Project Manager
Opsydia
We are looking for a Project Manager to help us scale our next-generation laser processing platform.
Spun out from the University of Oxford in 2017, Opsydia is a specialist laser technology company harnessing decades of academic excellence and experience in adaptive optics that enable the writing of features in transparent materials. Our writing technology has gone on to provide functionalities across many scientific and industrial areas.
Our technology provides a platform for functional devices in transparent materials such as optical glass and diamond, with several disruptive applications ranging from datacoms, quantum to sensing devices.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a Project Manager with a strong engineering background and proven experience in end-to-end product development. The ideal candidate will have worked in photonics, laser systems, or metrology, and is comfortable operating in a small, focused team within a university spin-out environment. You will be responsible for driving technical project delivery, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ensuring alignment with cost, schedule, and quality targets. This role demands deep process knowledge, hands-on engagement, and the ability to manage complexity with clarity and precision.
In particular, you will:-
- Manage engineering programmes from concept through to production, ensuring alignment with technical, commercial, and delivery objectives.
- Oversee multiple concurrent projects, coordinating resources, priorities, and dependencies across a small, focused team.
- Control project budgets, track expenditure, and ensure delivery within financial constraints.
- Lead design release planning and execution, ensuring timely release of BOMs and documentation in line with supplier lead times and build schedules.
- Work with System Engineering to ensure completion of the Specification Document at programme inception & monitor progress of product achievement through development.
- Responsible for programme-level risk registers and issue logs, identifying and mitigating technical and delivery risks.
- Develop and maintain performance dashboards and project reporting tools to track progress against milestones, budgets, and quality targets.
- Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between engineering, operations, and external partners.
- Lead process development and continuous improvement across NPI, FMEA, and change management workflows.
- Set up and manage milestone meetings and gate reviews in line with the NPI process, ensuring clear inputs, outputs, and actions to accelerate project development.
- Monitor and manage resource allocation, identifying gaps and proposing solutions to maintain project momentum.
- Prepare and lead regular project reviews, stand-ups, and stakeholder updates.
- Drive decision-making and escalation processes to resolve blockers and maintain delivery pace.
- Contribute to the development and refinement of project management tools, templates, and best practice process.
We aim to build a world-class team with complementary skills and expect applicants with significant experience working in research or technical environments to be comfortable taking leadership roles on technical projects.
ABOUT YOU
You will have a significant technical background with a degree or equivalent experience in the physical sciences, engineering or related fields and enjoy working as part of a small collaborative team.
You will be able to demonstrate that you have the following:-
- Minimum 5 + years of experience in Project Management (following an engineering role), advantageous in:
- Medical devices (e.g., laser surgery, ophthalmology systems)
- Semiconductor equipment (e.g., wafer inspection, lithography)
- Industrial laser systems (e.g., micromachining, engraving)
- Scientific instrumentation (e.g., microscopy, spectroscopy)
- Professional Certification in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, PMI-ACP, or equivalent).
- Proven experience managing technical projects in a small or medium-sized engineering company.
- Demonstrable understanding of the full value chain including engineering workflows, design release, and supplier coordination.
- Proven experience managing multiple projects across multiple workstreams and stakeholders in a matrix environment.
- Strong proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Asana, Smartsheet).
- Knowledge of governance frameworks and compliance standards.
- Ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive delivery in dynamic environments
- Demonstrated ability in risk management, budgeting, and resource planning.
- Proven ability with NPI, FMEA, and engineering change management.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
You might also have:
- Understanding of photonics, optics & laser systems.
- Familiar with ISO standards & quality assurance, especially with getting business accredited to ISO9001.
- Lean or Six Sigma experience is an advantage.
- Change management methodology knowledge.
- Problem solving and decision making and presenting to senior management when appropriate.
If you don't meet all of the criteria above, but are interested in the role, please apply or get in touch to discuss further.
This is a full-time role, though part-time or flexible working options will be considered for the right candidate.
We offer hybrid/flexible working arrangements but please note that the role requires in-office presence as we work with physical hardware.
As part of the recruitment process a selected candidate will be required to undergo security screening to BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard).
The closing date for applications is Monday 24th November 2025.
WHAT WE OFFER
Salary range: £48,000-£55,000 pa dependent on experience
Benefits
- Hybrid & flexible working arrangements
- Share option scheme
- Annual bonus scheme
- Private Medical Insurance
- Group Income Protection and Life Assurance
- Enhanced family leave
- Company matched pension contributions up to 5%. Salary sacrifice arrangement is available
- 25 days paid leave plus bank holidays
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Mental Health and Wellbeing support and activities
- Supported further study or training for your professional and personal development
- Volunteering opportunities
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We are an equal opportunities employer and commit to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace whilst creating an environment which promotes dignity and respect for all. We post our job descriptions across a wide range of recruitment platforms to enable us to garner the most diverse range of candidates we possibly can.
ADJUSTMENTS AND PROVISIONS
We are dedicated to putting in place any reasonable adjustments that may be required to meet the needs of those who wish to apply for a position at Opsydia.
Please share if you have a declared disability, for example but not limited to: a social communication impairment such as autism spectrum disorder, a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD; a mental health condition, a sensory impairment affecting sight or hearing or a physical or mobility impairment.
ALTERNATIVE FORMATS
We can provide our job descriptions in an alternative format of video or audio description.
ABOUT OPSYDIA
Opsydia provides commercial systems based on adaptive optics which can directly generate photonic structures in a variety of transparent materials. Learn more at opsydia.com
The company is based in the Centre for Innovation & Enterprise at Begbroke Science Park north of Oxford. Begbroke offers comprehensive facilities on-site including a restaurant, coffee shop, free parking and a minibus service between the park and Oxford.
Your data will be held in line with our recruitment privacy policy available at https://opsydia.com/recruitment-privacy-policy