Optical Engineer

Location: Highfield Campus

Full time fixed term until 28/02/2028

Interview date: To be confirmed

The University of Southampton's Hollow Core Fibre Group is seeking an Optical Engineer to develop advanced optical fibre characterisation capabilities supporting world-leading research and industrial programmes. We are seeking an experienced and highly capable experimental scientist or engineer to design, implement, and continuously improve sophisticated optical measurement systems. The role combines experimental physics, optical metrology, automation, software development, data acquisition, reliability testing, and data analysis.

You will join a collaborative, supportive group and have the opportunity to thrive in a university environment developing future technology. You will work and grow in a team whose culture centres on people, collegiality, quality, internationalisation, and sustainability.

The post is funded through 28^th February 2028 and is therefore offered on a fixed-term basis. However, there is a strong likelihood of extension, subject to the availability of continued funding.

In this role you will:

• Design and implement bespoke optical measurement systems for characterisation of hollow-core fibres and fibre-optic components.
• Develop and deploy new characterisation techniques and measurement capabilities.
• Design, implement, and maintain automated experimental systems using MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW or similar software environments.
• Develop software for instrument control, data acquisition, and data processing.
• Create and maintain uncertainty models, calibration procedures, and measurement error budgets.
• Evaluate, interpret, and report complex experimental datasets.
• Perform advanced optical measurements including, e.g.: OTDR, OFDR, loss, modal characterisation. 
• Design and execute reliability testing, accelerated life testing and qualification programmes for fibre-optic components and systems.
• Communicate technical findings and recommendations to researchers, industrial partners and external customers.
• Support researchers, students, and technical colleagues through training, technical guidance and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to the development of future laboratory capabilities, instrumentation, and measurement methodologies.

Essential skills and experience

• Significant experience in photonics, optical fibres, experimental physics, optical engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Experience designing, implementing or improving complex scientific or engineering measurement systems.
• Experience developing software for instrument control, data acquisition, and data processing using MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent platforms.
• Experience interpreting complex experimental datasets.
• Experience communicating technical findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong understanding of optical measurement principles and experimental methodology.
• Experience troubleshooting complex technical or experimental systems.
• Strong organisational and planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience with hollow-core optical fibres.
• Experience with OTDR, OFDR or advanced fibre-optic reflectometry techniques.
• Experience with measurement uncertainty analysis, metrology or error-budget development.
• Experience with fibre-optic component qualification and reliability testing, e.g. Telcordia or comparable standards.
• Familiarity with accelerated life testing, highly accelerated stress screening (HASS), or related methodologies.
• Experience designing bespoke laboratory instrumentation or automated measurement systems.
• Experience with advanced fibre splicing and fibre handling techniques.

What we offer

• Opportunity to develop cutting-edge optical measurement technologies within a globally recognised research group.
• A collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for technical leadership and panalysisrofessional development.
• Access to world-class research facilities and expertise.
• Opportunity to shape the future measurement capabilities of a rapidly growing research area.

For general inquiries regarding this position, please contact Professor Austin Taranta, a.a.taranta@soton.ac.uk.

Further details:

• Job Description and Person Specification

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.

The University is a signatory of the Technician Commitment and a partner affiliate of the National Technician Development Centre (NTDC).

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