Postdoc Integrated Sensor and Readout ICs for Robotics Smart Skin

Delft; Delft; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ABP pension

Relocation support

Individual employment package

Competitive salary

Job summary

TU Delft invites applications for a postdoc position focused on integrated sensor and readout ICs for robotics smart skin. You will design low-power mixed-signal ICs for large tactile sensor arrays, tackling EMI and noise for ultra-low-latency sensing.

The role involves architecture to tape-out, collaboration with sensor teams, and dissemination through conferences and journals. You will work within EEMCS, conducting measurements, validating solutions at system level, and mentoring MSc/PhD

Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
• Strong analogue IC design background including MOSFET physics.
• Experience designing mixed-signal circuits (ADCs, DACs, comparators).
• Proficient with IC design tools (Cadence Virtuoso/Spectre).
• System-level modelling experience (MATLAB/Simulink).
• Able to publish and co-supervise MSc/PhD candidates.
• 2+ CMOS tapeouts expected.
• Publication record in ISSCC, VLSI, ESSERC, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and layout low-power mixed-signal ICs for large sensor arrays.
• Develop analogue front-ends and high-resolution ADCs for tactile sensing.
• Explore local digitisation, asynchronous readout, and noise-immune topologies.
• Bridge CMOS ICs with flexible sensor arrays and system integration.
• Tape-out and characterisation from architecture to lab verification.
• Collaborate with materials and sensor teams and publish findings.

Skills

Analog IC design

Mixed-signal circuits

Low-noise front-ends

MATLAB/Simulink

Verilog-A

CADENCE Virtuoso/Spectre

English proficiency

Tapeouts in CMOS

Publication track record

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering / Microelectronics / ICs

Strong foundation in analogue IC design

Tools

Cadence Virtuoso

Cadence Spectre

Verilog-A

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Postdoc Integrated Sensor and Readout ICs for Robotics Smart Skin

Give robots a human-like sense of touch. Develop integrated sensors and mixed-signal readout ICs for flexible electronic skin, enabling fast, robust and scalable tactile intelligence for advanced robotics.

How do you equip an entire robot with thousands of tactile sensors without creating excessive wiring, latency and sensitivity to electromagnetic interference and power-supply noise? As a Postdoc at TU Delft, you will tackle these challenges by developing integrated sensor and readout IC technology for flexible electronic skin, or Smart Skin. You will design, simulate and lay out low-power mixed-signal ICs for large sensor arrays. Your work may include low-noise analogue front-ends, high-resolution and energy-efficient ADCs, and local data processing and multiplexing. You will explore circuit architectures such as local digitisation, event-driven or asynchronous readout, and noise-immune topologies to achieve robust, ultra-low-latency tactile sensing with a high dynamic range.

Working closely with materials and sensor experts, you will integrate CMOS chips with flexible or stretchable capacitive, piezoelectric or piezoresistive sensor arrays. You will take designs from architecture to tape-out and characterisation, using suitable CMOS technologies. You will conduct electrical measurements and validate your solutions at robotic system level. Your research will combine fundamental IC innovation with hands-on experimental work. You will publish your findings at leading solid-state circuits and sensor conferences and in journals, and co-supervise MSc and PhD candidates.

You will work at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), within the Department of Microelectronics . Here, you will join an interdisciplinary research environment with expertise in integrated circuits, sensors and robotic systems. You will have access to advanced IC design tools, measurement equipment and fabrication facilities. Together, we aim to develop the hardware that enables the next generation of intelligent robots to physically sense and interact with their environment.

Job requirements

• You hold a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, Integrated Circuits or a closely related field.


• You have a strong foundation in analogue IC design, including MOSFET physics, amplifiers, voltage references and frequency compensation.


• You have experience designing mixed-signal circuits, such as ADCs, DACs, comparators, oscillators or related building blocks.


• You are proficient with IC design and simulation tools such as Cadence Virtuoso and Spectre, or comparable industry-standard EDA tools.


• You have experience with system-level modelling using MATLAB/Simulink, Verilog-A or comparable tools.


• You enjoy collaborating across disciplines and translating sensor and system requirements into integrated circuit architectures.


• Experience with capacitive, resistive or ultrasonic sensors and their readout ICs is an advantage, but not required.


• You communicate effectively in English and are motivated to publish research and support MSc and PhD candidates.


• You are expected to have 2+ successful tapeouts in CMOS technologies.


• You are expected to have at least 2 of the following publications: ISSCC, VLSI, ESSERC, ASSCC, CICC, JSSC, TCAS-I, SSCL, TCAS-II.

Candidates who do not fullfill the requirements will not be considered.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our corevalues and we activelyengage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 18 months Temporary


• A job of 36-40 hours per week.


• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.


• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.


• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.


• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.


• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.


• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.


• Partially paid parental leave


• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service , offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .

Additional information If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Qinwen Fan, via [e-mail] .

Faculty/Department: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science

FTE: 1

Submission is possible until: 18 Sep 2026