Research Scientist - Nanofabrication & Photonics in Manchester

About us: We’re a stealth, VC-backed deep-tech startup building a next-generation molecular sensing platform, leveraging proprietary light-based sensing in a wearable form factor. Our mission is to turn the body’s molecular signals into a continuous source of truth — unlocking real-time biochemical clarity for areas like fertility, inflammation, metabolic health, and recovery.

The Role: We are looking for a Photonics Scientist to join our Photonics team, combining hands-on nanofabrication with photonic design, simulation, and optical characterisation. You will work closely with the Lead Photonics Engineer to design, fabricate, and characterise photonic sensor chips and related nano-scale structures. You’ll own fabrication processes end-to-end, contribute to photonic design through simulation, and generate the data analysis that drives design iteration.

This role is ideal for someone who bridges the gap between photonic design and cleanroom fabrication — someone who can run a simulation, fabricate the result, measure it, and feed insights back into the next design cycle. We particularly value candidates from photonics, nanophotonics, semiconductor, or optical sensor backgrounds who combine scientific thinking with hands-on process discipline.

You will own:

• Nanofabrication of photonic sensor structures using electron-beam (e-beam) lithography, including resist processing, pattern transfer, and quality inspection.
• Operation and maintenance of dry etching systems (RIE and ICP) for precise pattern definition in thin-film and nanostructured materials.
• Standard cleanroom procedures including gowning, chemical handling, wet bench processing (spin coating, development, cleaning), and cleanroom discipline.
• Support of thin-film deposition processes relevant to photonic device fabrication (e.g. dielectric layers, metal contacts).
• Photonic design and simulation — running FDTD and similar optical simulations to evaluate design variants, execute parameter sweeps, and inform fabrication decisions alongside the photonics lead.
• Data processing and analysis of large simulation and measurement datasets — spectral data extraction, figure-of-merit calculation, statistical analysis, and clear result visualisation for design review.
• Optical characterisation — performing benchtop measurements of fabricated devices, including alignment, spectral acquisition, repeatability testing, and comparison against simulated performance.
• Sample preparation for sensor chip testing, including cleaning, surface treatment, and handover to the chemistry team for functionalisation.
• Process documentation — maintaining accurate fabrication logs, run sheets, process recipes, and sample tracking across all activities.

You’ll collaborate closely with leaders across photonics, surface chemistry, microfluidics, and product — and play a key role in taking photonic sensor designs from simulation through fabrication to validated hardware.

The Person: Ideal requirements include 1–5 years’ experience in photonics, nanofabrication, or optical device development — ideally combining cleanroom fabrication with simulation or design work. A Master’s or PhD in Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, or a related discipline is preferred. Candidates with a Bachelor’s and strong hands-on experience will also be considered.

Direct experience with e-beam lithography and dry etching tools (RIE or ICP) is required, along with experience with photonic simulation tools (e.g. Lumerical FDTD, COMSOL, or similar electromagnetic solvers) for sensor or waveguide design. You should be comfortable working in a cleanroom environment (ISO-class, gowning, chemical safety) and possess strong data processing and analysis skills — proficient in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent for handling large datasets, spectral analysis, and result visualisation.

Methodical, detail-oriented, and disciplined in following and documenting process recipes and fabrication SOPs are essential traits. You should be able to think scientifically — comfortable moving between simulation, fabrication, and measurement to close the design-make-test loop. Organised and reliable, with strong time-management skills and the ability to support multiple work streams simultaneously is important. You should be motivated to learn and grow in a fast-moving R&D environment.

Nice to have (strong signals, not required): Knowledge of photonic sensor design principles — resonance engineering, waveguide modes, refractive index sensing, or related concepts. Experience with nanoimprint lithography or other advanced patterning techniques. Familiarity with thin-film deposition methods (sputtering, ALD, PECVD, or evaporation). Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for data analysis and visualisation. Exposure to optical characterisation setups (spectrometers, microscopes, fibre-coupled measurement systems). Experience working in a research, semiconductor, or diagnostics lab environment. Previous work in a regulated environment (ISO 14644, ISO 13485, or equivalent quality systems). Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) for fixture or mount design.

Why work for us? High-impact, hands-on role: Your fabrication work directly produces the photonic sensor devices at the heart of the platform. You’ll see your chips go from design to characterisation to real biological measurements. Exposure to cutting-edge deep tech: Work on genuinely novel photonic sensor technology at the intersection of nanofabrication, optical physics, and biosensing — far beyond routine process work. Learn from exceptional scientists and engineers: Work day-to-day with senior experts across photonics, surface chemistry, and microdevices, gaining rare cross-disciplinary experience. Early-stage influence: Join at a stage where fabrication results move the roadmap. Flat structure, fast iteration, and real visibility into how your work feeds into product decisions. Clear growth pathway: Competitive compensation and a defined progression path into Senior and Principal Photonics Scientist as the platform and team scale.

Apply / get in touch: If you’re excited by next gen-photonics based sensing technology and want to build something genuinely new, please apply here.