Senior Optical Engineer — Hybrid, Edinburgh

Are you an Optical Engineer who would relish the opportunity to work on one of our flagship programmes, such as DragonFire: the UK’s first Laser Directed Energy Weapon, or the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP): to deliver the next‑generation of threat‑defeat technology or advancing the technology of our world‑leading targeting lasers?

We’re currently seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to join our Advanced Targeting Sector in Edinburgh. Your focus will be on rigorous modelling of novel concepts, technology maturation, precision alignment during integration, and system‑level verification. By accepting this challenge, you will have the chance to contribute directly to sovereign defence technologies that enhance operational effectiveness in contested environments, while collaborating with a growing team of experienced optical designers.

Your responsibilities

• Development of Optical‑Mechanical concepts; including system architecture definition, develop lens designs, carry out analysis and performance simulations.
• Providing capability in modelling or designing imaging lenses and optical systems using appropriate commercial tools such as ZEMAX OpticStudio, CodeV or equivalent.
• Development of test processes for Engineering and/or Technicians to build and align the next generation of electro‑optical systems.
• Develop and support system verification processes to ensure these electro‑optical systems meet both performance and safety requirements.
• Investigate new technologies and engineering capabilities to address emerging business opportunities.
• Develop work packages to scope milestones and deliverables within a project team environment and demonstrate ownership of those work packages.
• Engaging with procurement to identify new suppliers or support supplier quality issues.

What you’ll bring

• Classical optics principles, demonstrated through relevant graduate‑level qualifications.
• Techniques for Lens Design and Optical Analysis using appropriate commercial tools such as Ansys OpticStudio, CodeV, Fred or equivalent.
• Experience of new product development of a product which includes an optical‑mechanical system.
• Development or verification of an Infrared Optical Systems or multi‑waveband optical system.
• Methods used to investigate optical transmission or reflectance of different optical coatings.
• Methods used for Stray light analysis and control.
• Optical techniques for measuring and transmitted wavefront error.
• Optical design of fiber to free‑space optics.
• Experience designing across a range of temperatures and environments.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance, please visit:

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At Leonardo, we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace.

Primary Location: Edinburgh

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid

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