Lead Optical Engineer (Head Of)

My client is looking for a Lead Optical Engineer, to lead the optical architecture of a next-generation holographic data storage platform. As Lead 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.

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
• 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 include 25 days annual leave, employer pension, and a competitive salary.

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