Sr. Mechanical Engineer – Precision Opto‑Mech Prototyping

Microsoft Corporation; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Microsoft Research Cambridge is seeking a senior hands-on Mechanical Engineer to design, build, test, and refine precision mechanical systems used in photonics and fibre-optic research. This is not a purely design-focused role.

The ideal candidate will spend substantial time designing hardware, building prototypes, troubleshooting in the lab, and collaborating with researchers to solve optical engineering challenges.

Qualifications

• Must have hands-on hardware experience including design, build, test and iteration.
• Experience building precision mechanical systems for optical experiments is required.
• Familiarity with DFMA and manufacturability improvements.

Responsibilities

• Design precision mechanical and opto-mechanical systems for optical experiments
• Create detailed 3D CAD models and manufacturing drawings
• Build prototypes using 3D printing, machining, laser cutting, and workshop tools
• Assemble and align high-precision mechanical systems
• Support fibre handling, positioning, and alignment hardware development
• Conduct testing, debugging, and performance validation
• Apply DFMA principles to improve manufacturability and assembly efficiency
• Select suitable materials based on thermal, mechanical, and environmental requirements
• Work closely with optics researchers to translate experimental needs into practical hardware

Skills

Precision design

High accuracy

Tight tolerances

Sub-micron alignment

Autodesk Inventor

Manufacturing drawings

Workshop lab work

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

ANSYS

FEA

CAM software

CNC programming

Job description

Microsoft Research Cambridge is seeking a senior hands-on Mechanical Engineer to design, build, test, and refine precision mechanical systems used in photonics and fibre-optic research. This is not a purely design-focused role.

The ideal candidate will spend substantial time designing hardware, building prototypes, troubleshooting in the lab, and collaborating with researchers to solve optical engineering challenges.