Senior Optical Scientist / Engineer

Be part of the QinetiQ journey. Join us as an Senior Optical Scientist at our Malvern site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and many of the industry’s most brilliant minds.

The Role
As a Senior Optical Scientist you will have a role that is out of the ordinary, supporting the design and development of a portfolio of optical sensing products. Working within the Laser and Optics Sensors team within the Physical Sciences discipline, you will be actively involved in developing sensors for use in QinetiQ products, research projects and development of bespoke solutions for novel applications across the breadth of QinetiQ’s business.

Day to day you will:

• Lead and assist in delivery of product, development and research programmes, in particular focus on the sensing modes of the QinetiQ’s software defined laser offering.
• Identify and develop business opportunities with the team and independently.
• Develop programmes of work (plan effort and materials requirements and identify dependencies) and work with project managers to convert to costed project plans.
• Write technical content of proposals/bids/white papers.
• Lead customer demonstrations, presentations, and troubleshooting activities some of which may be overseas.
• Show strong initiative, self-motivation and be able to work as part of and, ultimately, lead a team of scientists and engineers.
• Accountable for time and technical progress. Managing and leading self, providing regular communication of current and future workload.
• Help to encourage and mentor graduates and early career colleagues

This role is full-time, 37-hours per week, based at Malvern Technology Centre.
 
Skills and experience of the Senior Optical Scientist

• Practical experience of bidding for projects with scientific and technical customers
• Prior knowledge or experience of one or more of the following:
  • An optical detection technique (e.g. direct detection, coherent detection, photon counting).
  • An understanding of physical and engineering principles as they relate to laser remote sensing
  • Familiarity with LIDAR
  • Scanning techniques for imaging applications
• An understanding and appreciation of:
  • Software implementation for control, acquisition, processing and visualisation tasks (preferred languages Python, Matlab, LabVIEW, C, C++)
  • Basic analogue and digital electronics

Qualifications for the Senior Optical Scientist

• Typically the candidate will have a good engineering or physics degree and must have a strong understanding of:
  • Laser physics
  • Remote sensing
  • Software defined laser techniques
  • Signal processing (Fourier decomposition, filtering, time and frequency domain processing schemes, modulation/demodulation schemes).

Please note that all applicants must be eligible for SC clearance as a minimum: UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our Benefits

• Adaptive and flexible working
• Generous holiday allowance
• Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows most employees to buy up to 5 days’ additional leave
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant
• Payroll Giving and Volunteering - helping charities and local community

Our volunteering programme enables our people to use their professional skills to make a positive difference in our local communities, for example STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) ambassador days in schools. We support a number of charities that are important to our people, including those which help the defence community. 

Why Join QinetiQ?
As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

You’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. 

About QinetiQ
As a company of thousands of dedicated professionals, we are a world-centre of excellence in research and development and act as a catalyst for fast-track innovation, offering outstanding experimentation facilities, and technical, engineering and scientific expertise. QinetiQ is made up of dedicated experts in defence, aerospace, security and related markets, all working together to explore new ways of protecting what matters most. Being part of QinetiQ means being central to the safety and security of the world around us. Partnering with our customers, we help to save lives; reduce risks to society; and maintain the global infrastructure on which we all depend. Come and find out how you can play a role.

Security
Please note that many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting. Applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment, subject to approval. A number of roles are also subject to restrictions on access to information, which mean factors such as nationality, previous nationalities held and the country in which you were born may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Application Guidance
If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please contact your regional recruiting team in strictest confidence. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.