Optical Physicist - Complex R&D - Cambridge

Cambridge
9 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Drone Pilot Operator

Lead FPGA Engineer

New Product Introduction Engineer

Lead Imaging Developer

Site Engineer

Technical Sales Manager / Sales Engineer – Electrical Electronics

Optical Physicist - Complex R&D - Cambridge

A leading technology innovator in the heart of Cambridge's tech hub are looking for an optical physicist to join their up-and-coming team of engineers and scientists.

Because of the nature of the work and the culture of the business we are looking for people who love solving complex engineering problems and who have a passion for optics.

As an Optical Physicist you will be applying your sound engineering and physics experience to the design of highly complex devices and hardware, all aiming to provide a step-change in innovation. Your work will involve coming up with new ideas and inventions around advanced technologies and you will take your ideas from initial concept all the way through to manufacturing.

The types of devices that you will be optics-based, including propagation, imaging systems, fibre optics, high power and ultrafast lasers, fluorescence imaging and interaction of light with real-world surfaces.

You will be joining a well-established team of engineers, scientists and innovators and will also have new projects on the horizon as this company invests heavily into research and development.

To be considered for this exciting Optical Physicist you will need to have experience of developing optics-based technologies within a commercial setting, coupled with a strong academics and first principles knowledge and excellent pen-and-paper maths skills. This role is in the defence industry which means that the role is open to British nationals only, due to security clearance criteria.

In exchange for your skills and expertise, the company offer a highly competitive package as well as providing excellent career progression and training.

For more information, please call Matthew Lowdon of Newton Colmore Consulting on (phone number removed) or make an application and one of our team will be in touch.

Newton Colmore Consulting is a highly specialist recruitment consultancy operating within the medical devices, Scientific Engineering, Scientific Software, Robotics, Science, Electronics Design, New Product Design, Human Factors, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance and Field Service Engineering sectors throughout Europe and the US.

Key words: Optics, physics, optical physicist, science, research, engineering, design, Cambridge

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 Many Robotics Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Robotics Job?

If you’re pursuing a career in robotics, it can feel like the list of tools you should learn never ends. One job advert asks for ROS, another mentions Gazebo, another wants experience with Python, Linux, C++, RobotStudio, MATLAB/Simulink, perception stacks, control frameworks, real-time OS, vision libraries — and that’s just scratching the surface. With so many frameworks, languages and platforms, it’s no wonder robotics job seekers feel overwhelmed. But here’s the honest truth most recruiters won’t say explicitly: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can apply the right tools to solve real robotics problems reliably and explain your reasoning clearly. Tools matter — but only in service of outcomes. So the real question isn’t how many tools you should know, but which tools you should master and why. For most robotics roles, the answer is significantly fewer — and far more focused — than you might assume. This article breaks down what employers really expect, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look capable, confident, and ready to contribute from day one.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Robotics Job Applications (UK Guide)

Robotics is one of the most dynamic, interdisciplinary fields in technology — blending mechanical systems, embedded software, controls, perception (AI/vision), modelling, simulation and systems integration. Hiring managers in this space are highly selective because robotics teams need people who can solve real-world problems under constraints, work across disciplines, and deliver safe, reliable systems. And here’s the reality: hiring managers do not read every word of your CV. Like in many tech domains, they scan quickly — often forming a judgement in the first 10–20 seconds. In robotics, those first signals are especially important because the work is complex and there’s a wide range of candidate backgrounds. This guide unpacks exactly what hiring managers look for first in robotics applications and how to optimise your CV, portfolio and cover letter so you stand out in the UK market.

The Skills Gap in Robotics Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Robotics is no longer confined to science fiction or isolated research labs. Today, robots perform critical tasks across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, defence, hospitality and even education. In the UK, businesses are embracing automation to improve productivity, reduce costs and tackle labour shortages. Yet despite strong interest and a growing number of university programmes in robotics, many employers report a persistent problem: graduates are not job-ready for real-world robotics roles. This is not a question of intelligence or dedication. It is a widening skills gap between what universities teach and what employers actually need in robotics jobs. In this article, we’ll explore that gap in depth — what universities do well, where their programmes often fall short, why the disconnect exists, what employers really want, and how you can bridge the divide to build a thriving career in robotics.