Head of Engineering; Photonics & Scale-up Focus

Position: Head of Engineering (Photonics & Scale-up Focus)

Head of Engineering (Photonics & Scale-up Focus)

Join to apply for the Head of Engineering (Photonics & Scale-up Focus) role at Zero Point Motion
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The Role

The Head of Engineering owns taking technology from one to scale, with primary ownership of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and associated light sources and detectors.

This role exists to turn proven concepts into a product that ships reliably, repeatedly, and at high standards. The photonic subsystem is the pacing item: its maturity defines packaging, integration, test strategy, and much of the downstream electronics, firmware, and software.

This is not a generalist engineering role. This is a photonics‑first scale‑up role.

What You’ll Do

• Own delivery of PICs, lasers, and detectors from design freeze through scale‑up.

• Drive photonic maturity: stability, yield, repeatability, and margin.

• Develop rapid working understanding of:

  • MEMS behaviour and test results

  • Electronics performance, noise, and interfaces

  • Mechanical constraints and packaging interactions

  • Firmware and software behaviour at system level

• Without reinventing these domains, unless you have strong, evidence‑backed ideas to improve them.

• Manage and challenge external suppliers across MEMS, electronics, packaging, and test.

• Lead photonics‑centric automation across:

  • Design and layout checks

  • Simulation and modelling

  • Test, characterisation, and calibration

  • Tape‑out, DRC, LVS, and sign‑off

• Be hands‑on in the lab:

  • Optical alignment and characterisation

  • Debugging cross‑domain issues using data

  • Correlating measurements with models

• Write and maintain Python‑based tooling for:

  • Test automation

  • Data analysis

  • Performance tracking and reporting

• Define clear component‑level performance targets and acceptance criteria.

• Work closely with Head of R&D (architecture) and Head of Foundry (process and yield).

Python coding and lab competence are non‑negotiable.

Required Background

You must have:

• Deep, hands‑on photonics experience (PICs + lasers and/or detectors)

• Plus technical experience with either one of the following:

  • MEMS sensor systems

  • ASIC / FPGA

You must have demonstrated:

• Ability to take photonic technology beyond prototype

• Ability to interpret and act on cross‑domain test results

• Ability to work productively with suppliers and partners

• Ability to write and talk confidently and clearly about deep tech

How this role fits

• Reports directly to the CEO

• Owns tape‑out execution for photonic components

• Can be blocked by Head of R&D, Head of Foundry, or CEO

• Main reporter of progress towards product, using this skill for whitepapers, conferences, grant proposals

• External owner of photonic production readiness and performance

Who This Role Is For

• Has deep photonics expertise and wants to make it real at scale

• Learns adjacent domains at extreme speed to make good decisions

• Is comfortable relying on domain experts but can challenge them using data

• Is bullish, demanding, and unwilling to accept sloppy execution

• Has high standards, high integrity, and low ego

• Does not need to reinvent everything to add value

• Is accountable for outcomes, not activity

What success looks like Photonics maturity & technical control

• Photonic components behave predictably across wafers, runs, operating conditions, and time. Clear understanding of performance margins, sensitivities, and yield drivers for PICs, lasers, and detectors

• Photonics‑related failure modes are understood, monitored, and shrinking - not rediscovered

• Fewer surprises at system integration because the photonic core is stable and well‑characterised

Automation, repeatability & standards

• Automated, repeatable photonics design, test, and release workflows are in place and actively used

• Automation does not degrade quality, standards are preserved or raised as scale increases

• Tape‑out, DRC, LVS, test, and calibration processes are version‑controlled, auditable, and boring (in the good way)

• Manual heroics are being replaced by systems that work every time

Cross‑domain understanding & integration readiness

• MEMS, electronics, firmware, and software issues are caught early because you can interpret the data and ask the right questions

• You do not reinvent adjacent domains but you understand them well enough to:

  • Challenge…