Scientis Search Ltd
Lead Test & Metrology Engineer
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Lead Development and Test Engineer
An optical technology company based in Oxfordshire is seeking an experienced Lead Development and Test Engineer to join its growing R&D team. The successful candidate will take technical ownership of the company’s test, verification and metrology capability, supporting the development, characterisation and validation of its novel adaptive lens platform.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role for an engineer who combines strong test and measurement expertise with the ability to develop new experimental methods and test capability. Working closely with R&D, design, analysis and manufacturing teams, you will use testing and characterisation to answer engineering questions, establish robust measurement methodologies and build the verification capability required to take new technology from development through to pilot production.
You will lead the test and metrology function, developing new test methods and experimental setups, proving their repeatability and data quality, and transferring established tests into routine operation. Alongside this, you will identify gaps in existing test and metrology capability, develop the laboratory and equipment required to address them, and provide technical and line management to the test and metrology team.
About the Company
We are an innovative deep-technology company developing a new generation of adaptive optical technologies based on proprietary soft optical materials and fluid-filled lenses. Bringing together optics, materials science, chemistry and precision engineering, our technology has applications across AR/VR, ophthalmics, adaptive optics and next-generation optical systems. We work with leading global technology, consumer electronics and medical device companies to develop new solutions that optimise visual performance and enable new product capabilities.
With a substantial patent portfolio, proven technology, in-house prototype and characterisation capabilities, and early-stage pilot manufacturing, we are now moving into the next phase of our development: transforming breakthrough science into robust, repeatable and manufacturable products.
This is an exciting point to join a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers and play a key role in taking genuinely novel optical technology from R&D through industrialisation and towards commercial deployment.
The Role
As Lead Development and Test Engineer, you will be responsible for the ownership and delivery of test, verification and metrology activities across the company’s optical products. Working closely with R&D, design, analysis and manufacturing teams, you will take business and customer needs through to product requirements and ensure those requirements are translated into robust test strategies, accurate measurement methods and clear verification evidence.
A key part of the role will be developing test capability rather than simply executing established tests. You will devise and prove new test methods and experimental setups, establish the quality and repeatability of the resulting data, and transfer mature tests to the Test & Metrology Engineer for routine operation.
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You will also undertake exploratory characterisation and development testing alongside R&D and engineering teams, using experimental methods to answer design questions and support technical decision-making before progressing into formal product verification.
As technical lead for test and metrology, you will own the laboratory and its capability roadmap, identifying what measurement and test capability programmes require and developing the equipment, methods and team needed to deliver it.
Key Responsibilities
Test & Verification
- Manage and prioritise test requests from project and engineering teams.
- Develop, validate and maintain robust test methods, protocols and procedures.
- Establish new tests, proving the experimental setup, methodology, repeatability and quality of the resulting data before transferring established tests into routine operation.
- Undertake development and exploratory testing with R&D, engineering and manufacturing teams to characterise technologies and answer design questions.
- Plan and deliver formal verification, robustness, life and reliability testing, including accelerated testing where required.
- Produce clear technical reports that enable engineering and quality decisions.
- Remain actively involved in laboratory testing while providing technical direction to the wider test team.
Laboratory & Test Capability
- Take ownership of the day-to-day operation and technical capability of the test and metrology laboratory.
- Develop and own the test and metrology capability roadmap, identifying gaps between existing capability and future programme requirements.
- Develop new test setups, measurement methods and laboratory capability as required.
- Specify, justify and procure new test and measurement equipment while maximising the capability of existing equipment.
- Own calibration, maintenance and asset management across test and metrology equipment.
Metrology
- Oversee internal metrology capability, ensuring accurate, repeatable and appropriate measurement processes.
- Interpret engineering drawings and GD&T to define suitable inspection and measurement strategies.
- Establish the standards to which metrology protocols and routines are developed and maintained.
- Develop measurement methodologies and metrology routines alongside the Test & Metrology Engineer.
- Provide technical oversight of the measurement service supporting engineering and manufacturing.
Quality & Product Development
- Own and manage product requirements through the development lifecycle.
- Translate business, customer and engineering requirements into appropriate test and verification strategies.
- Define and maintain verification and compliance strategies, including traceability between requirements and test evidence.
- Support pilot-line and early production activities through IPC and quality-control testing.
- Work with subject-matter experts to define verification, inspection and quality approaches.
- Research comparable products, relevant standards and best practice to inform development decisions.
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Leadership & Collaboration
- Act as the technical lead for test and metrology across the business.
- Line-manage and develop the Test & Metrology Engineer and test/metrology technicians.
- Act as a technical interface between R&D, engineering and manufacturing teams.
- Support continuous improvement across test, metrology and quality processes.
- Communicate technical findings, progress, risks and priorities effectively to stakeholders across the organisation.
Requirements
To be considered for the role, you will need:
- A degree in a relevant STEM subject such as Mechanical Engineering, Physics or Product Design, or equivalent practical experience.
- Proven experience owning or taking significant responsibility for a test and metrology laboratory within an engineering, product-development or manufacturing environment.
- Strong experience developing test methods, experimental setups and measurement capability, rather than solely executing established test procedures.
- Experience using experimental testing and characterisation to investigate engineering problems and support product-development decisions.
- Strong background in verification, robustness, life and reliability testing.
- Solid metrology experience, including interpreting engineering drawings and GD&T and defining appropriate inspection strategies.
- Experience supporting product development through into pilot or early production.
- Ability to develop clear test protocols, verification strategies and technical reports.
- Strong cross-functional experience working with design, R&D, manufacturing and quality teams.
- Experience leading and developing test or metrology engineers/technicians while maintaining a hands-on, practical approach.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to manage multiple technical priorities concurrently.
Desirable Skills & Experience
Testing & Characterisation
- Force and torque testing.
- Leak testing.
- Optical testing or optical metrology.
- Surface testing or coating evaluation.
- Development of bespoke experimental or test setups.
Metrology Systems & Software
- Familiarity with OGP SmartScope systems.
- Experience using OGP Zone3 software.
- Experience programming or developing metrology routines.
Systems, Quality & Documentation
- Experience developing User Requirement Specifications (URS).
- Strong understanding of verification planning and requirements traceability frameworks, including trace matrices.
- Knowledge of ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 environments.
- Experience working within structured product-development, documentation and risk-management processes.
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