R&D Applications Engineer - 1681 in Ely

This role drives the development, execution, and communication of application focused testing for photonics products—specifically precision motion control stages, positioning systems, vibration isolation platforms, and optical tables. The Application Engineer validates product performance, generates compelling technical materials, and bridges R&D, product management, and marketing to ensure that products meet real world application demands in research and industrial photonics markets.

Operating within the R&D Engineering team, this role interacts closely with Application Marketing, Product Management, Manufacturing, and Sales. The position supports the full product lifecycle by ensuring that testing, data generation, and application insights effectively demonstrate the performance and value of our motion control and optical table solutions to global photonics customers.

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm (Hybrid working available)

What is essential to us:

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Photonics, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in an engineering, product testing, or applications-focused role.
• Prior experience preparing application materials, test reports, or technical documentation is highly beneficial.
• Strong proficiency in designing and executing engineering test plans.
• Strong understanding of photonics laboratory setups, system alignment, and optical handling.
• Ability to analyse data and draw clear, meaningful application-level conclusions.
• Experience with precision motion control systems.
• Proficiency in noise/vibration testing, stability measurements, and data analysis highly desired.
• Familiarity with photonics applications such as interferometry, beam delivery, microscopy, or metrology.
• Ability to produce clear, structured technical documents that are accessible to mixed audiences.
• Understanding of product development processes and application marketing principles.
• Comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams across engineering, marketing, and commercial functions.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to work independently.
• Ability to identify and resolve problems quickly.
• Adhering to core values and driven positive attitude.
• Positive contribution to multi-departmental initiatives and process improvements.
• Receptive to new challenges and expanding current knowledge.

What we would like you to do/ to see:

• Develop, execute, and document test procedures that validate product performance across defined applications.
• Produce high‑quality application notes, white papers, and demonstrations that translate technical performance into practical customer use case.
• Work cross-functionally with R&D, product line management and marketing to identify relevant application scenarios requiring targeted testing.
• Analyse test outcomes to identify improvement opportunities or necessary product refinements.
• Support product launches by supplying data, test reports, and application insights.
• Act as a technical resource for internal teams, providing clear explanations of application behaviours, performance characteristics and best practices for our product lines.
• Assist with customer-facing technical inquiries when deep knowledge of application testing, integration and system performance is required.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the R&D engineering team.

What will you get:

• At Thorlabs there are lots of opportunities for inhouse customised training and development that accelerates your career progression.
• We have free onsite parking, free refreshments, as well as an entertainment area in our large canteen for your enjoyment.
• Competitive Salary to attract the best, plus an excellent benefits package including pension, health care, 25 days holiday plus public holidays.

This is a rolling campaign, so we will actively interview applicants. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

We welcome applications from persons who are over 18 years old. This is a legal requirement.

All offers of employment are subject to eligibility to work in the UK. We would encourage all internal applicants to inform their line managers of their interest in this position.

We are Disability Confident Committed. In line with the requirements of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, all applicants must have a valid permission to enter or remain in the UK with no condition that prevents them from working in the UK. Documented evidence of such permission will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.