Senior Optical Fibre R&D Engineer

Psiquantum; Daresbury; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

PsiQuantum in Daresbury, England, seeks a Senior Optical Fibre R&D Engineer to advance measurement, evaluation and system development for high-performance optical fibres. You will design repeatable tests, interpret results and translate system needs into robust measurement plans.

Role emphasizes experimental characterisation, optical modelling and collaboration with photonics and mechanical teams. A PhD or equivalent R&D experience in fibre optics is required.

Qualifications

• PhD in optics, photonics, physics, engineering or related field or equivalent R&D experience.
• Extensive R&D experience in fibre optics or guided-wave photonics with experimental work.
• Strong track record in precise optical measurements, calibration and uncertainty analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and carry out precise, repeatable measurements of optical fibre properties.
• Select and develop measurement methods, setups and analysis procedures.
• Assess measurement uncertainty and distinguish fibre effects from launch conditions.
• Analyse experimental data with optical modelling to guide experiments.
• Plan exploratory experiments and subsystem demonstrations using advanced optical fibre.
• Collaborate with optical-interface and mechanical-design teams on fibre assemblies.
• Document methods and results clearly for reproducibility and engineering decisions.

Skills

Optical measurements

Fibre optics

Optical modelling

Experimental design

Uncertainty analysis

Education

PhD in optics

Tools

FDTD

Optical simulation

Job description

Senior Optical Fibre R&D Engineer at PsiQuantum, Daresbury, England. A senior-level full time position in the 4009 - Exploratory Research team, listed under hardware engineering.

Come join us.

Job Summary

We are seeking an Optical Fibre R&D Engineer with experience in precise optical characterisation, to test, evaluate and apply advanced optical fibres in high-performance optical systems. A central part of the role is designing and carrying out precise, repeatable measurements of fibre properties, interpreting the results, and understanding how they affect system performance.

The role combines experimental fibre characterisation, optical modelling and exploratory subsystem demonstrations. You will work flexibly across different fibre platforms and experimental setups, translating system needs into measurement plans and practical engineering decisions. You will work closely with specialists in optical interfaces and mechanical design, as well as with wider internal teams and external research and development partners.

We welcome candidates with strong experimental R&D experience in fibre optics, guided-wave photonics or related fields, including candidates from research groups and advanced industrial R&D. This is a laboratory-based R&D role focused on measurement, evaluation and system development.

Experience/Qualifications

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Responsibilities

• Design and carry out precise, repeatable measurements of optical fibre properties, including relevant loss, modal, dispersion, polarisation, coupling and environmental characteristics.
• Select and develop appropriate measurement methods, setups and analysis procedures for standard and non-standard fibres.
• Assess measurement uncertainty, repeatability and limitations; distinguish fibre behaviour from effects introduced by launch conditions, connectors, splices, fixtures or the measurement setup.
• Analyse and interpret experimental data, using optical modelling and analytical tools where helpful to explain observed behaviour and guide further experiments.
• Plan and run exploratory experiments and subsystem demonstrations using advanced optical fibre.
• Adapt experimental methods and setups as fibre designs, system requirements and project priorities develop.
• Work closely with optical-interface and mechanical-design colleagues to develop practical, well-aligned and stable fibre assemblies and test setups.
• Collaborate with photonics, systems and experimental teams to translate subsystem requirements into fibre measurements, evaluation criteria and development priorities.
• Work with external development and research partners to review data, compare technical options and guide fibre development.
• Document methods, results and conclusions clearly so that measurements can be reproduced and used to inform engineering decisions.

Requirements

• PhD in optics, photonics, physics, engineering or a related field, or equivalent relevant R&D experience.
• Substantial research and development experience in fibre optics, guided-wave photonics or a closely related area, including developing and carrying out experiments to investigate and characterise optical systems.
• Strong experience designing and carrying out optical measurements, with care for precision, repeatability, calibration and sources of uncertainty.
• Experience taking research questions in fibre optics, guided-wave photonics or a closely related area through to engineering findings: defining the approach, developing measurement methods, analysing results and using them to guide further research or system development.
• Ability to interpret measurement data critically and identify how experimental setup or coupling conditions may affect results.
• Experience developing experimental setups and adapting methods to investigate unfamiliar or non-standard optical systems.
• Experience comparing experimental results with optical simulation or analytical predictions.
• Ability to use optical modelling or analytical methods to support experimental interpretation and guide design decisions.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills and sound experimental judgement.
• Ability to work flexibly in a small, collaborative R&D team and alongside colleagues with complementary expertise, including optical interfaces and mechanical design.

Nice to Have

• Experience characterising, with high precision, advanced or specialty optical fibres, or other non-standard waveguides.
• Experience measuring, with high precision, properties such as propagation or insertion loss, modal content, dispersion, polarisation behaviour or environmental sensitivity.
• Experience using fibre in optical subsystem demonstrations, beyond standalone fibre testing.
• Experience with optical coupling, fibre alignment, connectorisation, splicing or mechanical integration.
• Familiarity with optical simulation tools such as FDTD or other electromagnetic, waveguide or propagation modelling methods.
• Experience working with fibre research, fabrication or development groups.
• Experience in early-stage R&D where experimental approaches and technical priorities evolve as results emerge.