What was your professional background prior to joining Teledyne Qioptiq?
Before joining Teledyne Qioptiq, I was working in academia as a Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, where my work focused on research, particularly in space related areas.
Transitioning from academia into industry was a significant step, but one I actively chose in order to apply my research experience in an industrial environment, which has been both challenging and rewarding.
How would you describe the scope and responsibilities of your role?
The role of a development engineer is broad and highly varied, which is one of its most engaging aspects. My responsibilities range from investigating and resolving technical issues within existing products, to evaluating new technologies and assessing their potential application within future systems.
A key part of my role is acting as a technical lead on projects, working closely with programme managers and coordinating multidisciplinary teams. This involves bringing together expertise from optical, mechanical and electronic design, as well as manufacturing, to ensure that all technical aspects of a project are aligned and delivered successfully.
I am also closely involved in New Product Introduction, guiding concepts from initial idea through development, testing and validation, to a fully realised product ready for manufacture. Being involved across that entire lifecycle provides a strong sense of ownership and achievement.
How are project teams structured within your organisation?
We are organised into specialist functional groups, including development engineering, optical design, mechanical design and electronic design. While this provides a strong technical foundation, our work is inherently collaborative.
Project teams are formed by drawing expertise from across these functions, with each discipline contributing to the overall solution. This approach ensures that projects benefit from a breadth of knowledge while also fostering close collaboration between teams. It also means that no two projects are the same, as team composition and challenges vary depending on the work involved.
What aspects of your role do you find most rewarding?
The variety is a significant factor. The role offers a continual stream of new challenges, which keeps the work both interesting and intellectually engaging.
I also value the balance between practical and analytical work. A substantial portion of my time is spent working directly with hardware in the lab or supporting teams on the production floor, while the remainder is focused on problem solving, concept development and technical analysis. That combination provides a well-rounded and fulfilling working environment.
You are also involved in developing the organisation’s space capabilities. Can you expand on this?
In addition to my core responsibilities, I lead the space optical systems roadmap for the site. Historically, our focus has been mainly on military optics, but we are now expanding into the space sector.
Our objective is to build both capability and credibility in this area. This involves pursuing new business opportunities, developing relevant technologies and establishing heritage within the space market. Many of our existing capabilities are directly transferable, which makes this a logical and exciting area for growth within Teledyne.
Can you highlight any recent projects that demonstrate this work?
One notable example is the Enfys spectrometer, named after the Welsh word for rainbow. This is a compact optical system that will be deployed on the Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover, designed to analyse light across a wide spectral range.
The project presented a number of technical challenges, particularly in achieving performance across such a broad wavelength range, but it has progressed from concept to flight hardware within approximately two years, which is a strong achievement for a space programme.
We have also contributed to work associated with the LISA mission, where we delivered a prototype imaging system constructed using hydroxide catalysis bonding, a highly specialised joining technique. This project enabled us to introduce new capabilities into the business while supporting a complex and innovative mission.
How do you see your role and the wider team developing in the coming years?
Looking ahead, I expect to continue in development engineering, with an increasing emphasis on space related work. Our ambition is to expand the volume of space qualified hardware we deliver and strengthen our position within that sector.
The acquisition of Qioptiq by Teledyne in January 2025 has created significant opportunities in this regard. By combining our optical expertise with Teledyne Space’s strengths in sensors and electronics, we are well positioned to deliver more integrated, system level solutions. This represents an important strategic direction for the business.
Has your interest in space been shaped by your career, or was it already established?
It was already well established. I studied astrophysics as part of my academic background and spent many years working on space related projects prior to joining Qioptiq.
I have consciously developed my career in a way that allows me to work in an area that I find both challenging and fascinating. The scale and complexity of space, and the fact that there is still so much to be understood, continues to make it a highly compelling field.
What do you find most compelling about working in this industry?
It is the opportunity to contribute to technologies that support exploration and discovery. Whether developing systems that operate in extreme environments or enabling greater understanding of the universe, the work has a clear sense of purpose.
Equally important is the collaborative nature of the work and the complexity of the challenges involved. Working alongside skilled colleagues to solve difficult problems and deliver innovative solutions is what makes the role particularly rewarding.
Teledyne Space is a collective that incorporates Teledyne Space Imaging as well as space-related products and services supplied by Teledyne Qioptiq.
