Scientific Director Heterogeneous System design for edge AI

Who translates technology potential towards scientific excellence with global impact

Imec at Holst Centre has established a world-leading track record in the design of novel sensors for ultra-low power IoT devices, sensors for autonomous systems, and health applications. For instance, our teams lead innovations in wireless communication and sensing, electro-optical design, accurate localization, and edge AI. Our headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, is world renowned for pioneering new process technologies in collaboration with industrial foundries and with the broader semiconductor ecosystem.

In our Eindhoven offices, at the center of a world-class high-tech systems environment, we have the ambition to pioneer unique heterogeneous edge nodes where edge AI, neural nets, and fusion methods are closely co-designed with the device innovations from adjacent technology programs. More than ever, innovation relies on multi-disciplinary design. Imec’s research tracks enable unique opportunities for end-to-end innovations.

While “System-on-Chip (SoC)” integration in standard CMOS has been a driver for the semiconductor industry for many decades, we are now entering an era where chiplet-based system design is needed in order to leverage the performance of specialty technologies like photonics, ultra-sonics, electro-chemical materials and biosensors. Signal processing gets closely co-designed with the physics of the specialty device. At the same time, embedded signal processing moves from classic deterministic algorithms to neural nets to embed self-learning intelligence in edge AI devices.  


In this new role, you lead innovation on algorithms, DSP, and neural nets, to embed edge AI into new imec sensors like optical sensor chips or ultra-sound transducers for target applications like IoT, autonomous systems, co-botic perception systems, micro-location, and similar. You work with a team of signal processing experts and neuromorphic designers but also bridge to IC, photonics, and sensor designers.

You will work from Holst Centre/imec the Netherlands in Eindhoven yet in close collaboration with the research groups located in imec Belgium and the OnePlanet/imec research in Wageningen/Nijmegen.

What you will do

• Lead the scientific excellence and innovations in signal processing both with classical methods and new statistical methods, neural nets, learning and inference techniques, fusion, and AI for ASIC implementation.
• Your work is part of a heterogeneous sensor system, at the (extreme) edge of the Internet of Things, meaning that your innovations need to support resource-constrained implementation, and -often- battery-powered, operation.
• Closely co-design your algorithms with other imec innovations on the device or design level to deliver breakthrough innovations, optimized from a system perspective.
• Work with the top researchers in the teams and inspire them towards personal excellence and creativity and lead them to international excellence and recognition in their fields.
• Drive technical discussions with industrial partners to feed the research roadmaps, and support Business Development in customer acquisition or large account management.
• Develop and manage international programs and cooperation in academia.
• Pursue novel applications of technologies to address challenging real-world problems, including establishing new areas of research.
• Continuously radiate imec’s proficiency at conferences, seminars, and other events, and participate in the adequate scientific eco-systems.
• Write and contribute to proposals, project status reports, and technical white papers.
• In this position you report to the General Manager/ VP of R&D of imec at Holst Center.

What we do for you

We offer a challenging and international environment amongst top-notch researchers at the forefront of technology, in an international network of renowned industrial customers. This is your opportunity to bring new technologies to the market that will have an impact on tomorrow’s society. 

Imec The Netherlands offers you an attractive compensation and benefits package including a 100% employer-paid pension plan and flexible working hours. For international candidates, we provide support in the relocation process. We continuously invest in our people through training, but also conferences, seminars and other scientific platforms are part of our investments. 

Who you are

• Principal researcher, or professor, with strong entrepreneurial skill.
• PhD degree in Signal Processing, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or adjacent domains.
• Experience with heterogeneous system design i.e. having worked in close collaboration with sensor device designers, imager designers, radar designers, etc.
• Knowledge on various physical sensor mechanisms i.e. electrical, optical, ultrasound, photo-acoustics, microfluidics.
• Well established research track record with international recognized scientific achievements and international network in scientific communities.
• Proven track record in developing signal processing concepts, both classic as well via AI methods while understanding relevant application domains.
• Ability and ambition to define and steer a research challenge towards international recognition.
• An inspirational team player with a positive can-do mentality who can transform scientific opportunities into tangible results.
• Independent thinker with an entrepreneurial drive who enjoys working in multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural teams.
• Pro-active attitude in initiating significant collaborations across imec and externally.
• Experience with co-botics, perception systems, or bionics is a bonus.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you want to learn more about it, then you can talk to Frank Wolfs, Talent Acquisition Lead imec-NL. You can reach Frank via +31(0)6-50837563. Please send us a motivational letter as well as an up-to-date resume if you wish to apply via our website.