IC Resources
Principal Optical Engineer
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Principal Optical Engineer
My client is looking for a Principal Optical Engineer, to lead the optical architecture of a next-generation holographic data storage platform. As a Principal Optical Engineer, you will take Optical Systems from prototype through to production.
This is an onsite role, based in London.
Responsibilities
- Own the optical architecture and design strategy for the current product and future roadmap.
- Define optical design intent from concept through to production.
- Lead optical development across Engineering Verification, Design Validation and Production Validation.
- Review, approve and sign off Zemax optical designs prior to manufacture.
- Develop simulation-led optical designs, replacing iterative prototyping with robust design methodology.
- Define optical performance, tolerancing, error budgets, thermal and mechanical constraints, and calibration strategies.
- Optimise precision optical systems for encoding performance and system reliability.
- Balance optical performance with manufacturability, packaging, cost and scalability.
- Collaborate closely with mechanical and mechatronics engineers on system integration, alignment and precision motion.
- Define clear optical requirements and communicate them across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Drive products from prototype to scalable, manufacturable production.
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Requirements
- Significant industry experience in optical design or optical engineering
- Strong Zemax experience including design, optimisation and tolerancing
- Experience owning major optical architecture or optical design decisions within hardware products
- Experience taking optical systems from prototype into verification, validation or production-intent design
- Experience defining optical performance budgets and calibration assumptions
- Hands-on experience building, aligning, testing and validating optical systems
- Understanding of design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly principles for optical hardware
- Experience working with optical suppliers on feasibility, tolerances and component selection
- Strong communication skills and ability to influence multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Experience leading through technical expertise rather than formal people management
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Desirable Skills:
- Experience with holography, optical encoding or projection systems
- Experience with imaging systems, microscopes or precision instrumentation
- Exposure to photonics, metrology or advanced manufacturing systems
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave
- Employer pension
- A competitive salary
If you are interested, please apply, or contact Ella Flynn at IC Resources for more details.
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