R&D Team Leader Chemical & Ionic Device Principles

Imec; Vlaams-Brabant; Remote; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

imec is seeking an R&D Team Leader for the Chemical & Ionic Device Principles team in Leuven, Belgium. The role coordinates researchers exploring novel chemical and ionic operating principles to enable next-generation device concepts in areas like chip cooling, sensors, memory, and reliability for future electronics.

You will guide the team from front-end exploratory work toward implementation readiness, balancing scientific aspiration with project delivery and capacity management.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry, physics, electronics or materials science.
• 5+ years of experience in an R&D environment with people management.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee team activities across projects, balancing scientific aims with delivery timelines.
• Build and maintain scientific and technical excellence in collaboration with experts and stakeholders.
• Act as first-line people manager, supporting well-being, growth and development of team members.
• Translate project and organizational priorities into clear team goals and monitor progress.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative environment and ensure diverse perspectives are valued.

Skills

Leadership

Team coordination

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

PhD in chemistry/physics/electronics/materials science

Tools

Project management

Job description

R&D Team Leader Chemical & Ionic Device Principles

What you will do

As R&D Team Leader of the Chemical & Ionic Device Principles team, you will coordinate a group of researchers focused on exploratory research at the front end of imec's innovation funnel. The team identifies, understands, and experimentally demonstrates novel chemical and ionic operating principles that can enable next-generation device concepts. These principles provide key differentiators in areas such as advanced chip cooling, (bio)sensors, memory technologies, and reliability solutions for future electronic devices.

The role requires strong scientific curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to guide the team toward emerging opportunities with high impact potential. You form the bridge between the day-to-day practice of R&D and the broader organization. Your team will work closely with device integration teams to build confidence in new concepts before they mature toward implementation in imec's semiconductor pilot line. At the same time, the team supports ongoing device development by using flexible lab-based experiments for fast learning cycles, especially when performance or reliability challenges originate from chemical or ionic mechanisms that are not yet fully understood.

The team's expertise combines chemistry, electrochemistry, ionics, and advanced characterization to understand, validate, and optimize device behaviour at a fundamental level.

Key responsibilities:

• Oversee the team's activities across projects, monitor progress, and adjust priorities or escalat[e] where needed. Balance scientific aspiration, delivery timelines and available capacity.
• Build and sustain the team's scientific and technical excellence, in close collaboration with experts, scientific directors and other relevant stakeholders.
• Act as first-line people manager by supporting the well-being, growth and development of team members, while creating an environment where people take ownership and can reach their full potential.
• Translate project, technology and organizational priorities into clear goals for the team and individual contributors, and follow up on progress and delivery.
• Strengthen the connection between the team and the broader organization by sharing context, clarifying expectations, raising concerns early, and fostering alignment before issues ####
• Build strong collaborations within the department and across imec, especially with teams working on emerging device concepts and semiconductor technologies.
• Set the standard by contributing directly to the team's technical activities, ensuring best practices and establishing efficient ways of working that help the team respond effectively to changing research demands.
• Foster an inclusive, respectful and collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued and all team members are empowered to contribute, develop and succeed.

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 committed to being an inclusive employer and 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 market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits.

Who you are

• You have a PhD in chemistry, physics, electronics or material science with at least 5 years of experience in an R&D environment. Given the specific expertise required for this role, we will only consider applications from candidates who meet these qualification and experience requirements.
• You have a demonstrated track record of people management. You care deeply about fostering an innovative and efficient team culture.
• You are able to balance attention to detail with a big picture focus, being comfortable with critical thinking and navigating changing R&D demands.
• You care deeply about the quality and timing of delivered results.
• You are a strong team player and a good communicator. Sharing the progress of tasks, seeking feedback from your colleagues, and acting as a sounding board, is important to you.
• Prior experience in project management or coordinating across large teams is a definite plus.
• You are flexible in accommodating changing priorities to support business needs.
• You are self-driven and are willing to take ownership.