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- Tasks: Design and build innovative optical instruments for personalised medicine.
- Company: Join a leading deep-tech startup transforming healthcare with AI.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, remote work, private healthcare, and weekly happy hours.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Advanced degree in relevant field and hands-on experience with optical systems.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture focused on collaboration and creativity.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
Hello! We are looking for an awesome Optical Instrumentation Engineer to join our team on our journey to revolutionise personalised medicine.
Responsibilities:
- System design & assembly: Personally design, build, align, and calibrate novel optical analytical instruments (e.g., Raman, FTIR, fluorescence, scattering) from concept and component selection through to bench assembly and validation.
- Hands-on prototyping: Solve optical/mechanical design challenges, design custom components/fixtures, and iterate rapidly to hit performance targets.
- Systems integration: Integrate optics with detectors/light sources, motion/actuation, electronics, fluidics, and software control to deliver fully functional prototypes.
- Testing & validation: Plan and execute experiments; analyse data to troubleshoot and optimise SNR, resolution, stability, dynamic range; own verification against specifications.
- Technical guidance: Serve as in-house subject-matter expert for spectroscopy—advise on component selection (gratings, filters, objectives, fibres, detectors), system architecture, and experimental methodology.
- Documentation & knowledge transfer: Maintain design files, BOMs, alignment procedures, and test reports; ensure reproducibility; support IP filings and hand-off to manufacturing.
- Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with scientists, assay developers, data scientists, and QA/RA to ensure instruments meet biological, analytical, and regulatory needs.
- Safety & compliance: Uphold lab/laser safety; support design controls and documentation aligned with ISO 13485 (and related standards when in scope).
- Innovation: Track advances in spectroscopy/optics; prototype and evaluate new architectures to push platform capability.
This role is based in London and collaborates with teams in the UK and abroad.
Qualifications:
- An advanced degree (PhD or exceptional MSc) in Physics, Optics/Photonics, Nanoscience, or related engineering field.
- 3+ years industry experience designing, building, and operating complex optical systems from scratch in a lab environment.
- Deep, practical knowledge of Raman/FTIR/fluorescence/scattering instrumentation and how to build/align such systems.
- Strong hands-on skills in opto-mechanics, precision alignment, stray-light control, and thermal/vibration management.
- Experience with data acquisition & control (e.g., Python/Matlab/C++/LabVIEW, pyVISA; motion stages/controllers).
- Plus: Familiarity with optical & mechanical CAD (e.g., Zemax/OpticStudio, SolidWorks/Onshape) and tolerance analysis.
- Plus: experience maturing prototypes toward production (DfX, manufacturability, reliability), and mentoring junior engineers/scientists.
- Advantageous: fibre optics, micro-optics, microfluidics, laser safety, electronics, and signal processing/statistics.
Cultural Skills:
- Builder’s mindset: hands-on, resourceful, and relentless about quality.
- Low-ego collaborator who elevates a multidisciplinary team.
- Mission-driven and patient-centred, comfortable in a fast-paced startup.
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.
If that sounds like a fit for you, click the apply button 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.
Optical Instrumentation Engineer | Spectroscopy | Analytical Instrumentation | | AI | Photonics | HealthTech | Deep Tech Startup in England employer: iLoF
Contact Detail:
iLoF Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Optical Instrumentation Engineer | Spectroscopy | Analytical Instrumentation | | AI | Photonics | HealthTech | Deep Tech Startup in England
✨Tip Number 1
Get your hands dirty! When you’re at a networking event or an interview, don’t just talk about your skills—show them. Bring along a portfolio of your projects or even a prototype if you can. It’s all about demonstrating your hands-on experience and passion for optical instrumentation.
✨Tip Number 2
Don’t underestimate the power of connections! Reach out to people in the industry through LinkedIn or professional groups. Ask for informational interviews to learn more about their work and share your interests. You never know who might have a lead on a job or be willing to refer you!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to talk shop! Brush up on the latest trends in spectroscopy and optical systems. During interviews, be prepared to discuss recent advancements and how they could apply to the role. This shows you’re not just qualified but genuinely interested in pushing the boundaries of the field.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are proactive. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience and how it aligns with our mission at iLoF. Remember, we’re looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference in healthcare!
We think you need these skills to ace Optical Instrumentation Engineer | Spectroscopy | Analytical Instrumentation | | AI | Photonics | HealthTech | Deep Tech Startup in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let us see your enthusiasm for optical instrumentation and personalized medicine! Share why this role excites you and how your background aligns with our mission to revolutionise healthcare.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in designing and building optical systems. We want to see your hands-on skills and any cool projects you've worked on that relate to spectroscopy or analytical instrumentation.
Be Specific in Your Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to dive into specific examples of your work. Talk about challenges you've faced, how you solved them, and what impact your contributions had. This is your chance to shine!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at iLoF
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of optical instrumentation, especially Raman, FTIR, and fluorescence systems. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with these technologies and how you've tackled design challenges in the past.
✨Show Off Your Prototyping Skills
Prepare to talk about specific projects where you've designed and built prototypes. Highlight your problem-solving skills and how you iterated on designs to meet performance targets. Bring examples or even a portfolio if you can!
✨Collaboration is Key
Since this role involves working closely with scientists and data experts, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in cross-functional teams. Emphasise your low-ego approach and how you elevate team dynamics.
✨Safety First!
Familiarise yourself with lab safety protocols and ISO 13485 standards. Be prepared to discuss how you've upheld safety and compliance in previous roles, as this will show that you take responsibility seriously.