Photonics Engineer
Design and develop devices and systems that use light, such as lasers, optical fibres, sensors and photonic integrated circuits.
A day in the life
Model optical components, test lasers or fibre systems, and work with clean-room fabrication teams to build photonic chips.
Typical route
Helpful A-levels
Physics + Maths (+ Further Maths useful)
Typical qualification and training
- Physics, Photonics or Electrical Engineering degree
- MSc/PhD for R&D roles
These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.
Indicative UK salary
- Starter
- £27,000-£35,000
- Experienced
- £42,000-£60,000
- Senior
- £75,000+
Specialist laser and semiconductor photonics roles can exceed these ranges.
Salary range checked against UK Photonics Leadership Group.
UK employers
- Coherent Scotland
- Leonardo UK
- Wave Photonics
- National Physical Laboratory
Worldwide employers
- II-VI / Coherent
- IPG Photonics
- Lumentum
- Trumpf
Useful route links
These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.
Key skills
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Sources and further reading
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