R and D Manager
Darren Wiles started life as an Engineer who took a career change to become a Physicist; studying Optoelectronics & Laser Engineering before joining Precision Optical Engineering in 1998 as an Optical Physicist, where his schooling began in MTF Testing, IR optical testing, electro-optic infrared imaging system testing and IR interferometry design.
Subsequently, Darren has for the over 20 years designed, manufactured, assembled, commissioned, and installed globally: (a) IR interferometers and their accessories; (b) part of or complete optical test configurations (including alignment tooling); (c) part or complete test arrangements for electro-optic imaging systems. Notable achievements are at Zeiss Electro Optic and Hensoldt in Germany, Raytheon in Huntsville USA, Lockheed Martin (Space Research Centre) in Pola Alto USA, Ophir in Israel, NCMS in KSA and Kunming Institute Of Physics in China.
Darren’s activities have always included on-site training and test application advise in optical testing tailored to the End User’s need and requirement, however he has also specialised in aftersales service providing critical upgrades, maintenance, servicing and repair of interferometers and optical test requirement. Leonardo and Thales in the UK and Hensoldt in Germany have benefitted greatly from this.
Precision Optical Engineering, a MBDA Business Centre, became Precision Solutions and returned back into the MBDA fold, where Darren held the roles of Interferometer & Optical Test Technical Manager and in parallel Technical Leads for MBDA core products, again working closely with Leonardo, until his departure to Armstrong Optical at the end of 2022.