Physicist – Photonics & Optics

Cambridge Consultants
United Kingdom
3 weeks ago
Posted
17 Apr 2026 (3 weeks ago)

Introduction

We are looking for a Physicist with a passion for innovation and technology to join our Applied Science team. You will be motivated by the idea of applying your theoretical knowledge and experimental skill to create real-world solutions.

This is an exciting opportunity for a recent PhD graduate or early career researcher to tackle challenges across a range of industries—including Defence, Healthcare, and Energy—by applying your scientific understanding, and your drive and curiosity to learn new things.

What we offer

This role offers a wide variety of technical challenges and opportunities for personal development. It will involve both practical and desk-based work across diverse technical areas, working within multidisciplinary teams.

While your work will span diverse areas of optical physics and beyond, a central focus will be on designing and developing photonic integrated circuits, and the next-generation products they will enable.

A background in integrated photonics is not a requirement for the role; there will be tailored opportunities to learn and upskill. This position offers an excellent chance to become an expert in the rapidly growing field of integrated photonics.

We take pride in being ahead of the curve—working with and developing innovative new technology. The projects we work on are highly diverse, and you will combine your existing skills and knowledge with an appetite to rapidly identify and assimilate whatever new information is necessary to solve the problem at hand. Examples of recent work undertaken for our clients include:

  • Design and test of a photonic chip for sensing biomolecules
  • Development of a novel imaging system based on multi-wavelength holography
  • Teardown and reverse engineering of complex high-power laser instrument for industrial application
  • Development of a miniaturised magnetic positioning system for a high-volume consumer product
  • Development of a photonic chip for the projection of structured light

We are a nurturing team. You will be supported to develop your career in the direction you want, with mentoring and training provided. Opportunities for development and progression are varied and will be tailored to the interests, experience, and skills of the successful candidate, with scope to develop increased technical, commercial, and/or programme expertise and leadership.

What you bring

You will have research experience in a field related to optics or photonics, combined with excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and a collaborative approach. We are looking for someone who enjoys being hands on in the lab as well as conducting desk-based analysis.

You should have:

  • A desire to work on both on optical and photonic systems.
  • Practical experience of either free-space optics, fibre-optic systems, or photonic devices.
  • This role will include work on technologies for defence. Therefore, you must be eligible for UK security clearance.

In addition, you should have experience with 1 of the following:

  • Photonic design (e.g. using Ansys Lumerical)
  • Fabrication and test of photonic devices
  • Optical system design (e.g. using Zemax)
  • Optical metasurfaces
  • Numerical simulation and data analysis using scripting tools, like Python or MATLAB
  • Electronics or software for experiment automation
  • Practical/research experience in other areas of applied physics, e.g. magnetism, RF, ultrasound

Most importantly, you must be keen to take on new challenges, learn on the job, and grow your capabilities.

Related Jobs

View all jobs
Spotlight

Senior ML Compiler Engineer

Fractile Bristol, United Kingdom
Spotlight

Machine Learning Engineer - National Security (Gloucestershire)

Mind Foundry Gloucester, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
On-site Clearance Required

Physicist - 2026 summer placement

Cambridge Consultants United Kingdom
On-site Clearance Required

PhD Physicist - 2026 summer placement

Cambridge Consultants United Kingdom
On-site Clearance Required

Graduate AI Engineer (2026 start)

Cambridge Consultants United Kingdom

Optics Physicist - Vision Systems

ECM Selection United Kingdom
£30,000 – £45,000 pa On-site Clearance Required

Computer Vision Physicist / Engineer

ECM Selection Saffron Walden, CB10 1NQ, United Kingdom

Senior AI Engineer - Applied

PhysicsX London, United Kingdom

Industry Insights

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

Where to Advertise Machine Learning Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Advertising machine learning jobs in the UK requires a different approach to most technical hiring. The candidate pool is small, highly specialised and in demand across AI labs, financial services, healthcare, autonomous systems and consumer technology simultaneously. Machine learning engineers and researchers move between roles through professional networks, conference communities and specialist platforms — not general job boards where ML roles compete with unrelated software engineering positions for the same audience. This guide, published by MachineLearningJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise machine learning roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about hiring across different role types.

Machine Learning Jobs UK 2026: What to Expect Over the Next 3 Years

Machine learning has undergone a transformation that few technology disciplines can match. In the space of three years it has moved from a specialism sitting at the edges of most organisations' technology strategies to a capability that sits at the centre of them. The tools have changed, the expectations have shifted, and the range of industries treating machine learning as a core business function — rather than an experimental one — has expanded dramatically. For job seekers, this creates both opportunity and complexity in roughly equal measure. The machine learning jobs market of 2026 is significantly larger than it was three years ago, but it is also significantly more demanding. Employers have developed more sophisticated expectations, the technical bar for specialist roles has risen, and the landscape of tools, frameworks, and architectural patterns that practitioners are expected to know has broadened considerably. The candidates who will thrive over the next three years are those who understand where the discipline is heading — which specialisms are attracting the most investment, which technologies are reshaping what machine learning engineers and researchers are expected to build, and how the definition of a machine learning career is evolving beyond the model-building core toward a much wider range of roles across the full ML lifecycle. This article breaks down what the UK machine learning jobs market is likely to look like through to 2028 — covering the titles emerging right now, the technologies driving employer demand, the skills that will matter most, and how to position your career ahead of the curve.

New Machine Learning Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and Global Companies Driving ML Innovation

Machine learning (ML) has transitioned from a specialised field into a core business capability. In 2026, organisations across healthcare, finance, robotics, autonomous systems, natural language processing, and analytics are expanding their machine learning teams to build scalable intelligent products and services. For professionals exploring opportunities on www.MachineLearningJobs.co.uk , understanding the companies that are scaling, winning investment, or securing high‑impact contracts is crucial. This article highlights the new and high‑growth machine learning employers to watch in 2026, focusing on UK innovators, international firms with significant UK presence, and global platforms investing in machine learning talent locally.