Photonics Engineer, Optical Interfaces

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Photonics Engineer, Optical Interfaces. Location: Daresbury, England, United Kingdom

Responsibilities:

• Develop and evaluate novel optical interface concepts for ultra-low-loss coupling between different photonic platforms
• Perform optical simulation and analysis of propagation, modal behavior, overlap, and loss mechanisms
• Use tools such as BeamPROP, FDTD, BPM, and eigenmode solvers to guide device design decisions;
• Design and execute experiments to validate optical coupling efficiency and mode conversion performance
• Correlate simulation and experimental results to refine photonic device concepts
• Assess manufacturability, robustness, packaging, and implementation feasibility of optical interfaces
• Collaborate with internal photonics, systems, and experimental teams;
• Work with external technical partners to evaluate and improve optical interface solutions

Qualifications:

• PhD in photonics, optics, physics, engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent practical experience
• Significant experience in photonic device development, guided-wave optics, or optical interface design
• Strong understanding of mode conversion and optical coupling between dissimilar photonic platforms
• Experience with optical simulation tools such as BeamPROP, FDTD, BPM, or eigenmode methods;
• Hands-on experience characterizing optical coupling, insertion loss, and photonic device performance
• Strong troubleshooting and experimental analysis skills
• Ability to evaluate technical feasibility while considering practical engineering constraints
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with internal and external teams

Preferred:

• Experience developing low-loss optical interfaces between fiber, waveguide, or integrated photonic systems
• Experience with advanced optical packaging and taper-based coupling structures
• Experience with optimization methods or inverse design for photonic structures
• Experience taking photonic devices from concept to experimental proof-of-concept stages
• Experience balancing innovation, manufacturability, and device performance
• Background in advanced industrial photonics or applied research environments

Benefits and Compensation:

• Base salary range of £64,000 to £76,500 GBP annually
• Eligibility for equity and additional employee benefits
• Opportunity to work on large-scale fault-tolerant quantum systems
• Collaboration with leading global research, photonics, and quantum engineering teams

Other Information:

• Applications must be submitted through official company channels
• Company will never request bank account information during hiring
• Equal opportunity employer supporting diversity and inclusion;
• Unsolicited resumes from agencies are not accepted