Optical Systems Engineer
Job Summary
Job Description
Optical Systems Engineer
UKRI- STFC
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot
£39,748 - £44,166 (plus an additional role-based allowance dependent on skills and experience)
Full time/Part Time (minimum 30 hours per week)
Permanent
About Us
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest science research organisations. We’re trusted to support, enable and undertake pioneering projects in an amazing diversity of field.
As part of UK Research and Innovation, STFC offers a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas shut down, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and social and sporting activities and societies.
About the role
RAL Space, UKRI’s space laboratory based at STFC’s Harwell Campus has had significant roles in over 210 space missions and are at the forefront of UK space research.
The Optical Systems Group is responsible for the conception, design, development, procurement, assembly, integration and test of optical systems for space instrumentation in Space Science, Solar Research, Earth Observation, Planetary Science and Optical Communications.
The work spans the entire project life-cycle, from early stage conceptual R&D right through to instrument verification and calibration, and potentially post-launch mission support. In addition, RAL Space has key roles in ground-based astronomical instrumentation through the UK’s Astronomy programme. New RAL Space projects with significant optical engineering requirements include ARIEL (an Exoplanet mission for ESA), Lagrange (an ESA Space Weather mission, to monitor the Sun for solar activity that can potentially disrupt technology infrastructures at the Earth) and a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) secure communications technology demonstrator (a UK-Singapore collaboration).
Your work will range from design studies for future instruments through to alignment and test of flight hardware and you can expect to follow projects from the concept stage right through to successful operation.
About you
- A degree (or equivalent) in optics, physics or a related discipline
- A proven track-record in the design, optimisation, analysis and procurement, building and testing of optical systems
- Experience in optical alignment and measuring techniques/ tools
- Understanding of stray-light effects in optical remote-sensing, and its control measures and analysis methods in design.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to include a cover letter outlining their suitability for this role.
Applications are handled by UK Shared Business Services, to apply please visit our job board at Optical Systems Engineer - Careers Portal Careers. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.
The closing date for applications is 3rd October 2021.