Research Scientist, Silicon Photonics design and Integration

VTT; Espoo; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

VTT is seeking a Research Scientist to develop fast photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and their use in data centre interconnects, RoF, MWP and other applications. You will design, simulate and test PICs and PIC-based systems, and may work on electronics and software for PIC-based solutions.

Our team emphasizes collaboration across disciplines; you will interact with wafer processing experts and contribute to disseminating research results.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in physics, photonics, electrical engineering or related field with courses on photonics.
• Basic understanding of optical waveguides, fibers, lasers and photodetectors.
• Basic knowledge of RF signals in the MHz and GHz range.
• Proficient in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate and test optical waveguide components and PIC-based systems.
• Contribute to assembly, packaging and integration with control electronics and software.
• Collaborate with wafer processing experts to ensure fabricability.
• Contribute to reporting and dissemination of research results.

Skills

Python programming

English communication

RF signal theory

Education

Master's degree in physics / photonics / electrical engineering

Job description

Are you interested in developing fast photonic integrated circuits and looking for a new job opportunity in the field? Would you like to develop innovative technology with superb colleagues who are top experts in their field? Do you want to work at the interface of academy and industry using state-of-the-art research facilities? VTT might be just the place for you.

VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites us are curiosity, a passion for learning, and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well‑being. Our cross‑disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds from 55+ different nationalities focuses on creating impact through science‑based innovation. In recent years, we have created ground‑breaking innovations such as the world's fastest and most accurate radiation detector, a cancer‑sniffing sensor device for smartphones, and a headphone set entirely made of microbial materials. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra.

We are now looking for a Research Scientist to join our Silicon photonics team.

As a Research Scientist, you will develop fast photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and their use in different applications, such as optical interconnects (and networks) in data centres, radio‑over‑fiber (RoF), microwave photonics (MWP, mainly for mobile networks), satellite networks, free‑space optical (FSO) communication, and optical interconnects for quantum computers. You will contribute to multiple projects that focus on different PIC technologies and applications, but your main research focus will be on those that involve the creation, manipulation and detection of fast optical signals, typically in the GHz range. Your role will involve at least the design, simulation and testing for PICs and PIC‑based systems. Depending on the applications and your own skills, you may also get involved in the development of electronics and software for PIC‑based systems.

Our in‑house PIC technology includes the design, fabrication, assembly, packaging and testing of components, circuits and systems that are based on optical waveguides integrated on small silicon chips. All these development steps can be done at VTT, including 200 mm wafer processing in our Micronova cleanroom facility in Espoo, although we also collaborate with many other organizations to do these tasks. Our Silicon Photonics team is one of the global pioneers in the development of PIC technology. We mainly focus on PICs that are based on silicon‑on‑insulator (SOI) or silicon nitride waveguides, while we often hybrid integrate these with other materials and PIC technologies, such as germanium, lithium niobate, graphene and III‑V compound semiconductors. Our 3 µm thick SOI waveguides allow to make low‑loss PICs for an extremely wide range of infrared wavelengths (1.2 – 4 µm), while the SiN waveguides extend the feasible wavelength range to visible wavelengths. We believe that PIC technology plays a key role in solving many global challenges (climate change, healthcare, power‑efficient digitalisation etc.), while also offering good business opportunities.

Read more about our research: Launch of the PIXEurope pilot line for PIC technology.

As a Research Scientist, you will:

• Design, simulate and test optical waveguide components, such as modulators, switches, multiplexers, delay lines and photodetectors
• Design, simulate and test PICs and PIC‑based systems that typically involve fast optical signals in the MHz and GHz range
• At least contribute to the assembly and packaging of PIC‑based systems, and their integration with relevant control electronics and software
• Interact with our wafer processing experts to ensure that the designed PICs can be fabricated at VTT or elsewhere
• Contribute to the reporting and dissemination of our research results

Who we are looking for:

• At least Master's degree in physics, photonics, electrical engineering or related field with dedicated courses that cover the theory, technology and applications of photonics
• At least basic understanding about the theory and technology of optical waveguides, optical single-mode fibres, lasers, lenses, and photodetectors
• At least theoretical understanding of radio frequency (RF) signals in the MHz and GHz range, and the technology that is used to create, manipulate, propagate and receive such signals
• At least basic skills in programming, for example with python
• Proficient in oral and written communication in English

Interested and want to hear more?

For further information, please contact Research Team Leader Timo Aalto, [e-mail] , [phone] on Friday 11th September 15:00-16:00 or Friday 18th September 9:00-10:00 (Helsinki time).

We look forward to hearing from you!

VTT Location: Tietotie 3