Job Description
Role title : Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer
Team : New Product Development
Reports to : NPD Manager
Direct reports : Potentially up to 2
Peers : Product Development Engineers, NPD Manager, Portfolio Manager, Product
Managers, Production engineers, Procurement, Customer Support, Quality, Compliance & third-party partners.
About this role
This role offers the opportunity to join the Specac Ltd. Innovation team, contributing to organic growth through rapid, market-driven innovation. We are seeking an Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer with strong optical design and simulation capabilities to join our Innovation (R&D) team. The ideal candidate will have solid optical modelling experience and the potential to grow into managing projects and broader product development responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
* System Design: Explore and optimize optical systems for analytical instruments.
* Design optical system layouts and perform optical modelling, tolerance analysis, and performance optimization and specify optical coatings where required.
* Design and optimize optical systems for analytical instruments using ray tracing simulation software (Zemax)
* Integrate optoelectronic components where required.
* Precision Engineering: Create mechanical layouts and optical components mounting arrangements.
* Develop precision opto-mechanical assemblies ensuring optical performance
* Create detailed designs and documentation for manufacturing transfer
* Validation: Develop and execute testing protocols for spectral characterization and performance optimization.
* Execute optical testing protocols including spectral characterization & etc.
* Support product prototyping, qualification and verification testing.
* Collaboration: Work closely with manufacturing teams and suppliers to ensure designs are practical for production.
* Contribute to NPD (New Product Development), Customs & Specials (C&S) & PLE’s (Product Line Extensions) projects from concept through production
* Collaborate with manufacturing teams/suppliers to ensure design for manufacturability
* Product Evolution: Support projects from initial concept through to manufacturing transfer.
* Generate design documentation including optical, mechanical drawings, and specifications
* Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, compliance, and cost requirements
Required Qualifications
Education:
* Degree in Optical Engineering, Physics or related field (Masters/PhD is a plus)
Experience:
* Hands-on optical system design and simulation experience.
* Hands-on product or process development experience.
* Experience with analytical instruments (spectroscopy, microscopy) preferred
Core Technical Skills:
Optical Design & Simulation:
* Proficiency in Zemax Optic Studio, Code V, or equivalent
* Sequential and non-sequential ray tracing experience
* Optical tolerance analysis and sensitivity studies
* Understanding of optical performance metrics
Optoelectronics & Components:
* Understanding of photodetectors and light sources.
* Knowledge of optical components: lenses, mirrors, prisms, gratings, filters.
* Understanding of optical coatings.
* Fiber optics experience advantageous.
Spectroscopy Knowledge:
* Understanding of spectroscopic principles (absorption, transmission, fluorescence, Raman)
* Familiarity with spectrometer configurations and radiometric concepts
Mechanical Design:
* Experience in SolidWorks, or similar software.
* Understanding of precision opto-mechanical design principles
* Basic FEA knowledge (ANSYS, COMSOL) or willingness to learn
Software Proficiency
* Zemax OpticStudio (or Code V, OSLO, Sigfit, etc)
* SolidWorks (or equivalent CAD)
* MATLAB or Python (highly desired)
Key Attributes
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
* Attention to detail with systematic design validation
* Ability to balance optical performance with practical constraints
* Quality-driven, methodical approach
* Excellent verbal and technical writing skills
* Strong organizational and communication abilities
* Collaborative mindset with cross-functional teams
* Proactive, flexible approach to challenges
* Customer and safety-first mindset
* Flexibility to travel occasionally (UK or abroad)
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