Senior Optical Engineer - Lab R&D & System Design (Contract)

Microsoft Corporation; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Microsoft Research Cambridge is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to help develop optical technologies powering future AI infrastructure and AI clusters. This hands‑on role focuses on designing optical systems, building experiments, performing measurements, and automating tests at the intersection of research and product development.

The position is a contract role through Allegis Global Solutions (AGS); you will be employed by AGS, working on site in Cambridge, UK, with pay ranging £344–£388

Qualifications

• Experience in optical system design and ray-tracing.
• Hands-on lab experience with optical testing and characterization.
• Familiarity with Python for data analysis and test automation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct optical characterization and validation testing.
• Troubleshoot and refine existing optical measurement setups.
• Design and optimize optical assemblies using Zemax and physical optics principles.
• Perform optical tolerancing and support component specification development.
• Design and build optical alignment, assembly, and test systems.
• Improve laboratory test automation and measurement efficiency.
• Collaborate with mechanical and systems teams on packaged optical assemblies.
• Work with external suppliers and Microsoft product teams on technology development.

Skills

Optical System Design

Physical Optics

Optical Testing

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering

Photonics

Physics

Tools

Zemax

Job description

Microsoft Research Cambridge is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to help develop optical technologies powering future AI infrastructure and AI clusters. This hands‑on role focuses on designing optical systems, building experiments, performing measurements, and automating tests at the intersection of research and product development.

The position is a contract role through Allegis Global Solutions (AGS); you will be employed by AGS, working on site in Cambridge, UK, with pay ranging £344–£388