Optical Assembly Build Technician

Package: £32175 - £35000. (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits

Role : SF20439

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as an Optical Assembly Build Technician at our Farnborough site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

As an Optical Assembly Build Technician
, you will play a vital role in delivering high-performance optical and optomechanical products that support cutting-edge technologies across a range of demanding applications. This is an exciting opportunity to join a brand-new team
, helping to shape manufacturing processes and contribute to the development of innovative products from the ground up. Your expertise will help ensure products are built to the highest standards of quality, precision, and reliability.

Day-to-day, you'll be responsible for the assembly, integration, alignment, and testing of precision optical and optomechanical systems in accordance with engineering drawings, work instructions, and manufacturing processes. Working with a variety of optical components, including lenses, mirrors, prisms, filters, beam splitters, and laser assemblies, you'll use specialised alignment and inspection equipment to achieve demanding tolerances.

You’ll carry out quality inspections, maintain accurate production records, and support fault-finding and continuous improvement activities. Operating within a cleanroom and controlled manufacturing environment, you’ll work closely with engineers, manufacturing teams, and quality personnel to deliver advanced technology products safely, efficiently, and right first time. As part of a newly established team, you’ll have the opportunity to make a genuine impact, influencing ways of working and contributing to the success of exciting next‑generation optical technologies.

• Assemble, integrate and test precision optical and optomechanical products in accordance with engineering drawings, work instructions and production requirements
• Carry out optical alignment activities using specialised equipment including lasers, alignment telescopes and autocollimators to achieve required performance specifications
• Perform mechanical and optical inspections using precision measurement equipment, ensuring products meet quality and compliance standards
• Maintain accurate manufacturing records, production documentation and traceability within ERP/MRP and electronic production systems
• Support troubleshooting, root cause investigation and continuous improvement activities to optimise product quality and manufacturing efficiency
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team while adhering to cleanroom procedures, health & safety requirements and contamination control standards

• Extensive experience in the assembly, integration and testing of precision optomechanical assemblies
• Proven ability to manufacture and assemble optomechanical products to specification using engineering drawings, work instructions and electronic production systems
• Experience carrying out optical alignment, integration and verification activities on precision optical and mechanical systems
• Previous experience within an optomechanical, photonics, aerospace, defence, scientific instrumentation or advanced manufacturing environment
• Experience working within clean rooms and controlled manufacturing environments, adhering to quality and safety standards
• Experience using quality control processes, inspection methods and revision‑controlled manufacturing documentation to ensure product compliance and traceability

• NVQ Level 3, Apprenticeship, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Photonics, Physics or a related technical discipline
• Evidence of formal technical training in precision manufacturing, engineering…