Mechanical Engineer - Micro Mechanisms & Precision Systems in Witney

An innovative optical technology company based in Oxfordshire is seeking a Mechanical Engineer specialising in the design and development of micro-mechanisms and precision mechanical systems to join its growing R&D team. This role is ideal for a creative, hands-on mechanical engineer who enjoys ideation, early-stage concept development, and detailed mechanism design, and who is motivated by solving complex engineering challenges at very small scales. You will play a key role in the development of a next-generation adaptive optical platform, working from first principles and early concepts through prototyping, testing, and transition into scalable manufacture.

The company operates at the intersection of ophthalmics, optics, and advanced mechanical engineering, developing novel adaptive lens technologies for applications across AR/VR/XR, machine vision, and next-generation optical systems. Its proprietary adaptive lens technology has generated significant interest from leading global consumer electronics and technology companies. As a result, the business is entering an exciting new phase of growth, expanding its R&D capability and investing in both facilities and talent. The culture is collaborative, technically ambitious, and strongly focused on engineering excellence — an environment where innovative ideas are encouraged, explored, and realised.

As a Mechanical Engineer with a focus on micro-mechanisms and precision systems, you will contribute across the full product development lifecycle. The role places strong emphasis on concept generation, mechanism architecture, and detailed mechanical design, alongside hands-on prototyping and testing. You will work on mechanisms at watch-scale and below, helping to define how the system works mechanically as well as how it is manufactured, assembled, and scaled. This is a high-ownership role offering genuine influence over technical direction and design decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate and develop early-stage concepts for micro-mechanisms and precision systems, exploring multiple design approaches and architectures.
• Design micro-mechanisms and precision mechanical assemblies (e.g. bearings, gears, threads, linkages) for optical and opto-mechanical applications.
• Translate high-level functional requirements into robust, detailed mechanism designs.
• Build, assemble, and test prototypes to validate performance and rapidly iterate designs.
• Integrate mechanical systems into complex optical platforms.
• Select appropriate materials, balancing performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Apply DFM/DFA principles and advise on best-practice manufacturing techniques.
• Work closely with suppliers and manufacturing partners to realise designs.
• Contribute to technical documentation, risk management, and design reviews in a regulated development environment.

Requirements

Education

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Design Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience taking mechanical products from concept through to production.
• Strong capability in ideation, concept development, and mechanism synthesis.
• Experience designing precision mechanical systems and/or micro-mechanisms.
• A hands-on approach to prototyping, testing, and iterative development.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, including: Injection moulding and micro-moulding, Metal stamping and forming, Metal injection moulding, Vacuum forming.
• Knowledge of joining processes such as: Adhesive bonding, Ultrasonic welding, Radio-frequency welding, Heat staking.
• Strong materials knowledge, particularly polymers and metals.
• Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks preferred).
• Experience working within ISO 13485 or similar regulated design environments.

Desirable

• Competence in GD&T and experience performing tolerance analysis.
• Exposure to optics or opto-mechanical design, including alignment or mounting considerations.
• Experience with FEA and/or analytical hand calculations.
• Ability to translate product requirements into clear engineering specifications.
• Experience supporting pilot production and optimising designs for scale-up.

Why Join?

• Work on genuinely novel technology with global impact.
• Strong emphasis on creative engineering and early-stage design thinking.
• High ownership role with involvement from concept to production.
• Collaborative, technically driven culture.
• Opportunity to grow with a fast-scaling technology company.