Digital jobs in Spain

The i2CAT Foundation is looking for a Director of the Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI) Research Group who will lead the overall strategy of the organization in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The DAI research group conducts research and innovation activities in the areas of explainable and distributed AI, multimodal AI perception, and cognitive cloud. The group has a long track record of participation in EU R&D projects, Catalan and Spanish-funded research and innovation projects, and bilateral collaborations with private industry and the public sector. The research group develops and continuously updates a research roadmap to steer its activities and identify new fields to explore. One of the key added values of the DAI research group is its mission to boost the overall capabilities of i2CAT in the area of AI, fostering synergies with the organization’s other 8 research groups.

In a nutshell, the activity of i2CAT is focused on the following research areas :

• Non-terrestrial communications (satellite communications)
• Internet of Things
• Cybersecurity
• Immersive Technologies
• Techno-Social Research and Innovation

All these areas of research are progressively incorporating the use of AI into their design and application. The selected person will define a strategy and coordinate all AI-related research and innovation, both with the purpose of identifying synergies across research groups, thus increasing the transversal value proposition of i2CAT, as well as defining a long-term vision of the value of i2CAT in the field of AI.

The successful candidate is expected to :

• Lead the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Group of i2CAT, consisting of 22 researchers / engineers working in 3 research lines.
• Contribute to the achievement of the overall strategic objectives of i2CAT, which aim at scientific and technological excellence, as well as the generation of impact on technology, economy and society.
• Define the strategy in the area of AI for the entire organization, ensuring smooth coordination across teams in different research groups.
• Become a reference person in the area of AI for i2CAT, participating in meetings with key stakeholders and public events.
• Develop the professional career of the DAI research group team members.
• Define / Update / maintain a research & innovation roadmap of the area with the validation of the Director of Research and Development, Director of Innovation, and Director of Business Development of i2CAT.
• Foster cross-collaboration with other research and innovation groups of i2CAT to tackle multi-technological problems and challenges.
• Manage the resource planning for R&D and innovation in the different research lines of the research group.
• Secure funding for the DAI research group : foster research & innovation ideas within the team and identify relevant public funding programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe) for proposal development / submission.
• Build and maintain a network of key people and organisations with whom establishing long-lasting and impact-oriented collaborations in coordination with the business development areas of i2CAT.
• Coordinate the definition of technological assets with the Director of Technology and Director of Innovation aiming at impact generation through the licensing of IPR or the generation of spin-offs.
• Identify and plan the strategy for the participation of DAI research group members in relevant scientific Working Groups to ensure continuous scientific / technological watch to stay up-to-date on cutting edge research problems / topics.
• Contribute to the communication activities of i2CAT, by providing guidance on the contents and audience targets for the different activities and outcomes of the activity of the area.

Who we are :

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center that promotes mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT, VR, and Immersive Technologies, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, AI, and Digital Social Innovation. The center partners with companies, public administration, academia, and end-users to leverage this knowledge in order to meet real social and business challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

• Work from our offices or from home, whichever works best for you. We only ask for one day in person at the office to coordinate with the rest of the team.
• This is a full-time vacancy.
• We have a flexible work schedule respecting your work-life balance.
• Reduced working hours on Fridays and in July and August.
• Fix + variable salary based on objectives.
• You decide whether you prefer to receive your salary in 12 or 14 payments.
• Optional benefits : Configure your salary according to your needs. We offer you the option of restaurant vouchers, public transport vouchers, nursery services, and medical insurance.
• Annual leave of 27 working days.
• We have fruit in the office to promote a healthy lifestyle.
• Free coffee and tea.
• You can participate in events of your sector.
• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your operating system, Mac, Linux or Windows.
• Company social and team-building events (virtual & in-person).
• You can develop your own and personal training programme with our support.
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

Where will you do it?

At i2CAT we already have an established ‘work-from-home’ policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We expect that you attend the office one day per week to stay connected with your team and to engage with other colleagues.

If you decide to come to the office, we are located in Zona Universitària, next to the Campus Nord of the UPC, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. It is a very well-connected area (metro, tram, bus) with bars and restaurants around.

Our offices are designed with an open-office concept where everything is light and transparency. We have a variety of workspaces so that you don't have to be at the same table all day.

Diversity is key to progress and innovation, and at the i2CAT Foundation, we actively work to create an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone can develop their full potential. That’s why we are committed to plurality and aim to increase the number of people with functional diversity within our team.

We seek talented individuals with diverse perspectives to enrich our team. In our selection processes, we are committed to promoting female talent and are particularly interested in the experience of women and other underrepresented groups in the scientific and technological fields. This will help us be better prepared to tackle complex challenges. If candidates have similar qualifications, priority will be given to those belonging to one of these groups.

We know that talent manifests in many different ways, and we are eager to discover new perspectives!

If what you’ve read sounds good to you... let’s have a coffee, and we’ll tell you more! As part of the recruitment team, I would be happy to meet you, hear about your experience, and see how you could fit into our team.

And if you liked it but this isn’t the right opportunity for you, maybe you know someone who would be a perfect fit and whom you’d like to recommend!

Requirements

• PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable Post-PhD R&D experience of at least 3 years in the relevant field.
• Sound knowledge of AI challenges, trends, and technologies, with particular focus on Generative AI (including LLMs).
• Experience leading technical teams in the past. Leadership skills.
• Experience in running collaborative R&I projects in the European framework (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe).
• Demonstrable Scientific Grant / proposal writing experience.
• Experience in project management in the field of advanced digital technologies.
• Ability and experience to manage uncertainty. Proactive, constructive, and collaborative attitude.
• Strategic vision, leadership capacity, and results orientation.
• Analytical and resolving ability for decision making.
• Excellent communication and organization skills. English conversational level (C1).
• Ability to dialogue and institutional representation.

Nice to have :

• Strong scientific / technical publication record.
• Be a recognized person in the research ecosystem of AI.
• Have occupied positions of responsibility in large R&I collaborative projects, such as being Project Coordinator or Technical Manager.
• Experience in leading / coordinating large projects managing large consortiums.
• Proven experience as subject matter expert in the international industry.

Candidates applying are required to submit the following documents :