For more than three decades, Ocean Optics has been democratising spectroscopy whilst building a workplace culture that keeps talented people engaged, inspired, and committed to changing the world through light-based measurements.
When Dr. Yvette Mattley joined the company fresh from her PhD studies 25 years ago, she couldn't imagine the journey ahead. What began as an opportunity to apply her research in UV-visible spectroscopy of blood has evolved into a career spanning multiple roles, countless innovations, and applications that range from detecting water on the moon to measuring volcanic gases. Most remarkably, she's never felt the need to look elsewhere. "I've been here 25 years," she says, “I've seen a lot and still keep coming back for more. Ocean is in my blood – it's Ocean blue."
Dr. Yvette Mattley, Product Scientist Manager at Ocean Optics
A revolutionary vision made accessible
Ocean’s founding story is itself a testament to bold thinking. When founders Mike Morris, Roy Walters and colleagues set out in the late 1980s to measure pH in the ocean in real time, they discovered a critical gap: no compact spectrometer existed that could fit into small, underwater housing. So they created one themselves.
By 1992, the "world's first miniature spectrometer" had launched, fundamentally changing how spectroscopy could be applied. This wasn't just a technical achievement; it was a philosophical shift that democratised an entire field. "We started this revolution in spectroscopy," Mattley explains. "Instead of bringing samples to the lab, you could go to the sample, which gives much better data. We made spectroscopy more accessible and affordable so people who couldn't do it before because they couldn't afford it, now they can."
The impact has been profound. The company’s compact, affordable spectrometers have enabled measurements in environments previously unimaginable: volcanoes, Mount Everest, Mars, and the lunar surface. The company's mantra, "We measure what matters," reflects this commitment to bringing powerful light-based analytical techniques to wherever they're needed most.
Longevity and collaboration: the culture that sustains innovation
Ask Mattley what makes Ocean a great place to work, and her answer is immediate: "It's the people. The people and the culture at my company are collaborative."
This collaborative spirit is clear at every level of the organisation. Ocean Optics maintains a cohesive culture across its global offices, explains Mattley: "There are many people at the company who've been here more than 10 years, some approaching two decades, close to my time. We're proud of what we do and how our products impact the world."
The leadership team, headed by President Richard Curran, actively reinforces this culture through an open-door policy. "We can go in and talk to them when we have concerns or questions," Mattley explains. "They know who we are – we're not nameless employees. Rich says 'come visit more often' when I'm in the Orlando office. The leadership team is part of the culture here." This retention speaks volumes: longevity reflects not just job satisfaction but genuine engagement with the company's mission and methods.
Evolving expertise: career pathways that grow with talent
One of Ocean Optics’s distinctive strengths is its approach to internal mobility. Mattley's own career path is a great example of the possibilities available. "In 25 years, I've been an OEM engineering manager, run our technical support team, and had so many roles and opportunities to try different things," she says. "I always end up back in the product scientist role, because I really do love working with the products. That's where my passion comes from."
This flexibility isn't limited to senior staff. The company supports all employees seeking to develop new skills or transition into different roles. "We've had colleagues in tech support who wanted to move into engineering," Mattley explains. "Ocean has paid for tuition to increase their education, and then they have the opportunity to apply for open positions."
The commitment extends to structured opportunities for growth. Annual goal-setting includes identifying areas where employees want further training, whether that's attending conferences or exploring emerging technologies. "This year I requested to learn more about Copilot and AI because these are such useful tools," Mattley notes.
Empowerment through engagement
Ocean Optics takes employee feedback seriously through a systematic approach that translates concerns into action. The company conducts annual engagement surveys through its holding company, Halma plc. The Talent and Culture team then develops what they call "passion projects", actionable initiatives addressing employee feedback.
"Based on feedback from the employee engagement survey, they develop several passion projects opportunity themes, and we can volunteer to work on them and propose projects addressing the main issues as a team," Mattley explains. "Training was the one I picked. These passion projects take employee input and create actual change."
This process demonstrates a genuine commitment to continuous improvement based on workforce insights. "The talent and culture team works very hard to make sure we're trying to address issues and concerns from employees every day." This collaborative ethos extends to how work gets done. "If I have a question, I can reach out to my friend in Germany and say 'Jonas, hey, tell me about this.' There's a lot of cross-functional interaction."
Customer-centric innovation
Ocean’s approach to product development places customers at the centre. "For a long time, the catchphrase was 'amaze customers,' and that was really what we were all driven to do," Mattley recalls. This philosophy shapes daily work across the organisation.
In her current role, Mattley focuses on testing and content generation. "When a new product comes out, I am the one who definitely feels responsibility for showing it in real-world applications," she explains. This commitment feeds directly into practical resources, including the lab services team, which offers paid feasibility studies to help customers verify that expensive systems will meet their needs before purchase.
"Sales at Ocean is not a catalogue sale," Mattley emphasises. "We work consultatively with customers. They tell us 'Here's the application I'm doing, what do I need?' We work very hard to keep customers close." This consultative sales approach means that employees, particularly those in technical support and applications, are positioned as trusted advisors, deepening their connection to real-world impact.
From Mount Everest to the Moon: innovation across global applications
The firm’s customer base spans industries and applications, from food safety and water quality to energy efficiency and biomedical devices. Their involvement in detecting water on the moon, working with JPL and NASA to harden spectrometers for space applications, represents a pinnacle achievement.
"I get so excited solving absorbance issues for customers," Mattley laughs. "Whether it's Mount Everest, Mars, the moon, or helping someone get their measurement to work, I bring the same excitement."
Looking ahead, Ocean Optics continues pushing boundaries. "Things are getting smaller but with higher performance," Mattley notes. Key focus areas include energy applications, particularly fusion research, and biomedical devices that improve patient outcomes and health monitoring.
Infrastructure that enables excellence
Ocean supports its innovative culture with robust infrastructure and resources. In 2021, the company opened a new 52,000-square-foot facility in Orlando's high-tech corridor, providing state-of-the-art space for research, development and manufacturing.
The company recently launched a learning management system, allowing employees to access training materials and continuously develop their skills globally. Mattley is currently working to transfer 25 years of training materials into this system, making her expertise available to colleagues worldwide.
Consistency through transition: a culture that endures change
The company’s acquisition by Halma plc in 2004 could have disrupted its distinctive culture, but leadership recognised the value of what existed and chose to nurture it. "We've maintained that culture," Mattley notes."The leadership team sees how important it is."
This consistency through transition reflects mature organisational understanding. "The struggle is we have this great culture they want to maintain, but we also have to grow and evolve into a company that can do more for the world," Mattley observes.
Why Ocean?
For prospective employees, Mattley's pitch is straightforward: "I would tell them to absolutely go for it. Ocean has a very collaborative nature. We're very innovative, so every idea is worth considering. It's a place where you can be your authentic self, collaborate on new ideas, and talk with the leadership team."
The cross-disciplinary nature of the work particularly appeals to those seeking variety. "I'm a biologist, really a biochemist, but I get to talk to energy people, engineers, everyone," Mattley explains.
After 25 years, Mattley's enthusiasm remains undimmed. Her proudest achievement? "We've made spectroscopy more accessible so more people can take advantage of the power of light... I feel like I'm contributing to humanity more by working here."
In an industry where technical expertise is essential but retention is challenging, Ocean Optics demonstrates that creating meaningful work within a supportive, collaborative culture isn't just good for employees, it's the competitive advantage that drives decades of innovation and global scientific success.
