Optical Engineering Manager

CoMind

At CoMind, we are developing a non-invasive neuromonitoring technology that will result in a new era of clinical brain monitoring. In joining us, you will be helping to create cutting-edge technologies that will improve how we diagnose and treat brain disorders, ultimately improving and saving the lives of patients across the world. THE ROLE: The Optical Engineering team at CoMind is responsible for the photonics systems at the heart of CoMind’s technology, designing and developing the laser interferometry platform that enables continuous, non-invasive measurement of human physiology parameters. The team spans optical system design, component selection and test, precision alignment, optical modelling, and integration with mechanical and electronic subsystems. As Staff Optics Engineer, you will be a senior individual contributor within the Optical Engineering team, taking ownership of complex optical design challenges and contributing to the development and integration of the photonic platform from concept through to validated hardware. You will have a strong background in developing and manufacturing complex photonic based products. The role reports into the Optical Engineering Manager within the Product Development team. You will work closely with component suppliers, research, product development and manufacturing teams to integrate leading edge photonic components including fiber optics lasers, PICs, custom photodetectors into the products. With a strong background in photonics based product design, you will work across optical system design, experimental characterisation, and subsystem integration and manufacturing. At CoMind, all team members work at least 4 days per week in the office, plus a flexible work-from-home day. This role can be based in either the London (Kings Cross) or Bristol office. RESPONSIBILITIES: * Own the design, modelling, and characterisation of optical subsystems including interferometry configurations, laser beam delivery, optical path optimisation, and stray light management * Drive experimental work to validate optical performance, including alignment procedures, sensitivity testing, and signal-to-noise analysis under clinically relevant conditions * Develop and maintain optical simulation models using tools such as Zemax, COMSOL, or equivalent, and translate simulation outputs into design specifications and tolerancing requirements * Work with photonic component suppliers including laser manufacturers for the development of custom solutions for CoMind’s products. * Support the integration of optical subsystems with mechanical, electronic, and embedded software components, working cross-functionally to ensure coherent end-to-end performance * Contribute to design reviews, risk analyses, and verification and validation activities in line with ISO 14971, ISO 13485, and IEC 60601-1 * Author and review technical documentation including optical design specifications, test protocols, and evidence packages for regulatory submissions * Identify and evaluate new optical components, materials, and approaches that could advance CoMind One’s sensing capabilities or improve manufacturability * AI is fundamental to our culture — it’s not just a tool, but a core part of how we work, collaborate, and innovate. We expect all team members to embrace AI in their daily work and continuously find new ways to use it effectively SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: * 10+ years of experience in optical engineering, with hands-on experience designing and validating precision optical systems * Deep expertise in laser interferometry, coherent optical sensing, or closely related optical measurement techniques * Experience in developing custom photonic components such as laser diodes, PICs or photodetector arrays. * Proficiency with optical simulation and modelling tools (Zemax, COMSOL, or similar) and experience translating simulation outputs into validated hardware designs * Strong experimental background, including precision optical alignment, characterisation, and troubleshooting of complex optical assemblies * Experience working within a regulated industry (medical devices, defence, semiconductor, or similar) with familiarity with ISO 14971 and design control processes * Solid understanding of optical component technologies including laser sources, photodetectors, fibre optics, beamsplitters, and optical coatings NICE TO HAVE: * Background in biophotonics, diffuse optical imaging, or optical coherence tomography * Experience with miniaturisation of optical systems for wearable or portable hardware * Familiarity with cleanroom assembly and precision alignment techniques * Experience with tolerance analysis and DFM for optical assemblies at production scale * Knowledge of FDA regulatory pathways for optical medical devices BENEFITS: * Company equity plan so all employees share in the success of the company * Salary-sacrifice pension scheme * Private medical, dental and vision insurance (medical history disregarded) * Group life assurance at 4x annual income * Comprehensive mental health support, including unlimited access to 1:1 sessions with trained professionals * Unlimited holiday allowance (+ bank holidays) and one week of remote working per quarter * Lunch voucher (£10) every day for JustEat and free dinner on those days where you need to work later * Twice weekly deliveries of fresh fruit and an extensive selection of snacks and drinks * YuLife subscription, allowing you to turn your daily steps and meditation into discounts at a range of stores DISCLAIMER - We use AI notetaking tools to transcribe interviews for internal review. 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CoMind

At CoMind, we are developing a non-invasive neuromonitoring technology that will result in a new era of clinical brain monitoring. In joining us, you will be helping to create cutting-edge technologies that will improve how we diagnose and treat brain disorders, ultimately improving and saving the lives of patients across the world. THE ROLE: The Hardware team designs and builds the physical hardware at the heart of CoMind's devices, from precision analogue circuits, FPGA systems, and PCB design through to mechanical enclosures and optical assemblies. This team takes systems from prototype through to manufacture, working to medical device standards and collaborating closely with optics, software, and clinical teams to deliver hardware that is safe, reliable, and production-ready. As the Electronics Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for all electronics and FPGA development at CoMind. This hands-on role combines deep technical execution with team leadership and engineering operations. You will personally design complex hardware systems, establish tools and processes that scale, own technical development roadmaps, and lead a talented team through detailed design, verification, and manufacturing transfer of CoMind’s neuromonitoring device. At CoMind, all team members work at least 4 days per week in the office, plus a flexible work-from-home day. This role can be based in either the London (Kings Cross) or Bristol office. RESPONSIBILITIES: * Own technical roadmaps for electronics development, aligning with product and system requirements * Own system integration, hardware bring-up, verification, and performance validation of electronic systems * Manage and mentor a team of 3-8 electronics and FPGA engineers, setting priorities, individual development plans, conducting performance reviews, and maintaining a high standard of engineering practice * Lead the end-to-end design of complex mixed-signal electronic systems, including high-speed digital (e.g. JESD204B) and low-noise analogue circuits * Architect, design, and deliver multi-layer PCBs (up to 16 layers, HDI), ensuring signal integrity, power integrity, and DFM best practices * Oversee FPGA architecture and development, driving RTL design, DSP pipelines, high-speed interfaces, timing closure, and hardware bring-up in Vivado across the full product lifecycle * Ensure designs comply with IEC 60601-1, IEC 60601-1-2, ISO 14971, and ISO 13485, maintaining documentation and traceability in line with CoMind's QMS * Drive the transition from prototype to production, managing relationships with manufacturing partners and component suppliers, and supporting regulatory (QARA) activities * Establish and maintain engineering processes, SOPs, and best practices to ensure scalable and high-quality development * Administer core engineering tools and infrastructure (e.g. Altium Designer, design libraries, Bitbucket repositories) * Manage lab infrastructure, equipment, and external contractors (e.g. PCB layout), ensuring effective execution and resource utilisation * AI is fundamental to our culture — it's not just a tool, but a core part of how we work, collaborate, and innovate. We expect all team members to embrace AI in their daily work and continuously find new ways to use it effectively. SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: * 5+ years of progressive electronics engineering experience, with at least 2 years in a team lead or engineering management role * Demonstrated experience with high-speed digital design: LVDS, JESD204B, SerDes, HDI PCBs, signal integrity and power integrity analysis * Experience designing real-time data acquisition or processing systems, including multi-FPGA and software interfaces * Proven experience designing medical-grade or regulated-industry electronics through full product lifecycle, with working knowledge of IEC 60601-1, ISO 14971, and ISO 13485 * Experience leading or mentoring engineers, with the ability to manage and grow high-performing teams * Experience defining system architectures and/or working with FPGA-based systems and high-throughput data pipelines * Experience establishing engineering processes, standards, and toolchains (e.g. design libraries, version control, workflows) * Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working alongside software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams NICE TO HAVE: * Background in optical laser interferometry, optical coherence tomography, or optical biophysical measurement * Familiarity with Linux, Python, C/C++ and other hardware enabling skills and tools * Experience with high-throughput real-time DSP pipelines (FFT, FIR/IIR filtering) in FPGA fabric * Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or equivalent continuous improvement qualification BENEFITS: * Company equity plan so all employees share in the success of the company * Salary-sacrifice pension scheme * Private medical, dental and vision insurance (medical history disregarded) * Group life assurance at 4x annual income * Comprehensive mental health support, including unlimited access to 1:1 sessions with trained professionals * Unlimited holiday allowance (+ bank holidays) and one week of remote working per quarter * Lunch voucher (£10) every day for JustEat and free dinner on those days where you need to work later * Twice weekly deliveries of fresh fruit and an extensive selection of snacks and drinks * YuLife subscription, allowing you to turn your daily steps and meditation into discounts at a range of stores DISCLAIMER - We use Granola, an AI notetaker, throughout our interview process to help capture notes. 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CoMind

At CoMind, we are developing a non-invasive neuromonitoring technology that will result in a new era of clinical brain monitoring. In joining us, you will be helping to create cutting-edge technologies that will improve how we diagnose and treat brain disorders, ultimately improving and saving the lives of patients across the world. THE ROLE: The Optical Engineering team at CoMind is responsible for the photonics systems at the heart of CoMind’s technology, designing and developing the laser interferometry platform that enables continuous, non-invasive measurement of human physiology parameters. The team spans optical system design, component selection and test, precision alignment, optical modelling, and integration with mechanical and electronic subsystems. As Engineering Manager for Optical Engineering, you will lead a team of optical engineers through the iterative design, build, and test phases to create designs which fulfil design input requirements and successfully complete design verification and validation campaigns. Working alongside CoMind’s contract manufacturing partners, you will ensure that design deliverables can be successfully transferred into serial production. This is a hands-on leadership role: you will drive technical decisions, own the optical workstream, and personally contribute to complex design challenges, while managing the team to programme milestones and design control processes. You will lead and mentor the team of optical engineers, and establish and maintain the development process and tools required by the team, championing a high standard of quality and performance. At CoMind, all team members work at least 4 days per week in the office, plus a flexible work-from-home day. This role can be based in either London (Kings Cross) or Bristol office. RESPONSIBILITIES: * Lead and develop a team of optical engineers, setting clear development goals, providing technical mentorship, and maintaining a high standard of engineering practice * Own the optical engineering function and lead the realisation of photonic and optical components from concept through to validated hardware * Personally contribute to design work, including optical modelling (Zemax, COMSOL, or equivalent), tolerance analysis, simulation, and design for manufacture and assembly * Drive design reviews, risk assessments, and V&V activities across optical subsystems, ensuring performance is robustly characterised before design freeze * Own the optical interfaces with mechanical, electronic, and manufacturing subsystems, working cross-functionally to resolve integration challenges * Establish and maintain optical design standards, toolchain choices, and documentation in line with CoMind’s QMS, ISO 13485, and IEC 60601-1 * Manage relationships with contract manufacturers and key suppliers for optical components and assemblies, supporting DFM and manufacturing readiness reviews * AI is fundamental to our culture — it’s not just a tool, but a core part of how we work, collaborate, and innovate. We expect all team members to embrace AI in their daily work and continuously find new ways to use it effectively SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: * 8+ years of experience in optical engineering, with at least 2 years in a team lead or engineering management role * Deep expertise in laser interferometry, coherent optical sensing, or closely related optical measurement techniques, with hands-on experience designing and validating precision optical systems * Proficiency with optical simulation and modelling tools (Zemax, COMSOL, or similar) and experience translating simulation outputs into validated hardware designs * Solid understanding of optical component technologies including laser sources, photodetectors, fibre optics, beamsplitters, optical coatings, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) * Demonstrated ability to lead a technical team through the full product development lifecycle, from concept through to validated hardware * Experience in a regulated industry (medical devices, defence, semiconductor, or similar), with familiarity with ISO 14971, ISO 13485, and IEC 60601-1 * Strong cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to represent the optical team in system-level technical discussions with engineering, clinical, and regulatory stakeholders * Experience with manufacturing assembly processes or precision manufacturing at production scale for instrumentation and/or high-volume products NICE TO HAVE * Background in biophotonics, diffuse optical imaging, or optical coherence tomography * Experience with miniaturisation of optical systems for portable or wearable hardware * Familiarity with cleanroom assembly and precision alignment at manufacturing scale * Experience managing supplier relationships for optical components and sub-assemblies * Knowledge of FDA regulatory pathways for optical medical devices BENEFITS: * Company equity plan so all employees share in the success of the company * Salary-sacrifice pension scheme * Private medical, dental and vision insurance (medical history disregarded) * Group life assurance at 4x annual income * Comprehensive mental health support, including unlimited access to 1:1 sessions with trained professionals * Unlimited holiday allowance (+ bank holidays) and one week of remote working per quarter * Lunch voucher (£10) every day for JustEat and free dinner on those days where you need to work later * Twice weekly deliveries of fresh fruit and an extensive selection of snacks and drinks * YuLife subscription, allowing you to turn your daily steps and meditation into discounts at a range of stores DISCLAIMER - We use AI notetaking tools to transcribe interviews for internal review. By proceeding, you consent to this. Let us know if you'd prefer we don't.