Senior Optical Systems Engineer

G&H (Gooch & Housego); Hele; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Gooch & Housego in Torquay, UK, seeks a Senior Design Engineer & Team Leader to drive fibre‑optic R&D and mentor a small engineering team. You’ll oversee concept to early production of high‑power fibre‑optic sub‑systems for applications across communications, aerospace, and sensing.

You’ll combine hands‑on design with leadership, manage projects to time and budget, engage customers, and shape the technical direction of multiple programmes in a globally relied‑upon photonics group.

Qualifications

• Degree or PhD/EngD in Engineering or Physics with an optics, photonics or fibre‑optics focus.
• Experience in the optics/photonics industry is required.
• Commercial experience developing fibre‑optic or laser products is essential.
• Strong knowledge of optical amplifiers (ideally high‑power), fibre‑optics and photonics.
• Hands‑on experience building and testing fibre‑optic components, systems or optronic modules.
• Team leadership or project management experience.
• Ability to generate proposals and manage both technical and financial aspects of development projects.
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence presenting to customers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in the design and development of fibre‑optic sub‑systems, including high‑power optical amplifiers.
• Lead and manage small project teams to deliver on time and within budget.
• Work closely with optical, mechanical and electronic engineers in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Take an active role in prototype build and assembly, including fibre‑optic splicing, mechanical/electrical assembly and opto‑electronic testing.
• Develop and execute test plans for functional and environmental verification.
• Engage directly with customers—negotiating specifications, presenting results and shaping technical direction.
• Build strong internal networks across G&H’s global technical and commercial teams.
• Deliver technical reviews and produce clear, concise management reports.

Skills

Technical leadership

Team leadership

Project management

Customer engagement

Communication skills

Education

Degree or PhD/EngD in Engineering or Physics

Job description

Torquay, Devon, GBR

The following information provides an overview of the skills, qualities, and qualifications needed for this role.

Engineering

Job TypeFull-timeDescriptionSenior Design Engineer & Team Leader - Optics and Fibre Optics R&DLocation: Torquay, UK - Join a World Leader in Photonics, part of the Torbay Hi-Tech ClusterShape the Future of Light-Based Technologies

We’re now looking for a Senior Design Engineer & Team Leader to join our Optics and Fibre Optic R&D team and help shape the next generation of fibre-optic technologies.

The Opportunity You’ll play a central role in developing advanced fibre-optic sub-systems—from early concept and prototyping through to early-stage production. Current programmes include high‑power fibre‑optic amplifier sub‑systems for free‑space optical communications, aerospace & defence, and remote sensing.

Working typically across TRL3 to TRL7, you’ll lead technical development, guide a small team, and stay hands‑on with design, prototype build, testing and customer engagement. This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, complexity and genuine innovation.

What You’ll be Doing

• Providing technical leadership in the design and development of fibre‑optic sub‑systems, including high‑power optical amplifiers
• Leading and managing small project teams to deliver on time and within budget
• Working closely with optical, mechanical and electronic engineers in a multidisciplinary environment
• Taking an active role in prototype build and assembly, including fibre‑optic splicing, mechanical/electrical assembly and opto‑electronic testing
• Developing and executing test plans for functional and environmental verification
• Engaging directly with customers—negotiating specifications, presenting results and shaping technical direction
• Building strong internal networks across G&H’s global technical and commercial teams
• Delivering technical reviews and producing clear, concise management reports

What You’ll Bring

• Degree or PhD/EngD in Engineering or Physics with an optics, photonics or fibre‑optics focus
• Current or recent experience in the optics/photonics industry
• Commercial experience developing fibre‑optic or laser products
• Strong knowledge of optical amplifiers (ideally high‑power), fibre‑optics and photonics
• Hands‑on experience building and testing fibre‑optic components, systems or opto‑electronic modules
• Team leadership or project management experience
• Ability to generate proposals and manage both technical and financial aspects of development projects
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence presenting to customers and stakeholders

Why join G&H?

• Be part of a globally recognised photonics leader with a 75‑year heritage
• Work on technologies used everywhere from the Moon to the ocean floor
• Join a thriving local cluster of high‑tech innovators in Torbay
• Enjoy a role with real influence, variety and technical depth
• Contribute to products that are marketed worldwide and shape future industries

Notes:

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this job description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this job description, employees are expected to undertake any and all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their line manager.

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunity or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national laws under which the Company operates.

Potential candidates should be aware that many of the employment roles at Gooch & Housego are subject to government security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities that you may have previously held and your place of birth, could restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation.

All UK applicants must, as a minimum, be able to successfully complete security vetting to the UK government’sBaseline Personnel Security Standard, which includes a criminal record check being performed. Many roles may also require higher levels of security vetting to be completed, where applicants must typically have been continuously resident within the UK for the past five to ten years.