Senior Optical Research Scientist

Job description

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: As a Senior Optical Research Scientist at CoMind, you will join a highly interdisciplinary team working at the interface of optics, engineering, neuroscience, data science, and clinical neuromonitoring. This is a hands-on senior scientific role. You will design, run, troubleshoot, and analyse experiments using prototype and production-ready optical systems, while also taking ownership of scientific workstreams that support the development, verification, validation, and optimisation of CoMind’s neuromonitoring technology. The role is ideal for an experienced experimentalist who enjoys working directly with optical systems, physiological measurements, and tissue-mimicking phantoms, while also being comfortable making technical decisions, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and communicating scientific findings clearly. At CoMind, all team members work at least 4 days per week from our new Kings Cross offices, plus a flexible work-from-home day. RESPONSIBILITIES: - Lead and directly contribute to laboratory, phantom, benchtop, and in-vivo testing of new optical neuromonitoring systems and methods - Own defined experimental workstreams from planning and protocol development through execution, analysis, documentation, and communication of results - Develop and validate tissue-mimicking phantoms and experimental setups used to assess optical system performance - Perform in-vivo optical measurements on healthy volunteers, including subject setup, data acquisition, signal quality assessment, and interpretation of physiological responses - Generate and analyse high-quality experimental datasets to support product development, system validation, and data science / machine learning activities - Investigate device performance, signal quality, system limitations, and failure modes using structured troubleshooting and data-driven analysis - Summarise findings, compile technical reports, and present results to research, product, engineering, clinical, and leadership teams - Work closely with cross-functional teams to inform design decisions, support verification and validation activities, and ensure experimental evidence is translated into product and technical decisions - Provide technical guidance to less experienced team members and help maintain high standards of experimental practice, documentation, and scientific rigour - 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: - Background in physics, medical physics, biomedical engineering, optical engineering, biomedical optics, or a related discipline. - 5+ years undertaking laboratory testing and development of physiological or biomedical measurement systems, including experimental design, device application, data acquisition, and analysis. - Strong hands-on experience working with experimental or prototype technologies, including setup, troubleshooting, measurement execution, and data quality assessment. - Experience with in-vivo physiological signal acquisition, ideally using optical or optoelectronic measurement systems. - Strong understanding of tissue optics, optical signal acquisition, and physiological measurement principles. - Experience with tissue-mimicking phantoms, optical phantoms, flow phantoms, or experimental validation systems. - Experience analysing complex experimental datasets and extracting meaningful signals, parameters, trends, or performance metrics. - Fluency in at least one programming language used for data collection and analysis, such as Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW. - Ability to translate scientific or engineering questions into well-designed experiments with clear objectives, controls, and success criteria. - Strong communication skills, including scientific writing, technical reporting, and presentation of results to different audiences. - Experience working in an interdisciplinary team across optics, engineering, neuroscience, clinical science, product development, or data science. Nice to have - PhD in biomedical optics, medical physics, biomedical engineering, optical engineering, or a related discipline. - Experience with diffuse correlation spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, photoplethysmography, optical coherence tomography, or related biomedical optical techniques. - Experience with non-invasive neuromonitoring technologies and associated physiological datasets. - Experience acquiring physiological data in clinical or healthy volunteer settings. - Experience supporting verification and validation activities for medical devices. - Experience with Good Clinical Practice, ethical approvals, consent documentation, or study governance processes. 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