Senior Optical Engineer

Company Profile

Location: Waterbeach, UK
Department: Engineering
Reports to: Mechanical Engineering Manager
Type: Full-time, Permanent
Thermoteknix Systems Ltd, founded in 1982 and based in Cambridge, is a world leader in thermal imaging, night vision, and augmented reality systems. Our award-winning technologies are trusted by defence, security, and industrial customers in over 70 countries. With in-house R&D, cutting-edge innovation, and a global reputation for quality, we design and manufacture solutions that perform in the toughest environments.

The Senior Optical Engineer will be responsible for the design, development and optimisation of optical and opto-mechanical systems for the company's next generation of thermal imaging, night vision, augmented reality and electro-optical products.

The role will span the full product development lifecycle, from initial concept and optical architecture through modelling, prototyping, testing, design verification and transfer into manufacture. You will work closely with mechanical, electronic, firmware and software engineers to develop compact, high-performance optical systems capable of operating in demanding environments. This is a hands-on technical role with significant responsibility and the opportunity to influence both new product development and the evolution of existing product platforms.

• Design and develop optical systems for thermal imaging, night vision, visible imaging and augmented reality applications.
• Develop optical architectures for compact imaging systems, including objective lenses, eyepieces, relay optics, fusion optics, display optics and sensor interfaces.
• Perform optical modelling, simulation and optimisation using industry-standard optical design software such as Zemax Optic Studio or equivalent.
• Conduct tolerance analysis and establish appropriate manufacturing and alignment tolerances.
• Analyse optical performance including MTF, distortion, aberrations, stray light, illumination, image quality and system resolution.
• Select appropriate optical materials, coatings, filters and components across visible, near-infrared and infrared wavelengths.
• Work closely with mechanical engineers on opto-mechanical design, packaging, alignment and environmental stability.
• Define optical requirements, specifications, interfaces and acceptance criteria.
• Support the NPI team to design and develop optical test methods, fixtures and measurement systems.
• Support the NPI team to build, align and characterise prototype optical assemblies.
• Support environmental qualification including temperature, shock, vibration and other demanding operational conditions.
• Work with suppliers on custom lenses, optical assemblies, coatings and specialist components.
• Review supplier designs, drawings, tolerances and optical performance data.
• Support design for manufacture and the transition of optical assemblies from prototype into volume production.
• Keep abreast of developments in optical technologies, sensors, materials and manufacturing techniques relevant to Thermoteknix products.

• Degree or higher qualification in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics or a closely related discipline.
• Significant professional experience in optical system design and development.
• Strong practical experience using optical design and simulation software such as Zemax Optic Studio, Code V or equivalent.
• Proven experience designing imaging optics.
• Strong understanding of geometrical and physical optics.
• Experience with optical tolerancing, optimisation and performance analysis.
• Good understanding of MTF, resolution, distortion, aberrations, radiometry and image quality.
• Experience taking optical designs from concept through prototype and into manufacture.
• Good understanding of opto-mechanical design principles and the interaction between optical and mechanical tolerances.
• Experience specifying optical components, materials and coatings.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• A practical, hands-on approach to engineering and product development.

Experience in one or more of the following would be particularly advantageous:

• Thermal imaging systems and infrared optics.
• LWIR, MWIR or SWIR optical design.
• Germanium, chalcogenide and other infrared optical materials.
• Uncooled…