Research & Development Project & Program Germanium Epitaxy Expert

Umicore; Olen; Sur place; EUR 70 000 - 110 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Umicore's Electro Optic Materials unit in Belgium is seeking a Ge epitaxy specialist to lead the development of an innovative space power product. You will own the epitaxy process, optimize Ge layer fabrication, and drive scale from pilot to production.

The role requires a Master’s in a relevant field, hands-on deposition knowledge (ALD/CVD/MOVPE/MBE/sputtering), and willingness to travel for short-term assignments with partner institutes.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in physics, chemical engineering, materials science, or semiconductor engineering.
• Hands-on experience with deposition techniques such as ALD, CVD, MOVPE, MBE, or sputtering.
• Willingness to travel for short-term assignments abroad to partner labs.

Responsabilités

• Develop an industrial epitaxy process for a new Ge-on-Ge nanostructure product.
• Lead projects with milestones, translate experiments into decisions, and maintain EHS compliance.
• Collaborate across teams and with Western Europe and North America partners; document methods and results.

Connaissances

Strong knowledge of material/semicond.

Innovation judgement

Translate results into technical decs

Formation

Master’s degree in Physics, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or Semiconductor Engineering

Outils

ALD

CVD

MOVPE

MBE

Sputtering

Description du poste

About Umicore
Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Electro Optic Materials
Power in space. Vision at night. Coatings thinner than human hair. Umicore is a world leader in material solutions for the space, optics and electronics sectors – enabling everyday cutting‑edge technologies. We guarantee our customers secure access to supply, plus recycling technologies that give materials a new lease of life. To produce materials with even higher performance, and provide recycling to new markets, we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new processes – which is where you come in.

Your Key Accountabilities

Purpose Of The Role

Space industry is experiencing remarkable growth, particularly with the launch of several new satellite constellations. To address the increasing demand for enhanced space power, our team is developing an innovative product designed to enable the next generation of space solar arrays. Within this new product line, our goal is to overcome the limitations of traditional bulk substrates by providing a thin epitaxial Ge layer grown on germanium nanostructures.

As we prepare for the piloting phase, we are seeking a Germanium epitaxy specialist who can play a pivotal role in shaping this technology. In the team, the specialist will be responsible for leading the epitaxial growth process and optimizing material performance, ensuring high‑quality Ge layer fabrication and contributing directly to product development. Your expertise will be instrumental in advancing our approach and making a significant impact in the industry.

Your Detailed Responsibilities

Develop an industrial epitaxy process

• In the first half year, actively support the installation of an epi tool, a new competence within the company.
• Define a robust high quality epitaxy process.
• Set tool workflows, experimental protocols, and data practices.
• Assist running the epi tool day to day: plan and prioritize work, keep the tool running, manage maintenance and calibration.
• Own baseline EHS (source gases, chemicals, exhaust gases, and waste).

Lead innovation and development of germanium epitaxy

• Lead development projects with clear milestones and realistic timelines.
• Turn assumptions into experiments, and experiments into decisions that produce clear go/no‑go recommendations.
• Invent new growth recipes and then drive the winning concept toward scale.
• Stay current on patents and literature, and use that insight to guide our direction.
• Keep EHS compliance as a priority.

Work across teams and communicate clearly

• Intimately interact with the team with the main focus to make the new pilot line a success.
• Actively interact with our research partners in Western Europe and North America that developed the original IP.
• Write technical documents that capture learning, methods, and rationale; timely report to the funding agencies.
• Present your outcomes internally to the steering committee and externally at conferences and scientific workshops.
• Support production scale‑up and help solve manufacturing issues when they show up.

Who we are looking for

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in Physics, Chemical Engineering, Material Sciences, or Semiconductor Engineering.
• Hands‑on experience with semiconductor deposition techniques such as ALD, CVD, MOVPE, MBE, or sputtering is highly valued.
• Willingness for training on the job during short‑term assignments abroad at one of our research partners.
• Proven experience managing research projects and taking work from idea to execution.

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of material or semiconductor sciences.
• Demonstrates strong innovation judgment: excellent taste in choosing high‑impact problems, shaping solution approaches, and designing high‑signal experiments that lead to clear decisions.
• Ability to translate results into clear technical decisions.

What We Offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world‑leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?