Graduate Physicist (2026 start)

Cambridge Consultants

INTRODUCTION We are looking for a Physicist with a passion for innovation and technology to join our Applied Science team. You will be motivated by the idea of applying your theoretical knowledge and experimental skill to create real-world solutions. This is an exciting opportunity for a recent PhD graduate or early career researcher to tackle challenges across a range of industries—including Defence, Healthcare, and Energy—by applying your scientific understanding, and your drive and curiosity to learn new things.   WHAT WE OFFER This role offers a wide variety of technical challenges and opportunities for personal development. It will involve both practical and desk-based work across diverse technical areas, working within multidisciplinary teams. While your work will span diverse areas of optical physics and beyond, a central focus will be on designing and developing photonic integrated circuits, and the next-generation products they will enable. A background in integrated photonics is not a requirement for the role; there will be tailored opportunities to learn and upskill. This position offers an excellent chance to become an expert in the rapidly growing field of integrated photonics. We take pride in being ahead of the curve—working with and developing innovative new technology. The projects we work on are highly diverse, and you will combine your existing skills and knowledge with an appetite to rapidly identify and assimilate whatever new information is necessary to solve the problem at hand. Examples of recent work undertaken for our clients include: * Design and test of a photonic chip for sensing biomolecules * Development of a novel imaging system based on multi-wavelength holography * Teardown and reverse engineering of complex high-power laser instrument for industrial application * Development of a miniaturised magnetic positioning system for a high-volume consumer product * Development of a photonic chip for the projection of structured light We are a nurturing team. You will be supported to develop your career in the direction you want, with mentoring and training provided. Opportunities for development and progression are varied and will be tailored to the interests, experience, and skills of the successful candidate, with scope to develop increased technical, commercial, and/or programme expertise and leadership.   WHAT YOU BRING You will have research experience in a field related to optics or photonics, combined with excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and a collaborative approach. We are looking for someone who enjoys being hands on in the lab as well as conducting desk-based analysis.   You should have: * A desire to work on both on optical and photonic systems. * Practical experience of either free-space optics, fibre-optic systems, or photonic devices. * This role will include work on technologies for defence. Therefore, you must be eligible for UK security clearance.   In addition, you should have experience with 1 of the following: * Photonic design (e.g. using Ansys Lumerical) * Fabrication and test of photonic devices * Optical system design (e.g. using Zemax) * Optical metasurfaces * Numerical simulation and data analysis using scripting tools, like Python or MATLAB * Electronics or software for experiment automation * Practical/research experience in other areas of applied physics, e.g. magnetism, RF, ultrasound   Most importantly, you must be keen to take on new challenges, learn on the job, and grow your capabilities. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting an application to Cambridge Consultants, you confirm that the information provided in this application, together with any supporting documentation, is true, complete, and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that any false statement, misleading information, or material omission may render you liable to disqualification from the recruitment process, withdrawal of any offer of employment, or dismissal without notice if discovered following appointment. You acknowledge that the organisation reserves the right to verify the information supplied. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cambridge Consultants

GRADUATE TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY CONSULTANT - PHYSICAL SCIENCES / ENGINEERING INTRODUCTION  Are you a recent or soon-to-be graduate in chemistry, physics, engineering or a related field, keen to apply your technical appreciation of physical sciences and engineering to guide investment and business decisions? Are you interested in the difference between science that changes the world and technologies that seem full of promise but are never realised? Are you fascinated by the changing way things are made and consumed and want to shape the future? Do you have a curious mindset and the drive to uncover challenges in making technologies and processes work at a cost and scale that makes sense?   If so, then this could be a great role for you!    WHO WE ARE  A critical part of Cambridge Consultants, our Advisory team delivers projects to clients in the Consumer, Energy & Industrial, Telecommunications, Biotech, Healthcare and Defence & Security sectors. Our clients vary from ambitious start-ups to multinationals, but all aspire to use cutting-edge technology to transform and innovate in their markets. What we do is help them succeed.  Our work delivers insights for key business decisions related to deep tech: developing go-to-market strategies, providing investment support, competitor analyses, market insights, technology road-mapping and strategic foresight. The technologies we work with are broad and include the latest advances in biotech, quantum sensing and compute, and robotics and physical AI, among others.    THE ROLE  The role sits within the ‘Research & Insights’ section of our Advisory group, which focuses on understanding how the near- and long-term future impacts the decisions we make today. Examples include: what features consumers will want in next-generation products, how cleantech can be successfully deployed, or where novel sensors can unlock new business revenue.   What you will be doing  As an Analyst in our Advisory team, you will:  * Work on diverse, high-impact projects spanning climate tech investment, new energy generation, smart mobility strategy, and other emerging deep tech domains such as quantum  * Apply diverse approaches to help clients unlock new sources of value across innovations, products, services and operations, including AI-enabled approaches  * Collaborate with experts in engineering, science, product design & realisation and business to craft strategies that unlock commercial and societal value from deep tech  * Analyse markets, technologies and business models to help clients navigate complexity, seize opportunities and anticipate threats  * Contribute to thought leadership on how deep tech can solve global challenges, such as communication on the moon, defossilisation of industries, right-to-repair consumer devices,     WHAT YOU WILL BRING  We are looking for applicants with the following traits and skills:  * Academic background: Master’s or PhD in physical sciences, maths, data science, engineering, or other related disciplines  * Business mindset: Experience in entrepreneurship which could be through student business plan competitions, internships, business or economics modules as part of an integrated Master’s, a Master’s degree with a business/strategy focus following a science or technology degree or a start-up  * Analytical and creative thinking: Ability to turn complex technical concepts into actionable strategies  * Curiosity and adaptability: A passion for learning and applying insights across multiple sectors  * Communication skills: Confidence in engaging with technical and non-technical stakeholders and crafting compelling narratives  How to apply  If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV and cover letter highlighting relevant experience for this role.  We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you are excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting an application to Cambridge Consultants, you confirm that the information provided in this application, together with any supporting documentation, is true, complete, and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that any false statement, misleading information, or material omission may render you liable to disqualification from the recruitment process, withdrawal of any offer of employment, or dismissal without notice if discovered following appointment. You acknowledge that the organisation reserves the right to verify the information supplied. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cambridge Consultants

INTRODUCTION We’re looking for STEM graduates keen to start making real products for our clients.  You’ll need to be eager to turn your hand to a lot of different tasks and enjoy constantly learning new things.  In return we can offer the chance to tackle some of the hardest engineering problems around, such as novel applications of robotics, collaborating with LEGO to develop LEGO® SMART Play™  and other embedded products, as well as defence and national security projects such as pioneering AI cyberattack response for the UK military. OVERVIEW   Cambridge Consultants undertakes over 300 technology, design and consulting projects every year. You will get to work across the broad range of markets, from Consumer Devices to Industrial Systems to Defence and National Security. The Electronics and Software group is a cohesive team of multi-disciplinary experts in everything to do with embedded systems and devices – whether that’s electronics, embedded software, physics, control, communications, security or algorithm design.  We’re much more interested in the engineer you can become than the one you are now, and we mentor our team to grow them into brilliant technologists. We need people who are enthusiastic about learning, keen to pick up new skills, and can show evidence of a rigorous approach to solving real-world problems. An ability to learn and a determination to grow are more important than the knowledge you already have.    YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES  With lots of support and guidance from your peers, you will work as part of our technical team on client assignments in multi-disciplinary projects for a wide range of markets. You may work on one or more projects at a time, in a variety of different disciplines and roles.  You will work on the design and implementation of systems for a wide range of applications and products. You will have many opportunities to develop your technical design skills for analogue and digital hardware, information engineering, embedded software, control, communications and whole product design. This could include writing software in C for embedded targets, writing SystemVerilog for FPGAs, PCB design and hardware testing.  You will have the chance to interact directly with clients at all phases of projects, from requirements capture and progress updates to final handover.    ABOUT YOU We’re looking for applicants with the following experience or skills:  * An excellent degree or PhD in general, electrical, electronic or information engineering, computer science or physics.  * Experience through university, work or home projects in at least one of the following areas, and enthusiasm for learning about the others:  * PCB design * Digital electronics (processors, memory, DSP, Verilog, VHDL)  * Analogue electronics (general, interfaces, RF, power)  * Software implementation in C, C++, Rust, or a similar programming language  Some projects at Cambridge Consultants are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to obtain a Security Check level security clearance ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant ). You must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria. We welcome applications from recent graduates with industrial experience, final year students and graduates with relevant academic course or research experience.  We are looking for excellence and are as interested in your skills and ability to learn quickly as we are in your experience.  Along with your CV, please describe why you are attracted to this position, what you feel you offer Cambridge Consultants, and any achievements that you are particularly proud of. We are especially interested to hear about any software, electronics or engineering projects you have done, for a hobby, for work or for university.      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting an application to Cambridge Consultants, you confirm that the information provided in this application, together with any supporting documentation, is true, complete, and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that any false statement, misleading information, or material omission may render you liable to disqualification from the recruitment process, withdrawal of any offer of employment, or dismissal without notice if discovered following appointment. You acknowledge that the organisation reserves the right to verify the information supplied. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------