PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Engineer or Research Scientist in optical interposer development

As part of the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative, ICFO coordinates PIXEurope, a flagship Pilot Line funded under the European Chips JU program. With €400 million in investments and a consortium of 20 partners across 11 countries, the project aims to reinforce Europe’s strategic autonomy in photonic technologies and accelerate industrial uptake of cutting-edge integrated photonics. Over the next decade, PIXEurope will enable the transfer of advanced technologies to manufacturing environments, while fostering innovation and scalability across the European photonics ecosystem.

To strengthen this initiative, ICFO is seeking an Engineer/Scientist with a background in optical engineering, material micro-nano-fabrication and PIC technologies, particularly in applied or industrial environments.

Position Overview:

We offer a staff research engineer position to a scientist or engineer with experience in fabrication of optical waveguides, especially in the context of glass and polymer platforms. Experience in glass structuring is very welcome. The successful candidate will contribute to both technical innovation and Pilot Line development in collaboration with academic and industrial stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will be expected to:

Develop and optimize fabrication techniques for optical waveguiding in glass (e.g. IOX waveguides, laser written waveguides) and glass micro structuring for interposer development and packaging within the PIXEurope Pilot Line

Contribute to application-specific R&D&E projects, particularly in collaboration with industrial end-users and consortia partners

Interface with multidisciplinary teams and contribute to the establishment of high-quality fabrication workflows.

Support characterization and metrology efforts associated with glass waveguides and interposer.

This position will report to Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, Director of the European Chips JU Pilot Line PIXEurope.

This contract has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe under the Grant Agreement # 101213727, Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, and is supported by funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).

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https://jobs.icfo.eu/?detail=1056

Applicants must hold a Master degree in Science or Engineering, preferably in fields related to photonics, materials science, or electronic engineering.

Candidates should demonstrate expertise in the fabrication techniques listed below in order of importance (not all mandatory):

Ion exchange

Femtosecond laser writing in glass or polymer substrates

Wet etching

Photo and/or e-beam lithography

Thermal annealing

What We Offer

Indefinite contract for scientific and technical activities pursuant to Spanish Law 14/2011, linked to the duration or availability of funds within the PIXEurope Pilot Line

Access to cutting-edge facilities and a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment.

Opportunity to lead impactful projects that connect fundamental research with commercial applications.

A family allowance may be granted to candidates with dependents, upon request and in accordance with ICFO’s policies.

ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. We hire based solely on merit and potential, regardless of gender, nationality, or disability. ICFO fully endorses the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, ensuring a transparent and supportive recruitment process.

Suitable candidates are requested to submit:

A presentation letter outlining your interest in the position.

A curriculum vitae, including full contact information.

The contact e-mail addresses of two referees who can provide professional references.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

For formal enquiries regarding the application process, please contact: [email protected]

For project and technology enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

For more information about ICFO, visit: https://www.icfo.eu/.

5th of January, 2026