Location
Waterbeach, UK
Department
Engineering
Reports to
Mechanical Engineering Manager
Type
Full-time, Permanent
Company Profile
Thermoteknix Systems Ltd, founded in 1982 and based in Cambridge, is a world leader in thermal imaging, night vision, and augmented reality systems. Our award-winning technologies are trusted by defence, security, and industrial customers in over 70 countries. With in-house R&D, cutting-edge innovation, and a global reputation for quality, we design and manufacture solutions that perform in the toughest environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop optical systems for thermal imaging, night vision, visible imaging and augmented reality applications.
- Develop optical architectures for compact imaging systems, including objective lenses, eyepieces, relay optics, fusion optics, display optics and sensor interfaces.
- Perform optical modelling, simulation and optimisation using industry-standard optical design software such as Zemax OpticStudio or equivalent.
- Conduct tolerance analysis and establish appropriate manufacturing and alignment tolerances.
- Analyse optical performance including MTF, distortion, aberrations, stray light, illumination, image quality and system resolution.
- Select appropriate optical materials, coatings, filters and components across visible, near-infrared and infrared wavelengths.
- Work closely with mechanical engineers on opto-mechanical design, packaging, alignment and environmental stability.
- Define optical requirements, specifications, interfaces and acceptance criteria.
- Support the NPI team to design and develop optical test methods, fixtures and measurement systems.
- Support the NPI team to build, align and characterise prototype optical assemblies.
- Support environmental qualification including temperature, shock, vibration and other demanding operational conditions.
- Work with suppliers on custom lenses, optical assemblies, coatings and specialist components.
- Review supplier designs, drawings, tolerances and optical performance data.
- Support design for manufacture and the transition of optical assemblies from prototype into volume production.
- Keep abreast of developments in optical technologies, sensors, materials and manufacturing techniques relevant to Thermoteknix products.
Required Skills & Experience
- Degree or higher qualification in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics or a closely related discipline.
- Significant professional experience in optical system design and development.
- Strong practical experience using optical design and simulation software such as Zemax OpticStudio, Code V or equivalent.
- Proven experience designing imaging optics.
- Strong understanding of geometrical and physical optics.
- Experience with optical tolerancing, optimisation and performance analysis.
- Good understanding of MTF, resolution, distortion, aberrations, radiometry and image quality.
- Experience taking optical designs from concept through prototype and into manufacture.
- Good understanding of opto-mechanical design principles and the interaction between optical and mechanical tolerances.
- Experience specifying optical components, materials and coatings.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- A practical, hands-on approach to engineering and product development.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Thermal imaging systems and infrared optics.
- LWIR, MWIR or SWIR optical design.
- Germanium, chalcogenide and other infrared optical materials.
- Uncooled microbolometer-based imaging systems.
- Night vision goggles or image intensifier systems.
- Eyepiece and ocular design.
- Head-mounted displays, HUDs or augmented reality optics.
- Waveguide, combiner or see-through display technologies.
- Low-light and visible imaging systems.
- Stray light analysis.
- Optical coatings and spectral filter design.
- Optical metrology and MTF measurement.
- Precision optical alignment and active alignment techniques.
- Environmental qualification of optical
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Senior Optical Engineer in Cambridge employer: Thermoteknix
At Thermoteknix, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by fostering a collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and professional growth. Our Electronics Engineers benefit from hands-on experience in cutting-edge technology, with opportunities to work alongside talented teams in a supportive environment, all while contributing to impactful projects in advanced imaging and embedded systems.
