Process Design Kit Engineer

• Co-ordinate the creation of methods to link all stages in the design, creation and validation of photonic integrated circuits.
• Leverage Semiconductor industry methods and standards to improve the trustworthiness of design kits.
• Structure the data flows, governance and metadata to ensure intellectual property protection.

Information
Photonic integrated circuits - or optical chips - have evolved into a mature technology with a broad spectrum of use cases and a diversity of platforms and building blocks. The foundry model is now becoming established where Design Kits allow fabless designers to create their own chips with custom functionality. The opportunities for prototypes and products are diverse, but this diversity has also become a challenge, with different design workflows for different products and production processes. This position approaches the design flow from the perspective of the data architecture. How is data used, shared, and processed in the creation and use of Design Kits at the heart of foundry processes? Where are the synergies when creating circuits with a diversity of materials (silicon photonics, indium phosphide, lithium niobate, and more), processes (wafer production, hybridization, test assembly and packaging) and use cases (healthcare, internet, security, mobility).

The data architect role formalizes multiple production platforms , processes and designs through a data-centric approach to prototyping photonic integrated circuits. The work will leverage open standards with appropriate engagement in collaboration with the wider developer and supplier community. Data flows will be considered from the perspective of creating systematically-improving Design Kits for process, assembly and test, and improving also by closing the design loop on circuit designs to accelerate prototyping and facilitate yield learning . Methods are expected to align to best-practice (electronic) Semicon industry methods, provide seamless interoperability with process, hybridization, assembly and test, and to support onward developer engagements via the European Design Platform and the foreseen Design Enablement Teams. The role will develop and embed industry accepted methods for data governance, security and integrity.

The position builds on the pioneering work in the foundry production of complex photonic integrated circuits in the JePPIX Pilot Line. The appointed person will work closely with a team of software developers for data infrastructure and integrated photonics researchers at the Photonic Integration Technology Centre (PITC). The person is expected to provide guidance and concertation to the wider consortium on best practice methods for creating designs and Design Kits in an efficient and quality-controlled way. This new position is within the new Chips for Europe PIXEurope Pilot Line, which brings together InP PIC technology, silicon photonics, test automation and packaging within one technology agnostic design flow with Europe's leading research organisations.

Link for PIXEurope: https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/05-12-2024-pixeurope-consortium-to-lead-the-european-pilot-line-on-advanced-photonic-integrated-circuits

Link for PITC: https://pitc.nl

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 2 years; this is a temporary position with the possibility of a 2 year extension.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 11 (min. € 4,728 max. € 6,433).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.