Strategic R&D Project Lead — Photonics, Superconducting & RF

Imec; Heverlee; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Imec, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, seeks a Project Manager to lead collaborative R&D across photonics, superconducting and RF technologies. You will drive strategic projects with European and national funding bodies, align diverse researchers and institutions, and shape the sector's roadmap to deliver visible impact.

You will manage complex multi-partner programs, identify new opportunities, and develop strategic initiatives with researchers and the strategy office.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in photonics, electrical engineering, physics, microelectronics, quantum technologies, or related field.
• Strong background in optical interconnects, photonics, RF, superconducting technologies, or quantum hardware.
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-partner R&D projects.
• Experience with European or national funding programs (e.g., Horizon Europe, Chips JU, Digital Europe).
• Excellent communication, stakeholder-management and negotiation skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly across Europe.
• Fluent in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead and represent imec's sector in strategic European and national collaborative R&D projects across photonics, superconducting and RF technologies.
• Drive project execution in scope, schedule, budget, quality and reporting requirements.
• Proactively manage risks, dependencies, resources and stakeholder expectations across projects.
• Ensure imec's technical contributions are delivered and translated into visible impact for the consortium and stakeholders.
• Represent sector expertise to consortium partners, steering committees and funding bodies.
• Align researchers, program leaders, portfolio managers and partners around shared objectives.
• Identify and develop collaborative R&D opportunities aligned with sector priorities.
• Support creation of strategic high-impact project proposals with researchers and sector strategy office.
• Contribute to development of new strategic initiatives and collaboration frameworks.
• Manage a portfolio of related collaborative R&D projects, ensuring alignment with strategy.
• Coordinate activities, resources, and deliverables to maximize synergies and impact across projects.
• Follow technology trends and maintain domain expertise to credibly position imec's research and innovation.
• Coordinate international consortia and establish governance and reporting structures.
• Define and manage the collaborative R&D roadmap across photonics, superconducting and RF domains.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Willingness to travel

Education

MSc or PhD in photonics or related field

Job description

Imec, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, seeks a Project Manager to lead collaborative R&D across photonics, superconducting and RF technologies. You will drive strategic projects with European and national funding bodies, align diverse researchers and institutions, and shape the sector's roadmap to deliver visible impact.

You will manage complex multi-partner programs, identify new opportunities, and develop strategic initiatives with researchers and the strategy office.