Senior Optical Engineer

Orion Electrotech
Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Last week
£60,000 – £65,000 pa

Salary

£60,000 – £65,000 pa

Job Type
Permanent
Work Location
Hybrid
Seniority
Senior
Education
Degree
Posted
21 May 2026 (Last week)

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits Career progression Company pension

Senior Optical Engineer

Orion is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Optical Engineer on behalf of our client to join their dynamic engineering team. This senior-level position plays a vital role in enhancing our biometric products by leading end-to-end optical design, testing, and optimisation of imaging and illumination systems. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary teams and external suppliers to ensure our devices meet the highest standards of quality, performance, and reliability.

Responsibilities of the Senior Optical Engineer:

Design, develop, and test optical imaging and illumination systems for biometric identification devices.

Analyse tolerances and specifications for production readiness.

Communicate with global customers and suppliers regarding technical specifications.

Identify, evaluate, and test commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) optical components.

Provide technical expertise and support for project planning and development.

Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and software teams on measurement methods, sensor selection, and optical design.

Prototype, test, and optimise optical designs, troubleshooting performance issues in manufacturing and testing environments.

Requirements of the Senior Optical Engineer:

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in applied physics, Optical Design, or a related field (e.g., optics, mechanical engineering, precision mechanics).

Proven experience in optical design and testing.

Strong knowledge of geometrical optics, optical sensors (CMOS, CCD), and optical design software Zemax (including macro language).

Hands-on experience with optical breadboards, prototypes, and component testing.

Familiarity with semiconductor illumination sources such as LEDs and laser diodes.

Understanding of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Testing (DFT).

Leadership skills, with the ability to guide other optical engineers and perform multidisciplinary tasks.

Benefits for the Senior Optical Engineer:

Competitive salary and benefits.

Career progression.

Possibility of hybrid work.

Company pension.

If this Senior Optical Engineer position is of interest, please click Apply or get in touch with Steven at Orion

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