Systems Engineer - Photonics & Acoustics

Systems Engineer – Photonics & Acoustics

Location: Chelmsford, Essex (Hybrid)

Salary: £50,000–£65,000 + 2.5% bonus

A leading defence organisation is looking for a Systems Engineer to join their Photonics & Acoustics R&D team based in Chelmsford. This is a hands-on, mid-senior role working on rapid prototypes and cutting-edge technologies in photonics, acoustics, sensors, and multi-domain communications.

You’ll be part of a highly innovative R&D environment, collaborating across teams to take early-stage concepts through to practical demonstrators, with exposure to bids, programme work, and applied technology development.

What we’re looking for:

• Degree or higher in Physics, Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or similar.

• Experience in systems integration, prototyping, or low-TRL technology development.

• Ideally familiar with optical communications, fibre optics, lasers, RF/mm-wave, or sensor/imaging systems.

• Mid-senior level with some project ownership and mentoring or coaching experience.

• Ability to transition research or academic expertise into practical industrial delivery.

Bonus: Strong systems engineers with MBSE experience (SysML...