Scientific Director Materials Innovation

What you will do

Now more than ever, advancements in performance for logic, memory and interconnects are highly dependent on material and process innovations. Therefore, we are looking to hire a Scientific Director (m/f) with a broad technical leadership in the field of materials for semiconductor applications and deposition thereof.

As Scientific Director, you will engage in in-depth technical discussions with imec’s partners, including the supplier community as well as the IDM’s (Integrated Device Manufacturers) end customers, to understand the industrial short- and longer-term needs and challenges. In addition, you will use your academic network to keep a finger on the pulse of research trends and to scout for potential further out opportunities. Based on the information from his external network and using your background experience, you will translate the long-term material roadmap into a process & deposition strategy for the Unit Process and Modules (UPM) department. You will do this together with imec’s key experts. As such, you will be a bridge builder that will link the expertise of material, device, process, materials characterization, and integration experts to create a path forward.

In alignment with senior management, you will help the R&D managers to translate the department strategy into a plan of execution. In that role, you will also act as a mentor for the R&D staff and students in the deposition groups. Together with the supplier account managers, you will look for opportunities to strengthen the collaboration between imec and its IDM & supplier communities. You will help to define joint development projects (JDPs) that will enhance and expand imec’s deposition capability and unlock new materials to be integrated in the most advanced nanodevices.

Your key responsibilities are:

• You are the owner of the UPM materials deposition strategy and provide a 5- to 10-year R&D outlook.
• You are the primary technical interface to discuss new material, materials characterization, and process challenges, both internally and externally.
• You build out a network to stay up to date in respect of research and industrial trends.
• You anticipate on future challenges by proactively identifying gaps in imec’s deposition tool park and materials portfolio.
• You act as discussion partner for imec’s R&D staff to challenge their ideas and aim to strengthen their knowledge level.
• You frequently align with the directors of imec’s integration and research programs and highlight technical needs and challenges to the APPM management.

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 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 competitive salary with many fringe benefits.

Who you are

• You have a PhD (or a Master degree with equivalent experience) in preferably Science or Applied Science.
• You have at least 10-15 years of deposition process and materials oriented industrial experience.
• You have a proven record and experience as a technical coach for researchers and R&D engineers.
• You enjoy to interface with people and maintain a wide personal network.
• You are an enthusiastic person that can translate a set of challenges into a coherent and sound technical strategy.
• You can make the link between a theoretical concept and a practical, manufacturable solution.
• You have excellent writing, reporting and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English is required as this is an international environment.

Interested