Requirements

• Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.
• Understanding of optical-fibre characterisation, light-scattering and related optical phenomena, together with control-systems fundamentals and the ability to lead complex technical work across teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop hands-on optical measurement or characterisation systems, including laboratory instrumentation, experiment design, automation and data analysis.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.

Nice to Haves

• Experience in characterising optical fibres (hollow-core fibres would be a plus), fibre components or optical cable, using techniques such as cutback, OTDR or backscatter, modal, polarisation, interferometric or imaging measurements.
• Experience in converting research or prototype test methods into production equipment with appropriate throughput, reliability, serviceability, safety, data integrity and operational controls.
• Programming and test-automation experience using tools such as Python, C# or equivalent, including instrument communications, data pipelines, analysis and visualisation.
• Evidence of technical leadership at senior individual-contributor level: creating clarity in ambiguous problems, setting technical direction, influencing stakeholders, reviewing designs and mentoring other engineers.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the architecture, development and validation of optical measurement systems for fibre and related products, with emphasis on hollow-core fibre and occasionally cable-level measurements.
• Apply fundamental science—including optics, materials science and measurement physics—to identify observable signatures, derive measurement principles and develop new characterisation methods for complex fibre systems.
• Translate physical models and measurement theory into test requirements, measurement methods, uncertainty budgets, calibration strategies, traceability plans and acceptance criteria.
• Bridge early theoretical and bench-top characterisation work to repeatable production test solutions, including optical and electronic hardware, instrument control, automation software, data pipelines, fixtures, safety controls and maintainability.
• Design experiments and interpret observations relevant to fibre characterisation, including attenuation, mode coupling and modal content, polarisation effects, interference and other light–matter interactions.
• Establish and maintain measurement-system-analysis practices, including gauge repeatability and reproducibility studies, correlation studies, reference artefacts, calibration controls, statistical process control and capability assessment.
• Apply control-systems fundamentals to sensing, actuation, feedback, stabilisation and automation, improving the performance and robustness of laboratory and production equipment.
• Drive technical investigations and root-cause analysis across relevant areas; communicate decisions and risks clearly, influence cross-functional partners, mentor engineers and improve shared engineering standards.

Perks and Benefits

• The typical base pay range for this role across United Kingdom is £74,700.00 - £122,600.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.