Profession photonics engineer
Photonics engineers are concerned with the generation, transmission, transformation, and detection of light. They conduct research, design, assemble, test and deploy photonic components or systems in multiple application fields, from optical communications to medical instrumentation, material processing or sensing technology.
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Personality Type
- Investigative / Realistic
- Realistic / Investigative
Knowledge
- Engineering principles
The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
- Lasers
Devices that are able to produce light through the optical amplification of the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation, such as gas lasers, solid-state lasers, fiber lasers, photonic lasers and semiconductor lasers. The spatial and temporal coherence of lasers allows for the concentration of light in one place, such as laser pointers, as well as the concentration of light in time, so that light can be produced in a much shorter time than other light and can also emit as single colour of light.
- Design drawings
Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
- Optics
The science that studies the behaviour and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it.
- Physics
Have a wide background of physics which is the natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
- Optical manufacturing process
The process and different stages of manufacturing an optical product, from design and prototyping to the preparation of optical components and lenses, the assembly of optical equipment, and the intermediate and final testing of the optical products and its components.
- Optical glass characteristics
The characteristics of optical glass such as refractive index, dispersion, and chemical properties.
- Optical engineering
Subdiscipline of engineering that deals with the development of optical instruments and applications, such as telescopes, microscopes, lenses, lasers, fibre optic communication, and imaging systems.
- Types of optical instruments
Possess information on the types of optical instruments and lenses, such as microscopes and telescopes, as well as on their mechanics, components, and characteristics.
- Optical equipment standards
The national and international quality and safety standards and regulations with regards to the use and manufacture of optical equipment, including optical materials, optical components, optical systems, ophthalmic equipment, optomechanical equipment, optical measuring equipment, photographic equipment, and optoelectronic equipment.
- Refractive power
Refractive power or optical power is the degree to which an optical system, such as a lens, converges or diverges light. Diverging lenses possess negative refractive power, while converging lenses possess positive refractive power.
- Optical components
The components and materials necessary for building optical instruments, such as lenses and frames.
- Photonics
The science and technology of generating, controlling and detecting particles of light. It explores phenomena and applications in which light is used to transfer or process information, or to physically alter materials.
- Electronics
The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.
Skills
- Develop optical test procedures
Develop testing protocols to enable a variety of analyses of optical systems, products, and components.
- Prepare production prototypes
Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.
- Perform data analysis
Collect data and statistics to test and evaluate in order to generate assertions and pattern predictions, with the aim of discovering useful information in a decision-making process.
- Operate scientific measuring equipment
Operate devices, machinery, and equipment designed for scientific measurement. Scientific equipment consists of specialised measuring instruments refined to facilitate the acquisition of data.
- Conduct literature research
Conduct a comprehensive and systematic research of information and publications on a specific topic. Present a comparative evaluative literature summary.
- Model optical systems
Model and simulate optical systems, products, and components using technical design software. Assess the viability of the product and examine the physical parameters to ensure a successful production process.
- Test optical components
Test optical systems, products, and components with appropriate optical testing methods, such as axial ray testing and oblique ray testing.
- Record test data
Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
- Adjust engineering designs
Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
- Design optical prototypes
Design and develop prototypes of optical products and components using technical drawing software.
- Approve engineering design
Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.
- Design optical systems
Design and develop optical and imaging systems, products, and components, such as lasers, microscopes, optical fibre, cameras, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
- Conduct quality control analysis
Conduct inspections and tests of services, processes, or products to evaluate quality.
- Report analysis results
Produce research documents or give presentations to report the results of a conducted research and analysis project, indicating the analysis procedures and methods which led to the results, as well as potential interpretations of the results.
- Perform scientific research
Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
- Analyse test data
Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.
- Read engineering drawings
Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.