Engineering Lead - Optical Systems & Photonics Hardware

Hello! We're looking for an awesome Engineering Lead - Optical Systems & Photonics Hardware (Healthtech, Deep tech) to join our team on our journey to revolutionize personalized medicine.

About your Role

• Technical & site leadership: Provide hands‑on technical direction and manage day‑to‑day engineering operations; ensure engineering goals map to company strategy and product roadmap.
• Build & lead the team: Assemble, mentor, and inspire a high‑performing, multidisciplinary group across hardware, software, optics/photonics, systems, and data—fostering innovation, accountability, and resilience.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Act as the principal technical liaison with scientists/assay developers; translate clinical and biological needs into robust engineering solutions.
• Cross‑site integration: Bridge our UK and international sites - standardize practices, promote knowledge sharing, and keep priorities aligned.
• Project execution & delivery: Drive programs from concept to verification/validation; define milestones, allocate resources, manage risks/RAIDs, and land reliable systems on time.
• Innovation & resilience: Bring first‑hand startup experience to inform pragmatic decisions; lead through iteration cycles and setbacks with a calm, data‑driven approach.
• Regulatory & quality alignment: Ensure engineering practices support ISO 13485, ISO 15189, IVDR, and UKCA expectations; partner closely with QA/RA on design controls and documentation.

This role is based in London and will collaborate daily with teams in the UK and abroad.

Technical / Professional Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Nanoscience, Biomedical, Optical, Electrical, Physics Engineering (or related); PhD a plus.
• 6+ years leading engineering or product development, ideally in medical devices/diagnostics/life‑science instrumentation.
• Proven track record building and managing multidisciplinary teams (hardware, software, data science, and life sciences) in fast‑paced environments.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with clinical scientists/assay developers/healthcare partners.
• Deep expertise in at least one core engineering area and broad fluency across optics/photonics; AI/ML exposure is a strong plus.
• Exceptional communication and program leadership skills; comfortable spanning technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with ISO 13485, IVDR, and UKCA in product development (ISO 15189 exposure desirable).
• Startup experience (including learning from failure/recovery cycles) strongly preferred.

Cultural Skills

• Builder’s mindset with high ownership, urgency, and empathy.
• Low‑ego, highly collaborative leader who elevates others.
• Mission‑driven and patient‑centered.

iLoF in a nutshell

As personalized medicine becomes the norm, scientists, patients, and healthcare systems worldwide face massive barriers in providing the right treatment to the right patient. Recognized by CB Insights and Financial Times as one of the most promising Digital Health companies in the world, iLoF is building an AI-powered platform capable of transforming precision medicine. Our goal is to become the platform that democratizes access to personalized medicine for millions of people living with complex diseases around the globe. Thanks to our proprietary optical fingerprint library of disease biomarkers and biological profiles we can offer personalized patient screening and stratification in a faster and more affordable way, saving up to 40% of the cost and 70% of the time while enabling a more human patient experience. Supported by leading institutions like Microsoft Ventures, Mayfield, and the Oxford University, iLoF is currently focusing on validating its platform technology in one of the biggest challenges of our times: Alzheimer's, while maintaining ongoing verticals on Digestive Cancer, Stroke, and Infectious diseases.

Our Team

We are a mix of scientists, entrepreneurs, and inventors based in Oxford and Porto, with a passion for healthcare! Recognized by CB Insights as one of the most promising Digital Health companies in the world and by the Financial Times as a Transformational Business in Healthcare, iLoF has been regularly featured in leading outlets like Tech Crunch, Wired, and Sifted and listed as a rising star in AI-Driven Drug Discovery, Health Screening & Data Analytics.

What we value

• A Be Kind attitude is the main guideline within iLoF.
• A hand in the hammer and another free to support your co-workers as a true team player.
• An honest and egoless attitude towards discussions and critics working in good faith.
• The braveness to speak your heart in any situation.
• Through words or actions be always sure to make a difference at any moment!
• Be proud to drive your responsibilities to success and help others do the same, embracing ownership!

Perks

• An exciting future with a deep-tech company selected by Financial Times and CB Insights as one of the most transformative companies in the world.
• A high‑paced, flexible environment: adaptable working hours, strong remote work culture.
• A stimulating atmosphere with room for creativity – fast‑paced, fun, and energetic start‑up with a friendly culture.
• Weekly happy hours with amazing food and drinks.
• Free coffee and snacks ☕.
• Private healthcare insurance (for employees; contractor benefits to be agreed).
• The opportunity to work with a world‑class, talented team – and potentially change healthcare as we know it for millions of patients living with complex diseases around the globe 🧑⚕️.

We share a passion for being part of a mission that matters, and we are always looking for curious and collaborative people who share our values and want to be part of our journey. If that sounds like a fit for you, apply via the company portal and join us. You’ve read all this way but you’re missing a skill or two? No problem, it’s our job to upskill you to take your career to the next level. What we’re trying to say is, don’t be afraid to apply if you don’t tick all the boxes.