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Optical Instrumentation Engineer | Spectroscopy | Analytical Instrumentation | | AI | Photonics | He

iLoF
City of London
1 month ago
Applications closed

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Company Description

Hello! We're looking for an awesome Optical Instrumentation Engineer to join our team on our journey to revolutionize personalized medicine.

Job Description

  • System design & assembly: Personally design, build, align, and calibrate novel optical analytical instruments (e.g., Raman, FTIR, fluorescence, scattering) from concept and component selection through to bench assembly and validation.
  • Hands-on prototyping: Solve optical/mechanical design challenges, design custom components/fixtures, and iterate rapidly to hit performance targets.
  • Systems integration: Integrate optics with detectors/light sources, motion/actuation, electronics, fluidics, and software control to deliver fully functional prototypes.
  • Testing & validation: Plan and execute experiments; analyze data to troubleshoot and optimize SNR, resolution, stability, dynamic range; own verification against specifications.
  • Technical guidance: Serve as in-house subject-matter expert for spectroscopy-advise on component selection (gratings, filters, objectives, fibers, detectors), system architecture, and experimental methodology.
  • Documentation & knowledge transfer: Maintain design files, BOMs, alignment procedures, and test reports; ensure reproducibility; support IP filings and hand-off to manufacturing.
  • Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with scientists, assay developers, data scientists, and QA/RA to ensure instruments meet biological, analytical, and regulatory needs.
  • Safety & compliance: Uphold lab/laser safety; support design controls and documentation aligned with ISO 13485 (and related standards when in scope).
  • Innovation: Track advances in spectroscopy/optics; prototype and evaluate new architectures to push platform capability.

This role is based in London and collaborates with teams in the UK and abroad.

Qualifications

  • An advanced degree (PhD or exceptional MSc) in Physics, Optics/Photonics, Nanoscience, or related engineering field.
  • 3+ years industry experience designing, building, and operating complex optical systems from scratch in a lab environment.
  • Deep, practical knowledge of Raman/FTIR/fluorescence/scattering instrumentation and how to build/align such systems.
  • Strong hands-on skills in opto-mechanics, precision alignment, stray-light control, and thermal/vibration management.
  • Experience with data acquisition & control (e.g., Python/Matlab/C++/LabVIEW, pyVISA; motion stages/controllers).
  • Plus: Familiarity with optical & mechanical CAD (e.g., Zemax/OpticStudio, SolidWorks/Onshape) and tolerance analysis.
  • Plus: experience maturing prototypes toward production (DfX, manufacturability, reliability), and mentoring junior engineers/scientists.
  • Advantageous: fiber optics, micro-optics, microfluidics, laser safety, electronics, and signal processing/statistics.

Cultural Skills

  • Builder's mindset: hands-on, resourceful, and relentless about quality.
  • Low-ego collaborator who elevates a multidisciplinary team.
  • Mission-driven and patient-centered, comfortable in a fast-paced startup.

iLoF is building an AI-powered platform capable of transforming precision medicine. Our goal is to become the platform that democratizes access to personalized medicine for millions of people living with complex diseases around the globe.

We offer a high-paced, flexible environment, a stimulating atmosphere with room for creativity, and the opportunity to work with a world-class, talented team.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates.


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