Lead Optical Measurement Systems Engineer

Agurotech; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Real-world impact on agriculture

High-ownership R&D role

Opportunity to work internationally

Job summary

A fast-growing high-tech AgTech company in Amsterdam is looking for a Lead Optical Measurement Systems Engineer to define the optical measurement architecture for a soil sensing system. This hands-on position involves designing the optical chain, selecting components, and prototyping systems. Ideal candidates have over 7 years of optical measurement systems experience and the ability to operate autonomously while leading R&D efforts. This high-impact role offers an opportunity to make a real-world impact in agriculture.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in optical measurement systems or spectroscopic instrumentation.
• Proven hands-on experience with experimental debugging and measurement.
• Solid understanding of spectroscopy/instrument optics.

Responsibilities

• Define measurement concept and system requirements for in-field soil sensing.
• Design the full optical chain and select key components.
• Collaborate with embedded engineering on interfaces and data acquisition.

Skills

Optical measurement systems experience

Hands-on prototyping

Spectroscopy knowledge

Technical leadership

Field systems understanding

Education

Degree in Physics, Optical Engineering, Photonics, or related field

Job description

Agurotech is a fast-growing high-tech AgTech company developing sensor technology, weather stations and software that enable farmers to use resources more efficiently while improving yields. Our products are already delivering tangible results in the field across 25+ countries. Headquartered in Amsterdam, we are scaling internationally and continue to strengthen our R&D capabilities to expand our sensing solutions.

The Role

We are looking for a Lead Optical Measurement Systems Engineer to own the end-to-end optical measurement architecture for a next-generation in-field soil sensing system. This is a hands‑on role (not simulation‑only) and a single‑owner, high‑impact R&D position: you will define the measurement approach, translate it into system requirements, design the optical chain, and drive early prototypes from lab validation toward field readiness. You will be the technical authority for the optical measurement concept and have direct influence on product architecture.

You will join a multidisciplinary team that already covers soil science, embedded systems, calibration, and field deployment.

• Define the measurement concept and system requirements (spectral range, spectral resolution, SNR, stability, calibration strategy, stray light).
• Translate the measurement concept into system requirements for a battery‑powered field device (power budget, size/weight, thermal constraints, TRL targets, robustness, and deployment/maintenance).
• Design the full optical chain: illumination/laser(s), soil interaction, photon collection, filtering/spectral separation, detector/readout.
• Select key components and define interfaces/specs for embedded integration, coordinating with electronics/mechanics support as needed.

Hands‑on Prototyping

• Build, align and debug optical setups and prototypes; diagnose noise, background, drift and stability issues.
• Design for harsh real‑world conditions (dust, contamination, vibration, temperature) and field serviceability.
• Create validation plans and test protocols (lab, controlled tests, field), with clear go/no‑go criteria.
• Review relevant literature and existing handheld/portable instrumentation patterns to accelerate decisions and avoid dead ends.

Cross‑functional Leadership

• Collaborate closely with embedded engineering on interfaces, control, data acquisition and calibration.
• Produce clear documentation: architecture documents, trade‑off analyses, risk register, and a 12‑month roadmap.
• Architecture document: measurement approach, spectral requirements, system block diagram, key component choices, key risks, and cost/size/power assumptions.
• Experimental validation plan + list of required equipment/components.
• Integration requirements/specs for embedded integration (interfaces, timing, control, data acquisition, calibration).

What we are lookng for:

Must‑have

• 7+ years in optical measurement systems or spectroscopic instrumentation, including responsibility for system‑level performance (e.g., SNR, stability, calibration, stray light, dynamic range).
• Proven hands‑on experience: building, alignment, experimental debugging and measurement work (portable/handheld experience is a strong plus).
• Solid understanding of spectroscopy/instrument optics (SNR, stray light, calibration, stability).
• Ability to operate autonomously and provide lead‑level technical leadership with end‑to‑end ownership.
• Understanding of product constraints for field systems (power, size/weight, thermal, robustness, TRL, and deployment/maintenance).

Education

• Degree in Physics, Optical Engineering, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Industry experience delivering working instruments is valued more than academic credentials.

Nice to have

• Experience with NIR spectroscopy, LIBS/LIPS or related laser‑spectroscopic approaches.
• Experience designing optical systems for harsh/dirty outdoor environments.
• Candidates from adjacent industries (automotive, medical devices, consumer electronics) are welcome, provided they have strong hands‑on optical instrumentation experience.

Why Join?

• Real‑world impact in agriculture, backed by field‑proven products deployed in 25+ countries.
• A high‑ownership R&D role with the mandate to define the architecture and shape the next generation of sensing.
• An Amsterdam‑based team scaling internationally and growing our R&D to bring new sensing capabilities from lab to field.

How to apply

Please share:

• Your CV
• 1–2 examples of projects where you personally built and debugged an optical system (constraints, approach, outcomes)