Lead Photonics Engineer

ABOUT THE COMPANY
This is a global quantum technology business developing quantum computers, sensors and networks by applying quantum mechanics to real world problems. The company builds an ecosystem of devices and platforms spanning fundamental physics through to commercial products, with a mission to bring atom based quantum products to market that deliver step changes in performance for computing and related applications.

LOCATION
The company operates from sites in the USA, UK and Australia. This is a full time role based primarily from an office in Oxfordshire, with occasional travel required to a nearby quantum research facility. Hybrid working is available, up to two days a week from home, subject to business needs and manager approval.

ROLE OVERVIEW
The Photonics Technical Lead plays a strategic role in developing and advancing the company's integrated photonics capability, working closely with technical and business leaders across the group to move emerging technologies into products and customer facing solutions.

Acting as UK technical lead and main point of contact for integrated photonics, the role owns the photonics roadmap across a portfolio of projects covering photonic integrated circuits (PICs), laser systems and integrated photonic subsystems for quantum applications. It involves close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across the company's UK, US and Australian operations to keep technology development aligned with strategy, product roadmaps and customer requirements.

Core responsibilities span technical project oversight, leading photonics research and development, managing technical staff, building external partnerships, and identifying routes to commercialise photonics technology. The right candidate will pair strong technical depth with the leadership skills needed to help build and grow the company's global photonics capability.

Project and Technical Leadership
• Lead the UK integrated photonics capability and act as the main technical point of contact for photonics
activity.
• Oversee technical performance across a portfolio of photonics projects, ensuring alignment with
business, product and customer objectives.
• Develop and maintain technical roadmaps for PICs, laser systems and integrated photonic subsystems.
• Work with Quantum Systems teams to identify and develop integrated photonics opportunities.
• Set technical objectives, assess feasibility, manage technical risk and support delivery of projects.
• Present technical updates, milestone reviews, design reviews and recommendations to internal and
external stakeholders.
• Identify technologies suited to product development, commercialisation and IP protection.
Integrated Photonics Development
• Lead the design, simulation, layout, fabrication, testing and packaging of silicon photonics PICs.
• Design and develop photonic components, including lasers, modulators, passive devices and integrated
subsystems.
• Work with foundry partners, III to V gain chip suppliers and packaging companies to develop and
integrate photonic devices.
• Lead laboratory testing and characterisation of PIC based devices, including automated test methods.
• Characterise lasers and modulated laser systems, covering DC measurements, frequency noise, relative
intensity noise and high speed waveform analysis.
• Evaluate micro combs and PIC based approaches for miniature frequency combs and atom addressing
applications.
Team, Stakeholder and Partner Engagement
• Build, lead and mentor technical contributors within the photonics team.
• Assign responsibilities and guide project level technical contributors towards successful outcomes.
• Work closely with global technical teams across the UK, US and Australia.
• Act as technical interface with partners, suppliers, subcontractors, customers and collaborators.
• Support proposal development, statements of work, technical planning and externally funded programme
activity.
• Promote strong health and safety practice and a safe working culture in laboratory environments.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING
Technical Knowledge
• PhD in Photonics, Optoelectronics or a related discipline.
• Deep expertise in integrated photonics and PIC based device development.
• Advanced proficiency in photonics simulation techniques, such as FDTD, EME, FEM, BPM or similar
methods.
• Hands on experience with commercial photonics design, simulation and layout tools such as Lumerical,
Synopsys or similar.
• Strong understanding of silicon photonics design, layout, fabrication, packaging and test workflows.
• Experience with lasers, modulators, passive photonic devices, frequency combs and high speed optical
measurement systems.
• Able to quickly grasp complex technical concepts and explain them clearly to both technical and non
technical audiences.

Experience
• 5+ years post PhD experience developing PIC based devices or integrated photonic systems in quantum,
telecom, sensing, datacom or related fields.
• Experience leading technical projects, teams or work packages in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Experience working with foundries, packaging partners, component suppliers or external collaborators.
• A track record of taking complex technologies from concept through validation, prototype or product
transition.
• Experience supporting proposals, externally funded projects or customer facing technical programmes.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, collaborative, matrixed environment.

Desirable
• Experience with atomic physics applications.
• Experience with heterogeneous integration of III to V and silicon photonic devices.
• Knowledge of micro combs, optical frequency combs or laser frequency stabilisation.
• Experience with automated photonics test systems and data analysis.
• Familiarity with product development, commercialisation and IP generation.

BENEFITS
• Competitive salary
• Incentive stock option plan
• Generous 10% company pension contribution regardless of employee contribution
• Cycle to work scheme
• Tax efficient technology schemes
• Private healthcare insurance on successful completion of probation
• Unlimited PTO, subject to fair usage
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed