Creating better light for a
better world

Location: United Kingdom – Remote
Department: Research & Development
Reports to: Photodigm Leadership Team
Travel: Regular travel within the UK and Europe, with occasional international travel to Photodigm’s headquarters in Richardson, Texas

About Photodigm

Photodigm is a U.S.-based semiconductor laser manufacturer and a global leader in single-frequency distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diodes. From our vertically integrated facility in Richardson, Texas, we design and manufacture precision laser solutions for quantum technologies, spectroscopy, metrology, atomic clocks, biomedical instrumentation, sensing, and other advanced photonics applications.

Our product portfolio includes monolithic DBR laser diodes, tapered amplifiers, and semiconductor optical gain devices. Photodigm combines technical innovation, scalable manufacturing, and close customer collaboration to enable next-generation photonic systems.

Position Overview

Photodigm is seeking a Senior Photonics Solutions R&D Engineer based remotely in the United Kingdom. This senior technical role will lead the development of photonics solutions that integrate Photodigm’s semiconductor laser technology into customer applications and emerging platforms.

The successful candidate will work at the intersection of research, product development, and customer engagement. This individual will collaborate directly with customers, research institutions, commercial partners, and Photodigm’s engineering and manufacturing teams to understand technical requirements, develop application-specific solutions, and accelerate the adoption of Photodigm products.

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced photonics professional who enjoys solving complex technical problems, building laboratory systems, and translating advanced research into commercially viable products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and evaluation of photonics solutions incorporating Photodigm DBR laser diodes, tapered amplifiers, and gain devices.
• Develop laser-based systems and application demonstrations for quantum sensing, atomic physics, precision metrology, spectroscopy, life sciences, and related markets.
• Work directly with customers and partners to understand system requirements and recommend appropriate laser configurations.
• Serve as a senior technical resource for Photodigm’s customers, distributors, and commercial team throughout the UK and Europe.
• Design and execute laboratory experiments to characterize laser performance, including linewidth, wavelength stability, tuning behavior, optical power, beam quality, noise, and long-term reliability.
• Develop optical setups, control systems, prototypes, evaluation platforms, and proof-of-concept demonstrations.
• Translate customer and market requirements into clear product specifications and development priorities.
• Collaborate remotely with Photodigm’s R&D, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and commercial teams in the United States.
• Troubleshoot complex laser, optical, electronic, and system-integration issues.
• Support customer evaluations, product qualification, design-in activities, and new product introductions.
• Identify opportunities for new products, wavelength extensions, packaging options, and application-specific solutions.
• Establish collaborations with universities, national laboratories, research organizations, and commercial technology companies.
• Represent Photodigm at technical conferences, industry events, customer meetings, and scientific workshops.
• Prepare technical reports, application notes, presentations, experimental documentation, and customer-facing technical materials.
• Monitor developments in semiconductor lasers, quantum technologies, spectroscopy, sensing, and adjacent photonics markets.
• Contribute to intellectual property development and maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding customer and company technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in physics, photonics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Significant professional experience in photonics, laser development, optical systems, or applied research and development.
• Strong hands-on experience designing, assembling, aligning, and testing laser and optical systems.
• Working knowledge of semiconductor laser technology, preferably including DBR, DFB, external-cavity, or tapered-amplifier systems.
• Experience with laser characterization equipment and techniques, such as optical spectrum analysers, wavelength meters, interferometers, beam profilers, power meters, and noise measurements.
• Ability to translate scientific or customer requirements into practical engineering solutions.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex technical projects.
• Strong analytical, experimental, troubleshooting, and documentation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both scientific and commercial audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, internationally distributed organization.
• Must reside in the United Kingdom and have the legal right to work in the UK.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in physics, photonics, optical engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with narrow-linewidth or single-frequency semiconductor lasers.
• Knowledge of atomic physics applications involving rubidium, cesium, ytterbium, helium, or other atomic species.
• Experience in quantum sensing, atomic clocks, cold-atom systems, precision spectroscopy, metrology, biomedical optics, or advanced instrumentation.
• Familiarity with laser frequency locking, modulation, amplification, fibre coupling, and optical system control.
• Experience using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar tools for instrument control and data analysis.
• Experience working with OEM customers or converting research requirements into commercial products.
• Established relationships within the UK or European photonics, quantum, university, or national-laboratory communities.
• Experience supporting funded research collaborations or joint development programmes.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a highly capable experimentalist who combines scientific depth with a practical, customer-focused mindset. This person will be comfortable moving between laboratory research, product development, technical problem-solving, and customer engagement.

The successful candidate will be self-directed, collaborative, commercially aware, and motivated by the opportunity to help customers apply precision semiconductor laser technology to demanding real-world applications.

Why Join Photodigm?

• Help develop advanced laser solutions for rapidly growing markets, including quantum technologies, sensing, metrology, spectroscopy, and life sciences.
• Work directly with an experienced semiconductor laser design and manufacturing team.
• Influence Photodigm’s product roadmap and European technical strategy.
• Collaborate with leading researchers globally.
• Join a growing photonics company with vertically integrated design and manufacturing capabilities.
• Work in a highly visible senior role with meaningful technical ownership and opportunities for professional growth.

How to Apply

Candidates must submit their CV by email to careers@photodigm.com with the subject line “Senior Photonics Solutions R&D Engineer – UK.” Photodigm is committed to building an inclusive workplace and considers qualified applicants without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.