Engineer or Scientist for leading technology-transfer project in the domain of integrated photonic circuits

EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,000 people supporting the three main missions of the institution: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 16,000 people, including over 12,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire for something that has a technological impact, and have the ambition to transition technology from the laboratory to a startup that shapes the future e.g. LiDAR, then LPQM could be your fit. Integrated photonic circuits have over the past decade seen major growth and are already impacting modern technologies in the form of transceivers for data-center interconnects. At EPFL we have been part of the next generation of developments, and have pioneered (published and patented) ultra-low loss nonlinear integrated photonics, notably chip-scale frequency combs, which have applications ranging from massively parallel coherent communication for datacenters to ultra-fast coherent LiDAR for autonomous driving.

Within the framework of a funded tech transfer project, we are looking for an R&D engineer/scientist with industrial and/or academic experience to lead the industrialization of our patented and award winning novel photonic integrated technology, with the aim of joining a recently founded laboratory startup.

The EPFL campus is situated on the shores of Lakes Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland, and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaborations, and reward excellence. LPQM hosts a unique infrastructure, with multi-million Swiss franc investments in in-house laboratory-based testing, and in-house silicon photonics foundry.

The candidate’s role would be to participate in all aspects of transferring the technology to the startup, from the development of the laboratory demonstrator of the current stage of the research prototype to a demonstrator that can be manufactured via foundry. The candidate would lead an internal team and work with external contractors, and be responsible for integrated photonics design, packaging, and the engineering of custom electronic, optical and mechanical solutions, as well as participate in in-house and field testing. Other key responsibilities include filing of new IP.

• Photonic design and simulation using key software tools
• Work with external foundries in the domain of ASICS, Photonics, and Packaging
• Development of custom electronic and optical subsystem
• Mature laboratory prototypes for transitioning the technology to a spin-off
• Participate in the photonic chip design and testing

• MSc or PhD in electrical engineering or physics
• Industrial experience is an asset
• Interest to become an early-stage team member of a startup in the high-tech sector
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly advantageous: III-V semiconductor lasers and optoelectronics, silicon photonics design, integrated electronics, RF engineering, optical/electrical packaging, system design, or MEMS
• Familiarity with key software, including CAD software, Python and MATLAB, SiP design tools
• Working experience on similar projects bringing basic research technologies towards the market as well as system integration/ telecom technologies/LiDAR - is a plus
• Experience in business reports, financing, and startup scene or product development is an asset

• Work on next-generation integrated photonics technology for LiDAR
• A very well-equipped laboratory, including full in-house electronic and optical testing, and in-house integrated silicon photonics foundry
• Join a laboratory PI with prior successful startups
• A young, dynamic, flexible, and highly motivated R&D environment
• Substantial R&D funds for prototype development
• Professional growth, possible transition to startup
• Based in Switzerland – an ideal hub for high-tech startups

Start date :
Immediately or to be defined.

Term of employment :
Fixed-term (CDD)

Work rate :
100%

Duration :
The initial appointment is at the university for a duration of max 1 year with the aim of launching a startup.

Remark :
Only candidates who applied through EPFL website or our partner Jobup’s website will be considered. Files sent by agencies without a mandate will not be taken into account.

Reference :
Job Nb 2609