Optical Engineering Manager
$84,800–$142,200 year
On-siteBristol, England, United Kingdom
Job Summary
Lead a team of optical engineers through iterative design, build, and test phases to create designs fulfilling input requirements and completing design verification and validation campaigns. Own the optical engineering function, driving technical decisions and personally contributing to complex design challenges including optical modelling, tolerance analysis, and simulation. Manage relationships with contract manufacturing partners to ensure design deliverables transfer successfully into serial production while establishing and maintaining optical design standards and toolchain choices. Drive design reviews, risk assessments, and V&V activities across optical subsystems to ensure robust performance before design freeze. This hands-on leadership role supports CoMind's development of non-invasive neuromonitoring technology for diagnosing and treating brain disorders.
Required Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in optical engineering
- At least 2 years in a team lead or engineering management role
- Deep expertise in laser interferometry, coherent optical sensing, or closely related optical measurement techniques
- Hands-on experience designing and validating precision optical systems
- Proficiency with optical simulation and modelling tools (Zemax, COMSOL, or similar)
- Experience translating simulation outputs into validated hardware designs
- Solid understanding of optical component technologies including laser sources, photodetectors, fibre optics, beamsplitters, optical coatings, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs)
- Demonstrated ability to lead a technical team through the full product development lifecycle, from concept through to validated hardware
- Experience in a regulated industry (medical devices, defence, semiconductor, or similar)
- Familiarity with ISO 14971, ISO 13485, and IEC 60601-1
- Strong cross-functional communication skills
- Ability to represent the optical team in system-level technical discussions with engineering, clinical, and regulatory stakeholders
- Experience with manufacturing assembly processes or precision manufacturing at production scale for instrumentation and/or high-volume products
- Must be available for at least 4 days per week in the office
- Role must be based in either London (Kings Cross) or Bristol office
- Must embrace AI in daily work and continuously find new ways to use it effectively
Desired Qualifications
- Background in biophotonics, diffuse optical imaging, or optical coherence tomography
- Experience with miniaturisation of optical systems for portable or wearable hardware
- Familiarity with cleanroom assembly and precision alignment at manufacturing scale
- Experience managing supplier relationships for optical components and sub-assemblies
- Knowledge of FDA regulatory pathways for optical medical devices
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