Silicon Photonics Reliability Qualification Engineer

imec; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fringe benefits

Market-competitive salary

Job summary

imec, Leuven, Belgium, seeks a Silicon Photonics Reliability Qualification Engineer to assess and qualify reliability for optical devices and related systems. The role involves defining targets, creating qualification plans, coordinating parallel projects, and translating research results into practical reliability strategies.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team, engage with customers, and stay current with state-of-the-art reliability methodologies while using data analysis tools to

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's with 5+ years in semiconductor environment.
• Experience with silicon photonics integration schemes.
• Familiarity with reliability testing and related failure analysis methods is a strong asset.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB) is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Understand reliability considerations of components and systems in imec's silicon photonics projects.
• Translate considerations into measurable reliability targets and qualification plans.
• Align with project manager and customer on reliability specifications.
• Coordinate and execute reliability projects and track timelines/deliverables.
• Initiate exploratory reliability studies and translate results into methodologies.
• Report progress to customer, project manager and technical teams.

Skills

Silicon photonics

Reliability testing

Data analysis (Python/MATLAB)

Project planning

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

English fluency

Education

PhD in Physics / Electrical Engineering / Materials Engineering

Master's with 5+ years in semiconductor environment

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Shape the reliability of tomorrow’s silicon photonics technology

What you will do

As a Silicon Photonics Reliability Qualification Engineer, you will be responsible for the reliability assessment and qualification of the products delivered to our bilateral project partners. You will assess the reliability of integrated optical devices (such as photodetectors, modulators, lasers and passive components), supporting electrical and interconnect technologies (such as heaters, through-silicon vias, termination resistors and bond pads), and silicon photonics systems. You will follow up on several reliability projects in parallel, including their definition, execution and reporting, as well as the development of reliability mitigation strategies. Given the wide variety of components, this position requires a broad reliability mindset.

Your primary responsibilities will be:

• To understand the reliability considerations of the different components and systems fabricated within imec's bilateral integrated silicon photonics projects.
• To translate these considerations into measurable reliability targets and qualification plans.
• To align with the project manager and customer on the final reliability specifications.
• To coordinate and execute reliability projects, and track the agreed timelines and deliverables.
• To initiate and conduct exploratory reliability studies where needed, and to translate the results into reliability qualification methodologies.
• To align continuously with the customer, the project manager and the involved technical teams, and to report regularly on project status and progress.
• To stay up to date on the technical knowledge needed to translate state-of-the-art research results into tangible reliability assessment strategies.

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 hold a PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field, or a Master's degree in one of these fields combined with at least 5 years of experience in a semiconductor environment.
• You have experience with silicon photonics integration schemes and components.
• Familiarity with reliability testing and related failure analysis methods is a strong asset.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, or similar) is an advantage.
• You have strong reasoning and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate technical requirements into measurable reliability criteria and actionable strategies.
• You have excellent planning, organizational, and time-management skills to handle multiple projects.
• You have strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• You are fluent in English.