Role title : Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer
Team : New Product Development
Peers : Product Development Engineers, NPD Manager, Portfolio Manager, Product
Managers, Production engineers, Procurement, Customer Support, Quality, Compliance & third-party partners.
About this role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Specac Innovation (R&D) team and play a key role in developing the next generation of accessories for spectroscopy and other analytical instrumentation. As an Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, simulation, development and validation of precision optical and opto-mechanical systems, taking products from concept through to manufacturing and supporting the product lifecycle as the technical subject matter expert.
Working within a multidisciplinary engineering team, you will apply your expertise in optical design, simulation, spectroscopy and precision manufacturing techniques to develop innovative, high-performance products that meet customer, regulatory and manufacturing requirements. You will lead cross-functionally, collaborating with colleagues across Specac’s engineering, product management, manufacturing, quality, procurement and commercial teams in the UK, US and Asia, while also working closely with customers and a global network of suppliers to deliver robust, manufacturable solutions and successful product launches.
The role offers the opportunity to take technical ownership of projects, influence product architecture and contribute to Specac’s future technology roadmap while working within a collaborative international engineering organisation.
We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Recruitment decisions are based solely on skills, experience, qualifications, and the requirements of the role.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the optical system design for spectroscopy and other analytical instrument accessories, working with the project team to develop integrated optical and opto-mechanical solutions.
- Design optical system layouts and perform optical modelling, ray tracing, tolerance analysis and performance optimisation, specifying optical components and coatings where required.
- Design precision opto-mechanical assemblies, including mechanical layouts and optical component mounting arrangements to achieve robust optical performance.
- Produce detailed engineering documentation, including optical and mechanical drawings, specifications and manufacturing data for production release.
- Work with the Mechanical Design team to manage design files within the PDM system, ensuring compliance with engineering change, document control and product release processes.
- Define product verification requirements and develop, execute and document optical and system-level testing protocols.
- Own prototype evaluation, qualification and verification testing, analysing results and implementing design improvements where required.
- Contribute to New Product Development (NPD), Product Line Extensions (PLEs) and Custom & Special (C&S) projects from concept through to manufacturing transfer and lifecycle support.
- Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement and a global supplier network to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable and cost-effective, applying Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
- Integrate optoelectronic components into product designs where appropriate.
- Lead cross-functional technical activities, working with colleagues across Specac’s UK, US and Asia teams to deliver products that meet performance, reliability, compliance, quality and cost objectives.
Required Qualifications
Education:
- Degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline or equivalent hands-on industry experience in optical and opto-mechanical product development.
- A Master’s or PhD is advantageous but not essential.
Experience:
- Proven experience in the design, simulation and development of optical and opto-mechanical systems.
- Experience taking products from concept through manufacture within a New Product Development environment.
- Experience with spectroscopy or other analytical instrumentation (e.g. FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis, microscopy or similar precision optical systems) is highly desirable.
- Experience supporting product verification, validation and manufacturing transfer.
Core Technical Skills:
The following technical skills and experience provide guidance on the capabilities required for this role and are not intended to be an exhaustive list. We encourage applications from candidates with Equivalent experience, technologies and transferable skills.
Spectroscopy & Analytical Instrumentation:
- Good understanding of spectroscopic principles, including absorption, transmission, reflection, fluorescence and Raman techniques.
- Experience with spectroscopy or other analytical instrumentation is highly desirable.
Optical Design & Simulation:
- Proficiency in Zemax Optic Studio, Code V, or equivalent
- Sequential and non-sequential ray tracing experience
- Optical tolerance analysis and sensitivity studies
- Understanding of optical performance metrics, optical tolerancing and system performance optimisation.
Optics & Components:
- Understanding of photodetectors and light sources.
- Knowledge of optical components: lenses, mirrors, prisms, gratings, filters.
- Understanding of optical coatings.
- Fiber optics experience advantageous.
Mechanical Design & Manufacturing:
- Experience using SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD software.
- Understanding of precision manufacturing techniques including CNC machining, precision grinding, diamond turning, optical polishing, thin-film coating processes and precision assembly/alignment.
- Understanding of precision opto-mechanical design principles
- Basic FEA knowledge (ANSYS, COMSOL) or willingness to learn
Software Proficiency
- Zemax OpticStudio (or Code V, OSLO, Sigfit, etc)
- SolidWorks (or equivalent CAD)
- MATLAB or Python (highly desired)
Key Attributes
- Collaborative approach with a willingness to listen, learn, share knowledge and work collaboratively with cross functional teams.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail with systematic design validation
- Ability to balance optical performance with practical constraints
- Quality-driven, methodical approach
- Excellent verbal and technical writing skills
- Strong organizational and communication abilities
- Proactive, flexible approach to challenges
- Customer and safety-first mindset
- Flexibility to travel occasionally (UK or abroad)
- Right to work in the UK without sponsorship
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Please review our Privacy Notice here: https://specac.com/policies/recruitment-privacy-notice https://specac.com/policies/recruitment-privacy-notice.
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