Graduate Optical Engineer

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: 35049 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Location:UK Astronomy Technology Centre Edinburgh
Closing date:19th October 2025
Assessment Centre: December 2025 / January 2026
Start date: September 2026

The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) based at the historic Royal Observatory in Edinburgh is the UKs national laboratory for the design and development of astronomical instrumentation. The UK ATC has a rich heritage of instrumentation development for ground-based observatories as well as space facilities. It employs engineers and scientists across the full range of fields required for modern astronomy (optical design mechanical engineering electronics software systems engineering project management). It also has an extensive track record of successfully applying techniques and technologies developed for astronomy to other sectors (e.g. earth observation/remote sensing environmental monitoring). The UK ATC develops instruments for world leading organisations such as the European Southern Observatory (ESO) the European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The Applied Optics Group supplies to all stages of projects at the UKATC from working with astronomers to define requirements and developing conceptual designs for new instrumentation through to aligning and testing optical systems in the laboratory or even commissioning instruments at a telescope site.

Were pleased to offer a Graduate Optical Engineer the chance to develop a broad range of skills while working alongside experienced members of the team on high profile projects including LISA (space mission for gravitational wave detection for ESA) and instruments for ESOs Extremely Large Telescope ELT.

Graduate Scheme

The STFC Graduate scheme will give you the opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion early in your journey with us supported by technical training and a broader programme of career support and training and development.

Our dedicated Graduate Development Team will provide the right combination of challenge and support throughout helping you achieve your ambitions. We know that professional recognition is also important to you too so we will provide mentoring and expertise to help you achieve valued qualifications or chartered status in your chosen field.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

You will be encouraged to work on different projects mostly related to ground based astronomical instrumentation or space technology. These will range from small scale design studies through to large scale multinational instrumentation projects. Part of your time will be spent working on the LISA project a high profile ESA mission. You will join the team developing and testing the alignment and assembly techniques needed to build the optical assemblies that will sit at the heart of the three spacecraft to detect gravitational waves.

Key duties:

• Design and analysis of optical systems using ray tracing software working with engineers from other fields (e.g. mechanical engineering systems engineering) to supply to a complete system design.
• Laboratory testing and alignment of optical components and systems
• Analysis of experimental and modelled data
• Chipping in to written reports and presentations.
• Managing your own time across a number of projects

This is a great opportunity to have close interactions with the other groups within UKATC including scientists other engineering fields and project management. More broadly you will be included in international teams and therefore some national and international travel is encouraged - a great chance to network!

Person Specification

In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:

Essential:

• Achieved or be on course to achieve a minimum 2:1 degree in a relevant field of study (S)
• Have the right to live and work in the UK at time of starting employment (S)
• Understanding of basic principles of geometric and wave optics (S&I)
• A practical approach to problem solving (S&I)
• Technical computing skills (e.g. Python MatLab etc.) (S)
• Awareness of measurement techniques and/or technology used in astronomy (S&I)
• Good communication and presentation skills (S&I)
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team both on-site nationally and internationally (I)

Desirable:

• Experience of using optical design software (e.g. Zemax Code V) (S)
• Experience of designing and/or building optical instrumentation (S&I)
• A curiosity about astronomy space science and/or space technology (S&I)

Employee Benefits

We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Link to more benefits: note if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK as part of your sponsorship application you and any dependants travelling with you will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information please visit or contact

Application Guidance

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

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