AILabs Research Engineer

About Imec AI Labs

Imec AI Labs sits at the intersection of advanced AI systems and world‑leading semiconductor R&D. We build novel platforms, tools, and hardware–software stacks that power the next generation of large‑scale AI models and agentic systems.

What you will do

As a Senior Research Engineer, you will ensure that our researchers can iterate fast, scale experiments, and transform ideas into production‑ready AI demonstrators.

Infrastructure & MLOps

• Design, deploy, and maintain scalable cloud environments using Terraform and modern Cloud platforms.
• Operate and optimize GPU/HPC clusters, including Kubernetes‑based orchestration and scheduling.
• Build CI/CD pipelines that automate testing, evaluation, and deployment of models and tools.
• Support researchers in debugging distributed training issues, improving performance, and accelerating iteration.

Research Engineering – Prototypes & Demos

•  Collaborate with scientists to turn research concepts into end‑to‑end prototypes.
• Containerize complex ML workflows, agentic systems, and experimental frameworks for reproducibility.

From Prototype to Production‑Grade Demo

•  Harden prototype systems into stable, maintainable, demo‑ready products.
• Introduce testing, observability, monitoring, and robust deployment practices.

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth. 

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits. 

Who you are

Must-Have Skills

• 5 years experience in DevOps, MLOps, Platform Engineering or similar roles.
• Strong proficiency with Terraform and modern Cloud infrastructures (Azure or equivalent).
• Solid Python programming skills.
• Experience building CI/CD pipelines and automation workflows.
• Hands‑on experience with GPU workloads, distributed training, and cluster operation.
• Service‑oriented mindset: you enjoy supporting researchers and troubleshooting complex training issues.

Nice-to-Have (Bonus)

• Understanding of GPU hardware, networking, and performance optimization.
• Interest in semiconductor technologies or hardware–software co‑design.

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.