Mechanical Design Engineer – Photonic

Job Description

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer – Photonic Hardware. Location: Daresbury, England, United Kingdom

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop precision mechanical hardware from concept through prototype build and validation
• Create enclosure, packaging, and internal layout solutions for stability-critical hardware systems
• Design robust assemblies for routing, supporting, and integrating sensitive optical components
• Develop thermal management and temperature stabilization solutions, including environmental control and active feedback methods where appropriate
• Perform mechanical and thermal analysis to guide design decisions and identify technical risks;
• Plan and execute validation activities to evaluate mechanical stability, thermal performance, environmental sensitivity, and repeatability
• Work closely with photonics, systems architecture, and experimental teams to translate system requirements into practical hardware designs
• Collaborate with suppliers and external partners on fabrication methods, manufacturability, and assembly processes;
• Support prototype builds through engineering documentation, drawings, procurement, assembly planning, and testing
• Contribute to developing laboratory prototypes into reliable and manufacturable production systems

Qualifications:

• Degree, apprenticeship qualification, or equivalent practical experience in mechanical engineering, physics, engineering science, hardware design, or a related field
• Around 1 to 2 years of relevant engineering or research experience, or equivalent hands-on industry experience
• Experience designing, building, and validating precision hardware or experimental systems
• Strong mechanical design skills with CAD and engineering drawing experience;
• Experience with mechanical or thermal modeling, analysis, or simulation
• Experience working with precision assemblies, fragile components, or tightly constrained mechanical systems
• Strong practical engineering skills across design, build, testing, and debugging
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred:

• Experience with photonic, optical, cryogenic, vacuum, or scientific instrumentation systems
• Experience in advanced photonics R&D, precision metrology, semiconductor equipment, aerospace, or laser systems
• Experience with optomechanical or fiber-based hardware packaging
• Experience designing mechanically and thermally stable precision hardware
• Experience with environmental control or feedback-controlled hardware systems
• Knowledge of design for manufacture, prototype iteration, and production transfer
• Experience working with suppliers and outsourced manufacturing partners
• Hands-on engineering experience gained through apprenticeship or technician-to-engineer progression is also valued

Benefits And Compensation:

• Annual salary of £50,000 to £56,000
• Equity and employee benefits for eligible full-time employees
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge photonic quantum computing technology
• Collaborative multidisciplinary research and engineering environment

Other Information:

• Equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace
• The company will only contact candidates using official email addresses and will never request banking information during recruitment
• Unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies are not accepted
• Cover letters must include the word "purple" as part of the application requirements