Lab Technician – Electro-Optical Communications group (ECO)

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Lab Technician – Electro-Optical Communications group (ECO)

Deadline Published Vacancy ID 2026/9
Apply now
5 days remaining

Job types

Technical and laboratory

Education level

University graduate

Weekly hours

36 hours per week

Salary indication

€3382—€5057 per month

Location

De Zaale, 5612AZ, Eindhoven

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Job description

The electro-optical communications (ECO) group in the faculty of electrical engineering has been leading the scientific and applied research into the use of light for communication systems for the past 40 years, in the Netherlands, Europe and the world. With deep connection with industry and academia around the globe, the ECO group offers new members an opportunity to become an integral part of research and innovation in the area of optical communications.

The ECO group is housed in the FLUX building on the TU/e Campus overlooking a state-of-the-art cleanroom and supported by more than 300m^2 of labs for conducting experimental work. With 13 tenured scientists and as many as 100 PhD and postDocs the ECO group is a vibrant and exciting research group. The staff and students are a predominantly international group of scientists from more than 10 nationalities. In this video you can get a short glimpse at the kind of research activities carried out in our group through short interviews with past students.

Information
One of the main characteristics of the ECO group is its strong experimental focus. As such, almost all researchers in the group are working in physical labs with state-of-the-art equipment. In order to maintain, train and support the ever-hanging student population a strong technical support team is needed. For the ECO group, two technicians are entrusted with providing this support. Recently one technician has been appointed, and this advertisement is for attracting our second technician to our team.

A technician in the ECO group would ideally be able to assist all students and staff with any technical challenge encountered. The technician will take an active role and part in ongoing research and will support the scientific effort and contribute to the research of principal investigators in the group. The role of the technician includes support of the ECO group’s activities with external entities such as European or national grants and industry where he or she will carry responsibility for deliverables in the projects. Furthermore, the technician will have contact with students from all the different labs and is expected to manage their time to support different research lines at the faculty of electrical engineering at TU/e. It is envisioned that the technical support team (2 FTEs) will be able to cover all required competencies needed as a team. Below we list the job requirements and the list of skills expected for the successful candidate. The technician should conform to many of the requirements below but above all should display curiosity and willingness to learn and grow in the fascinating, fast developing area of optical/Photonic/RF communications, quantum technologies to continue and increase his contribution to all research in the group in the coming years.

Main Tasks
  • Develop and Maintain Automated Testing Systems: Create software for automated control and monitoring of optical/RF subsystems and implement scripts for data acquisition and performance evaluation.
  • Integration and Configuration of Experimental Setups: Configure hardware-software interfaces for quantum communication and mobile telecommunication systems and ensure seamless operation between classical and quantum systems.
  • Lab Equipment Calibration and Preventive Maintenance: Automate calibration routines for optical and RF instruments and maintain system health through predictive diagnostics.
  • Data Management and Reporting: Implement structured data logging and visualization tools and generate automated performance reports for research teams.
  • User Training and Safety Protocol Automation: Develop interactive training modules for lab users and automate access control and safety compliance checks.

Requirements

If you are concerned that you don’t meet all the requirements sufficiently, but the job does excite you, then be sure to respond, we would love to look at your profile.
  • Preferably a MSc in Electrical Engineering or Applied physics, or a comparable domain. Candidates with a BSc in same or related fields combined with extensive experience organizing and managing laboratories may also apply.
  • Demonstrated track record in training junior staff in lab work, or other experience in instructional work.
  • Experience and a strong background in the following subjects is desired (with typically 2+ years of combined experience):
  • Operation, organization and management of research laboratories.
  • Construction of complex test set-ups and their maintenance.
  • Technical documentation of equipment/software inventory, test procedures and test results.
  • Telecommunication networks and their operation.
  • Optical and fibre communications deployments.
  • Network management and control of complex software environments.
  • Knowledge of photonic integration technology a plus
  • Computer networking, programming and automation
  • Computer networking, network protocols, ICT workflows
  • Virtualization, containerization and K8s clusters
  • Monitoring & telemetry, data acquisition and analysis, graphical representation and dashboards.
  • FPGA programming and usage.
  • Programming & Automation: Python, MATLAB, instrument control protocols (GPIB, I2C, SCPI).
  • Documentation & Compliance: Digital inventories, safety workflows.
  • Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
  • Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
  • Desire and affinity to work in an academic research lab with PhDs, Postdocs and MSc students.
  • Good communication and leadership skills.
  • Excellent proficiency (written and oral) in English.

Conditions of employment

An exciting position within an international yet personal university. You are right in the middle of the students, on a green campus within walking distance of the central station. Besides beautiful architecture, you will find varied workplaces and excellent sports facilities. We also offer you:
  • A monthly salary of minimum €3.382,- to maximum €5.057,- for full-time employment, depending on your knowledge and experience (scale 8/9 collective labour agreement for Dutch Universities).
  • In addition to vacation pay, a structural end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
  • A favorable arrangement for more holidays or a sabbatical.
  • A selection model for additional fringe benefits.
  • Working hours in consultation for an optimal work-life balance.
  • Scope for your talent with advancement prospects and excellent development opportunities such as mentoring, workshops and coaching.
  • Partially paid parental leave and reimbursement for commuting expenses, working from home and the internet.
  • A generous employer contribution to the favorable ABP pension plan.

Here you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

Additional information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to have more information about the position, please contact the hiring manager: Idelfonso Tafur Monroy, Professor, i.tafur.monroy@tue.nl.

For questions about the application process or the conditions of employment, please contact HR Services, hrservices.ee@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

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