical and laser‑based technologies alongside some of the brightest minds in global defence and security.

The Role

As a Principal Optical Scientist/Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across projects developing laser‑based sensors and communications products. You will lead multi‑disciplinary teams, working closely with customers and business development colleagues to deliver high‑technology solutions and drive QinetiQ’s optical product roadmap forward.

Day‑to‑day, you’ll be designing, developing and implementing optical systems, leading research and product development programmes, mentoring technical staff, and engaging with customers through demonstrations, proposals and presentations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the delivery of optical product, development and research programmes
• Developing and managing technology roadmaps for key optical offerings
• Planning and coordinating programme work, including effort, materials, and dependencies
• Writing technical content for proposals, bids and white papers
• Mentoring and developing multi‑disciplinary technical teams
• Leading customer presentations and demonstrations

Essential experience of the Principal Optical Scientist/Engineer:

• Experience delivering new products or projects through the system engineering lifecycle
• Technical leadership of multi‑disciplinary teams
• Experience bidding for scientific or technical projects
• Practical knowledge of optical and laser‑based technologies
• Experience in product development and introduction
• Strong initiative and ability to work independently while leading teams

Essential qualifications for the Principal Optical Scientist/Engineer:

• Science or engineering degree relevant to optical technologies
• Strong understanding of optical systems and laser‑based sensing techniques
• Knowledge of physical and engineering principles as applied to optical communications

Desirable qualifications and experience:

• Experience with LIDAR, telecoms fibre‑optic systems, or bulk‑optical systems
• Implementing active optical remote‑sensing modalities (e.g., rangefinding, 3D imaging, velocimetry, vibrometry, anemometry, DIAL, comms, retro‑comms)
• Scanning techniques for imaging applications
• Software skills for control, acquisition, processing and visualisation (Python, Matlab, LabVIEW, C, C++)
• Basic analogue and digital electronics

We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education. If you can show the right level of experience and a willingness to learn, we’d be pleased to hear from you.

This role is full-time, permanent, based at Malvern. Travel to other QinetiQ and customer sites may occasionally be required.

At our Malvern site, exciting work takes place in electronic warfare, surveillance and complex system integration, contributing significantly to the UK’s defence capabilities. Join our talented teams of engineers and scientists to work on research and development projects that deliver real‑world impact and innovation in defence and security.

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.

Our Benefits

• 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.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK