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Salary: GBP 65,000 - 0 / annual
Opsydia, a specialist laser technology company spun out from the University of Oxford in 2017, is seeking an R&D Manager to lead and coordinate the company's research and development activities. The role will ensure technical projects are prioritized, resourced, and delivered in line with commercial objectives, customer commitments, and the product roadmap.
Working closely with the CTO and cross-functional teams, you will drive innovation through structured project delivery, ensuring new technologies are successfully transitioned into reliable, manufacturable commercial products. The company's platform enables the creation of functional devices in optical glass, diamond, and other transparent media, powering applications in datacoms, quantum technologies, and advanced sensing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the R&D roadmap, ensuring alignment with company strategy, customer requirements, and commercial priorities
- Prioritize and deliver R&D programmes, balancing innovation, technical risk, and resource allocation
- Translate technical objectives into structured projects with clear milestones, deliverables, and accountability
- Lead cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful product development and transfer to manufacture
- Manage project performance, resources, and risks while driving continuous improvement in delivery practices
- Support IP development, strategic partnerships, and customer-facing technical activities
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing R&D team, building capability for future growth
The role is full-time with hybrid and flexible working arrangements where appropriate. As a hardware company, hands-on system and collaboration time is valued, and office presence is expected when required. The company is based at Begbroke Science Park north of Oxford, which offers comprehensive on-site facilities including a restaurant, coffee shop, free parking, and a minibus service.
Requirements:
- Proven experience leading technical or scientific teams within a complex development environment
- Strong technical background in photonics, optics, laser processing, precision systems, or related technologies
- Demonstrable track record of innovation, product development, and/or IP generation
- Excellent project and priority management skills, balancing innovation with delivery discipline
- Experience translating technical challenges into structured plans with measurable outcomes
- Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Commercial awareness and understanding of the role of R&D in supporting business growth and customer commitments
- Ability to communicate priorities, risks, and trade-offs effectively to senior leadership and customers
- Experience representing a company at customer meetings, conferences, or industry events
- Degree qualified in Physics, Engineering, Photonics, or a related discipline
- Significant experience in metrology, optics, and control systems, ideally with exposure to industrial-grade system integration and supplier engagement
Desirable Experience:
- Background within a technology scale-up, advanced manufacturing, or product development environment
- Knowledge of ultrafast laser processing, integrated photonics, optical systems, or precision motion control
- Experience managing academic partnerships, external collaborators, or customer-funded development programmes
- Experience contributing to grant applications, collaborative R&D projects, or technology commercialization activities
- Experience with advanced microscopy and analytical techniques
- Track record of developing products and producing documentation for regulatory compliance
