Senior Optical Engineer

Job Description

Your impact

Are you an Optical Engineer who wants to join us in the development of the next generation of industry leading electro-optic targeting & surveillance systems? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Each of these technologies are based upon sophisticated and complex optical design solutions created by our UK team and manufactured in our state-of-the-art facilities in Essex and Edinburgh.

As a member of a multi-disciplinary Engineering Team, you will collaborate with peers in the development of novel solutions in multi-spectral wavebands (infrared and visible) and will build on decades of domain leading heritage.

All members of the Engineering Team are encouraged to continually develop their technical skills within design, (structural & thermal) analyses and model driven engineering aspects of Mechanical Engineering.

Leonardo offers a mixture of on-site and remote working; with attendance at our facility in Essex required when programme requirements dictate.

What you will do in your role as an Optical Engineer:

• Be involved in the research, development and manufacturing phases of the Optical Engineering lifecycle.
• Contribute to systems architecture and requirements.
• Design and develop both simple and complex electro-optical systems.
• Conduct lens and optical performance analysis and simulations.
• Ensure design quality and consistency through numerical calculations, tolerance studies, and more.
• Support the integration and testing of electro-optical systems.
• Collaborate with optical subcontractors and suppliers.
• Review optical designs in line with industry standards, including ISO 10110.

What you’ll bring

• A minimum of second-class upper degree in Physics, Opto-Electronics, or a related subject; alternatively, the equivalent experience covering the following:
• Strong understanding of classical optics principles.
• Experience in lens design and optical analysis.
• Proficiency with industry-standard optical design tools (e.g., OpticStudio, Code V, FRED).
• Awareness of mechanical and electronic design aspects related to electro-optical systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a structured and logical approach.
• Experience in the definition and commissioning of Optical Testing
• Practical experience of the build of optical systems (prototype or volume production).
• Proficient in numerical, programming and symbolic software e.g. MATLAB, Mathematica, Python, C++, etc

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you\’re looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger – apply now!

Primary Location: GB – Basildon

Contract Type:

Hybrid Working: Hybrid