About Plessey
We’re building the hardware foundation for next-era computing.
Plessey is a world-leading technology company driving the next generation of photonic devices and systems. With over 70 years of innovation, we combine research, materials science, process engineering, and manufacturing under one roof. We’re recognised as a global authority in microLED displays, optical computing, and optical interconnects.
Join us to work on breakthrough technologies shaping the future of light-based technology and computing.
Our values
Lead
We don’t follow industry trends; we create them, pushing boundaries and setting standards others aspire to. Every team member has the power to make decisions, drive change, and deliver excellence. We support each other, challenge one another for the best solutions, and lead by example. Together, we build industries and technologies that shape the future and scale toward our vision of the next era of computing.
Grow
We expand our capabilities every day — deepening our expertise, improving how we work, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Curiosity fuels us: we question assumptions, explore new ideas, and innovate with light-based technologies. By investing in and empowering our people, we strengthen Plessey’s impact and help shape the future of optical technology.
Trust
We operate like a family—honest, reliable, and supportive. We have each other’s backs, own our actions, and uphold the highest standards of integrity and safety. We trust each other to deliver, our customers to challenge us, and our expertise to guide the way. Together, trust enables the collaboration essential for breakthrough innovation and lasting impact.
Location
Located at our head office and state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Plymouth.
About the Role
This is a key technical leadership role within Plessey’s advanced technology organisation. The successful candidate will lead a small team of engineers focused on the development and industrialisation of new device architectures, while establishing processes, methodologies, and technical protocols across multiple emerging technology areas.
The role will work closely with epitaxy, optics, and device physics teams to drive innovation from concept through fabrication, characterisation, and technology transfer into scalable manufacturing environments.
This position is ideal for an individual with a strong technical background in semiconductor devices, photonics, and advanced process integration, combined with a proven track record of developing new architectures and leading multidisciplinary R&D activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of next-generation semiconductor and photonic device architectures.
- Define and implement technical processes, workflows, and engineering protocols for emerging technology programs.
- Establish best practices for device fabrication, characterization, testing, and process integration.
- Work closely with epitaxy, optics and photonics, device physics, process integration and manufacturing teams.
- Translate research concepts into manufacturable technology solutions.
- Support technology transfer activities from R&D into production environments.
- Lead and mentor a small team of engineers and researchers.
- Coordinate technical priorities, project execution, and development activities.
- Foster a collaborative and innovation-driven engineering culture.
- Contribute to long-term technology roadmap development.
- Identify new opportunities in photonics and advanced semiconductor architectures.
- Support intellectual property generation including patents and technical publications.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- PhD preferred in Semiconductor Physics, Materials Science, Photonics, Electronic Engineering or related discipline.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in IIIV semiconductor or photonics R&D environments.
- Strong technical expertise in semiconductor device physics and advanced fabrication technologies.
- Proven experience developing and implementing new device architectures.
- Hands-on experience with semiconductor process development and characterisation.
- Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Proven experience with advanced semiconductor and photonic device architectures within MicroLED or Optical compute would be an advantage.
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