Applied AI Researcher for Semiconductor Innovation of Autonomous Systems

Imec; Heilbronn; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Imec – Heilbronn, Germany is seeking an Applied AI Researcher to advance AI for autonomous systems in chiplet, ASIC and EDA workflows. You will conduct hands‑on AI research and collaborate across chip designers, data scientists and physicists to accelerate semiconductor R&D.

You will lead AI‑driven design workflows, digital twins, and surrogate models, partnering with industrial teams to apply AI techniques throughout development.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc with significant AI/ML experience.
• Strong expertise in machine learning and optimization.
• Experience applying AI to engineering, semiconductor, or EDA domains.
• Familiarity with chip design, packaging, ASIC development, or design automation is desirable.
• Ability to translate business and technical challenges into research opportunities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and capability to build new capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to growing imec's local AI capability in Heilbronn.
• Research, develop, and apply AI methods to accelerate R&D workflows in semiconductor areas.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams across chiplets, packaging, and design automation.
• Design AI-assisted workflows for exploration, optimization, verification, and simulation.
• Interface with industrial partners to identify AI-enabled productivity improvements.
• Document research outputs, publications, and patents.

Skills

Applied AI research

Machine learning

Foundation models

AI-assisted engineering

Communication skills

Leadership across teams

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

PhD or MSc in AI/CS/EE/SE

Job description

Applied AI Researcher for Semiconductor Innovation of Autonomous Systems

Imec – Heilbronn, Germany

What you will do

As an AI hire in Germany, you contribute to the growth of local AI capabilities while delivering immediate impact on chiplet, ASIC, packaging, and EDA workflows. The role involves hands‑on AI research and cross-domain and cross‑organizational collaboration. You investigate how advanced AI techniques can accelerate the design, optimization, and operation of modular chiplet‑based computing systems for future autonomous applications. You work in a diverse and multidisciplinary team of chip designers, compute, as well as with data scientists and physicists, researching and developing innovative solutions for environmental sensing and robotics. Your main responsibilities involve:

• Contribute to establish and grow the local AI capability within imec's R&D Center in Heilbronn;
• Research, develop, and apply AI methods to accelerate semiconductor R&D workflows across chiplet architectures, ASIC development, packaging technologies, and design automation;
• Research and implement AI-assisted workflows for architecture exploration, design space optimization, verification, validation, scheduling, simulation, and engineering productivity;
• Collaborate with chiplet, architecture, packaging, and system teams to identify high-impact opportunities for AI-enabled productivity improvements;
• Drive AI-assisted design approaches for emerging autonomous edge computing and chiplet-based systems;
• Design and implement digital twins, simulations, and surrogate‑models that accelerate semiconductor and system development processes;
• Interface technically with industrial partners and technology providers in the IPAI ecosystem. These collaborations will help identify opportunities for enabling and applying AI techniques across the development lifecycle of semiconductors for autonomous systems;
• Support the development of new AI-enabled offerings and capabilities within the Advanced Chip Design Accelerator initiatives in Germany;
• Contribute to the definition of future AI hiring needs, technical roadmaps, and research priorities for the Heilbronn site;
• Regularly document and communicate your research output, contributing and authoring demonstrators, publications, conferences, and patents.

Who you are

You are an applied AI or ML researcher with the following experience, skills, and background:

• PhD or MSc with significant experience in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Semiconductor Engineering, or related disciplines;
• Strong expertise in machine learning, generative AI, foundation models, optimization, or AI-assisted engineering systems;
• Experience applying AI to engineering, semiconductor, EDA, system design, simulation, optimization, or digital twins;
• Familiarity with semiconductor development flows, chip design, chiplets, packaging, ASIC development, or design automation is highly desirable;
• Comfortable engaging with industrial partners, translating business and technology challenges into research and innovation opportunities;
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build new capabilities from the ground up;
• Strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives across multidisciplinary teams.