Principal Research Scientist

Join us to Make an Impact Innovation is in our DNA. We invented supercontinuum lasers and photonic crystal fibers and we constantly reimagine how our products can be used and improved. Our customers use our products in medical and life science research, quantum computing and space exploration. We seek curious, creative and collaborative people to work in our cutting‑edge company. Can you see yourself working in teams and providing solutions for innovators?

• Develops and proves novel solutions related to fibre lasers systems, sub-assemblies, components and diagnostic equipment.
• Conducts leading edge research into photonics.
• Proposes and analyses a multitude of solutions to problems and carries out effort‑impact analysis to find the most effective scenarios to improve products or processes.
• Plans, prioritises and provides day‑to‑day decision making on activities as well as carrying out hands‑on execution of experimental tasks when required.
• Coordinates work to timely and on‑budget completion and provide detailed reports, presentations and regular updates to stakeholders.
• Provides advice and coaching to members of the Engineering team and drives improvement initiatives across the department.
• Helps to support cross‑site exchange of knowledge and knowledge transfer from external partners.
• Ensures the creation of internal and external facing documents including technical notes, work instructions, customer reports, invention records and technical papers.
• Responsible for maintaining leading‑edge knowledge of the optical fibres and fibre laser field.
• Project progress monitoring against plan and re‑planning as required.
• Works collaboratively with Engineering and Operations teams to achieve high‑quality, timely and effective solutions.

• Internal and cross‑site engineering teams
• External project partners
• Customers
• Management team
• IPR team, Operations

• Provides technical leadership and educates the stakeholders in field of expertise.
• Responsible for implementing and managing organisational goals and objectives.
• Leads and delivers improvement initiatives.
• Manages relationships professionally.
• Responsible for leading collaborations across different disciplines, departments or external partners.
• Mentors less experienced engineers.
• May write or edit policy in specialist area.
• Can suggest and implement process improvements.
• May have responsibility for developing future technical specialists.
• May lead a project team.
• Responsible for identifying gaps in talent, knowledge or skills.

• PhD in optics, physics or similar.
• Relevant qualifications and experience in specialist area.

• Highly up‑to‑date skills and knowledge in the field of fibre optics and fibre laser systems, qualified with a relevant PhD degree and track record in research and development in either industry or academia.
• Skills in establishing and executing collaborative R&D activities with internal teams or external partners.
• Skills in optical similations desirable.
• Skills in applying advanced technical knowledge to find practical and effective solutions to problems.
• Ability to present and communicate ideas clearly and tailor communication style to suit the audience.
• Strong documentation skills.
• Coaching skills.
• Capability to design innovative solutions and generate protective IPR where possible or navigate around blocking IPR when neccessary.
• Manages research projects or work packages.
• Excellent data analysis skills.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to quality and reliability.
• Excellent team player.
• Strong organisational skills to be able to produce project plans and lead multiple concurrent activities.

• PhD level degree or equivalent…