Optical Systems Engineer

Overview

In this Optical Engineer role, you will design and integrate optical and photonic subsystems for laser communication. You will work across R&D, testing, and system development to optimize performance and cost, from concept through breadboard validation and field trials. The position is onsite in Oxford, offering hands-on fabrication and system-level testing in a cross-functional setting. You will collaborate with suppliers and contribute to subsystem development to enable robust laser communication solutions. This is an impactful role for shaping optical design and verification in a growing technology area.

Responsibilities

• Design optical and photonic subsystems for laser communication applications
• Define system requirements and perform trade-off analysis between performance and cost
• Model and optimise optical systems including tolerancing
• Conduct breadboard testing to validate simulation results
• Assemble, integrate and test optical sub-systems
• Support system-level testing and field trials
• Work with suppliers on optical component selection and specification
• Provide technical input and support subsystem development activities

Key requirements

• Experience defining requirements and performing trade studies for optical systems
• Strong optical design experience using Zemax or similar tools
• Hands-on experience with lasers, detectors, modulators and fibre/free-space optics
• Practical lab experience building and testing optical systems
• Understanding of optical system performance and trade-offs
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills

• problem-solving
• analytical thinking
• Zemax or similar optical design tools
• lasers
• detectors
• modulators

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