National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Opportunities in QinetiQ's Laser & Optical Physics Teams

QinetiQ
Farnborough
8 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Strategic Account Executive - Quantum Computing

Physics Graduate - Sales

Physics Graduate - Sales

Treasury Analyst

Senior Quantum Consultant

Quantum Consultant

Job Title: Opportunities in QinetiQ’s Laser & Optical Physics teams

Location: Farnborough, Hampshire

Package: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full-time / Permanent

Role ID: SF17744


It’s an exciting time to be part of QinetiQ. We are always looking for great people to join us as we continue to grow into new markets around the world. We currently have many opportunities and would love to hear from candidates who are interested in joining us now or in the future.

The Laser & Optical Physics teams at QinetiQ Farnborough are looking to add enthusiastic and talented individuals to their team of subject matter experts. Through your experience of optical systems and transferable skills you will be actively involved in delivering cutting-edge research relating to some of the most extreme laser sources, and extending to some truly novel applications. You will have the opportunity to hone your skills and develop deep expertise through close-working mentorship from our experts in optical physics & engineering.

If your skills fit one of our opportunities, we’ll be in contact. If we don’t have a role that’s right for you at the moment, we’ll keep your CV on file for possible opportunities in the future.

What does the Laser & Optical Physics team do?


The team’s primary focus is driving and supporting QinetiQ’s efforts in the UK Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) space. If you are keen to see some of our work the ‘Dragonfire’ system has recently received press attention.

Day to day, we work on technologies ranging from first-demonstration prototypes to complete systems like Dragonfire. In the team you will develop next-generation research ideas, design and build experimental setups, employ systems engineering principles, assemble, integrate and test systems, develop technological strategy, and provide bid-winning support to the business.

Varied career paths are a part of life at QinetiQ. You could specialise in a key skill or particular domain, or work on systems across the business. With increasing demand for Laser and Optical Scientists across our business, your transferable skills and experience are highly desired.

What kind of person are we looking for? Someone who…

Is enthusiastic about photonics Is able to learn whilst on the job and adapt quickly Has a passion for solving problems Enjoys working as part of a team Is able to work independently

Are you just starting you career as a professional scientist?

Looking for your first role and have some experience in Lasers and Optics? Your talents may be a good match for our team. We recruit scientists with transferable skillsets and areas of application. You may have experience in areas such as Optical design, Optical modelling, Machine vision and control, Laser development, sensing, Laser test and evaluation, and much more. Although we will aim to utilise your existing experience you can expect ongoing development to help you excel and advance. Typical responsibilities would include:

Optical modelling, theory, experiments, technical reports and presenting the results Providing input to larger projects as part of a team of subject matter experts Planning, development, and deployment of optical systems in the lab and in the field Deployment to trial sites across the UK

Opportunities for mid-career Scientists

If you’re a mid-career professional working in industry or academia, you’ll be applying your expertise right from day one. To enable you to develop further, expert mentoring is provided, alongside self-development and on-the-job training. There are also opportunities for development of managerial and technical leadership skills. Additional responsibilities include:

Driving new research and ideas Writing technical bids Managing the technical direction of projects Input to our technical strategy Customer-facing delivery

Opportunities for highly experienced Scientists

As a highly experienced Scientist, you can expect to directly drive and support QinetiQ’s strategy in LDEW and take on more advanced technical direction responsibilities, with support as you become familiar with the QinetiQ offering. Our Fellowship scheme recognises and develops professionals with high-level, specialist technical expertise and provides you with the means to chart your own scientific course. We respect that highly experienced scientists can have specialised skills in perhaps a tangential niche in the varied field of optics – we would love to hear from you!

Why we’re different


Our people. Our employees make the critical difference to customers by providing unique answers which combine technical expertise, deep domain knowledge and rigorous independent thinking.

Our independence. QinetiQ is not a manufacturer, and we stand apart from the supply chain. It’s our rigorous independent thinking that helps our customers achieve their goals.

Our breadth of capability. Our customers face challenges that define the modern world. They know we are uniquely placed to understand these issues and work with them to ensure the success of their mission or reach their objectives.

Our relationships with customers. Our prized possession is trust. Customers around the world rely on the drive and dedication of our people to help them meet their goals – often in environments where there is no second chance for failure.

Our partnerships. We use partnerships and alliances to accelerate compelling business development strategies and sustainable earnings growth. By licensing our intellectual property we reduce implementation and sales risk, and speed up time-to-market by using third party sales channels.

Applicants that already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment, subject to approval. A number of roles are also subject to restrictions on access to information that mean factors such as nationality, previous nationalities held and the country in which you were born may have an effect on the roles that you can be employed in.

#LI-BI1

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Find Hidden Quantum Computing Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like BCS, IOP & More

Quantum computing is one of the most exciting and disruptive fields in science and technology. As the UK invests in a national quantum strategy—with funding for hardware, software, cryptography, and applications—demand for quantum talent is growing rapidly. But here’s what most job seekers miss: many quantum computing roles are never posted on public job boards. Instead, opportunities are shared quietly through research partnerships, industry working groups, spinout collaborations, and professional bodies. In this guide, we’ll show you how to access hidden quantum computing jobs in the UK by leveraging organisations like the Institute of Physics (IOP), BCS, Quantum Technology Hubs, UKRI, and other key communities. We’ll explore how to use membership directories, SIGs (Special Interest Groups), CPD events, and project funding announcements to gain visibility, build relationships, and find roles long before they’re advertised.

How to Get a Better Quantum Computing Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Redundancy in the emerging field of quantum computing can feel particularly discouraging, especially after years of specialised training and research. But as the UK continues to invest in quantum technologies across academia, defence, computing and cryptography, new roles are opening in both startups and national programmes. Whether you're a physicist, quantum software engineer, hardware specialist, or quantum algorithm researcher, this guide will help you turn redundancy into an opportunity for career growth.

Quantum Computing Jobs Salary Calculator 2025: Work Out Your True Worth in Seconds

Why yesterday’s pay survey is meaningless in today’s quantum landscape Ask a Quantum Software Engineer debugging Qiskit kernels at midnight, a Cryogenic Hardware Engineer coaxing qubits below 10 mK, or a Quantum Algorithm Researcher squeezing decoherence budgets: “Am I earning what I deserve?” The honest answer shifts faster than a Rabi oscillation. Since early 2024, the UK Government funded £2.5 billion across its National Quantum Strategy, Amazon Braket and Azure Quantum slashed circuit prices, & post‑quantum cryptography mandates yanked quantum literacy into cyber road‑maps. Each shock nudges salary bands. Any PDF salary guide printed last year looks like an outdated calibration curve—blind to the silicon spin‑qubit breakthroughs in Cambridge, the Oxford ion‑trap scale‑ups, or the London quantum‑software unicorn that closed a £200 million Series C. To swap guesswork for evidence, QuantumComputingJobs.co.uk has distilled a transparent, three‑factor formula. Feed in your discipline, region, & seniority & you’ll instantly see a realistic 2025 salary benchmark—no stale averages, no vague “competitive” claims. This article unpacks that formula, highlights the forces pushing quantum‑computing pay skywards, & gives five practical moves to lift your market value inside ninety days.