Manufacturing Technician - Optics

We are partnering with an Oxford based bioanalytical company who have commercialised groundbreaking technology which weighs molecules and particles using light. This revolutionary technology has transformed our ability to characterise the composition, structure and dynamics of biomolecules and biomolecular complexes, nanostructures, and viral capsids. The company is headquartered in Oxford, UK as well as having offices in the US with a growing headcount yearly – currently sitting around 170 employees. They have been extremely successful in the market already while raising significant Series B ($70 million) funding back in 2022.

They are searching for a Manufacturing Technician to assemble, test, repair and refurbish their cutting-edge product line; this includes product integration of lasers, electro-optic systems, 3D positioners and detection using high specification video cameras. Instrument assembly involving electronic box-build and optical alignment, and with sub-assembly components and full system build is critical to this role.

Responsibilities

• Assembly and test of Mass Photometer instruments
• Producing electrical harnesses
• Assembling electronic sub-systems
• Assembling and aligning optical components
• Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) Test routines are bespoke to the company but clearly documented – training will be given
• Producing equipment to detailed Work Instructions, assembly instructions and documented test routines
• Involvement at all stages of the wider operations and manufacturing processes
• Understanding, designing and implementing lean manufacturing techniques to ensure the manufacture of both electronic and optical systems is well organised, straightforward to perform and provides an economical process
• Working with bills of material, part procurement and stock holding to ensure forward planning and smooth running of the operations activities
• Continuous improvement of operations facilities, tools and techniques
• Documenting protocols, in-process results, issues and potential improvements during operations activities
• Archiving test results and tracking key performance metrics

Requirements

Essential:

• Relevant industrial operations experience (approx. 3 years)
• Working in a laboratory environment requiring personal protective equipment (PPE) and handling of lasers and optics
• Ability to assemble electronic subsystems, including fault finding (e.g. continuity testing)
• Experience of assembly of high precision and/or delicate parts, optics handling and use of lasers
• Some experience of testing high-technology equipment prior to shipping

Desirable:

• Experience of optical alignment using laser systems
• Laser safety training to Class 4 laser use
• Previous experience of assembling and testing scientific instrumentation

Location

Role is fully onsite, 5 days a week in the company's Oxford office (Littlemore, Trade City)

What they offer:

• 25 days annual leave per year in addition to bank holidays
• Up to 7% employer matched pension contribution
• Private health insurance from day one plus critical illness cover, income protection and life insurance
• Give as You Earn and Cycle to Work salary sacrifice schemes
• The company offers the Enjoy Benefits Nursery Scheme to employees after 3 months, and new parents can benefit from up to 17 weeks fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, 4 weeks fully paid paternity leave, plus an annual allowance for emergency childcare
• All employees receive access to Linkedin Learning which offers thousands of courses to support their personal and professional development
• The company also runs frequent training sessions on both hard and soft skills