Photonics Device talent community  

We are glad that you are here! We welcome you to apply to imec’s Photonics device talent community. We seek individual contributors across a broad range of experience levels to strengthen and expand our activities across multiple photonics domains. This talent pool covers several open and upcoming positions within imec’s various Photonics Device groups. The specific job scope, level, and location will be considered and discussed based on your background, expertise, and interests during the interview process. 
Depending on the role and scope of responsibilities, positions offer flexibility to be based across imec’s global sites, including Leuven (Belgium), Espoo (Finland), and Eindhoven (the Netherlands). 

About imec & the teams

Imec is a global pioneer in integrated silicon photonics, built around its renowned iSiPP platform, PDKs, prototyping services, and low volume manufacturing of silicon photonic ICs. By leveraging mature CMOS manufacturing processes, imec enables high volume, high yield, and cost effective Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) on advanced 200 mm and 300 mm platforms. 

Our technologies are offered through wafer level fabrication and design enablement services to industrial and academic partners active in telecom, datacom, computing systems, biomedical applications, quantum sensing, and beyond. 

What you will do

Depending on your profile, you will contribute to one or more of the following areas:

Active photonic devices 

• Research and development of ultrahigh speed modulators and detectors 
• Exploration of novel device concepts, materials, and integration flows 
  (e.g. Ge, GeSi, IIIV, BTO, LNO, organic materials) 
• Targeting ultra‑low power (< 1 pJ/bit) and/or ultra‑high bitrate (≥ 400 Gbit/s/lane) applications 
• Device physics modeling, simulation, layout, and experimental characterization 
• Translating device concepts into library components for imec’s PDKs 
  
  

Passive photonics, packaging & co-packaged optics 

• Design of low loss passive components (Si, SiN, …) for scalable photonic systems 
• Development of chip-to‑chip and chip‑to‑fiber coupling structures 
• Technology pathfinding for co-packaged optics and wafer scale interconnects 
• Optical, mechanical, and reliability evaluation of packaged solutions 
• Collaboration with material suppliers, EDAs, OSATs, and tool vendors 
  
  

Integrated photonics design & platforms 

• Designing, simulating, and laying out photonic components and PICs 
• Translating customer requirements into system concepts and PIC architectures 
• Setting up designs of experiments and following up on large scale characterization 
• Analysing and visualizing performance data from die-to-die, wafer-to-wafer, and lot-to-lot 
• Improving existing photonic platforms and contributing to the development of new ones 
  
  

Across all roles, you will: 

• Conceive, simulate, and validate novel photonic device and circuit concepts 
• Design layouts and process experiments on 200 mm and 300 mm pilot lines 
• Collaborate closely with system designers, IC designers, integration, test, and reliability teams 
• Drive technologies from early concepts to manufacturable solutions 
• Publish and patent impactful results and represent imec at leading conferences (e.g. OFC, ECOC) 
• Contribute to imec’s Silicon Photonics roadmap and industrial offerings 
• Promote knowledge sharing and improving design workflows and documentation 

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

We welcome candidates at different career stages. The position level and scope will be adjusted based on experience. 

You typically bring: 

• A PhD in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or equivalent industry experience 
• Strong understanding of photonic device physics and CMOS manufacturing constraints 
• Experience in one or more of the following:  
  
  • High‑speed EO/OE device design and characterization (> 30 GHz)
  • Passive optical design and modeling
  • Integrated photonics design, optimization, layout, and testing
  • Photonic packaging and fiber‑coupled device characterization 
• Hands-on experience with simulation and design tools 
  (e.g. Lumerical, RSoft, IPKISS, Cadence, LEdit, Zemax, TCAD, HFSS) 
• Good programming and scripting skills (Python is a strong plus) 
• Hands-on knowledge of experimental setups and largescale characterization of PICs 
• Strong collaboration and communication skills in English 
• Curiosity, creativity, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary, international environment 

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.