Researcher Photonics

PhotonFirst International; Alkmaar; Remote; EUR 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impactful research

Hands-on role

Technical growth

Entrepreneurial environment

Collaborative team

Job summary

PhotonFirst International, based in Alkmaar, seeks a Researcher who turns Photonics Research into real world sensing solutions. You will explore new technologies, run experiments, and build models to predict system behaviour and support product introductions.

You’ll collaborate with colleagues, suppliers, and academia to develop market-driven future optical sensing products and PIC packaging services, turning ideas into proven concepts for field deployment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Photonics or MSc in Physics/EE with 1–3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong interest in integrated photonics and PIC-based systems.
• Modeling and experimental validation skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Explore new technologies and interpret relevance for PhotonFirst developments.
• Run experiments, evaluate components, and support product introduction.
• Build analytical and simulation models; validate them experimentally.
• Develop market-driven next-generation sensing solutions and PIC packaging concepts.
• Collaborate with colleagues, suppliers, academia and customers to demonstrate new tech.
• Share expertise; document work and help the team make informed decisions.

Skills

PhD in Photonics

MSc in Physics or EE with 1–3 years'经验

Model-based mindset

Experimental approach

Strong communication

Entrepreneurial attitude

Collaborative mindset

Tech Innovator

Work as One Team

Be Proactive

Make It Work

Based in the Netherlands

Education

PhD in Photonics

Master’s in Physics or Electrical Engineering with 1–3 years’ experience

Job description

Think of a satellite in orbit, a naval vessel out at sea or an aircraft wing in flight. Out there, ordinary sensors can’t fit or won’t last, and that’s exactly where PhotonFirst’s technology is pushing the frontiers. From our base in Alkmaar, we develop sensing systems that use light to measure strain, temperature and shape, even under the harshest conditions, providing groundbreaking relevance to our customers in defense, maritime, aerospace and beyond. Through our PIC Packaging abilities, we also help other photonics companies turn their chips into robust, ready-to-use products. As demand keeps growing, so does our team. Want to help bring this technology into the field?We’re looking for a Researcher who turns Photonics Research into real world sensing solutions.Your key responsibilities will include:

• Explore new technologies: Keeping up to date on the latest advancements and trends in photonics research and industry, and interpret relevance for PhotonFirst development interests (technology, products, capabilities, supply chain, IP);
• Run experiments: conducting experimental work, evaluate new components, arrange PIC developments, verifying results and supporting product introduction;
• Build and validate models: Develop analytical and simulation models to predict system behaviour, then validate them through experiments.
• Develop market-driven next-generation solutions: Evaluate new architectures and their performance for future optical sensing products and PIC packaging services, from initial feasibility to proof of concept.
• Collaborate to make ideas happen: Work on joint efforts with colleagues from various backgrounds, suppliers, academia, institutes, customers develop and demonstrate new technology.
• Share your expertise: Work closely with fellow researchers and engineers, exchange ideas, document clearly, review, and help the team make informed technical decisions.

YOU

You’re curious about how things work and motivated to turn complex technical challenges into workable solutions. You enjoy digging as deep as needed to understand and model the key principles of a technology, and are equally comfortable getting hands-on with experiments and making it work.The role combines conceptual thinking with practical engineering. You won’t just develop models or conduct experiments in isolation — you’ll connect the two to understand what works, why it works, and how it can be used in a real product.You’ll ideally bring:

• A relevant technical background: A PhD in Photonics, or a Master’s degree in Physics or Electrical Engineering combined with 1–3 years of relevant industry experience.
• An interest in integrated photonics: You’re keen to explore PIC-based systems, optical fiber sensing, photonic components, or related technologies. You don’t need to know everything about our technology already; a willingness to learn is essential.
• A model-based mindset: You enjoy developing calculations or simulations, testing assumptions, and validating predictions against experimental results.
• A practical, experimental approach: You’re comfortable planning investigations, working with measurement setups, analysing data, and drawing clear conclusions.
• Strong communication skills: You can explain complex technical topics clearly, document your work, and collaborate with people from different disciplines.
• An entrepreneurial attitude: You take ownership, ask questions, adapt when priorities change, and look for ways to turn ideas into results.
• A collaborative mindset: You recognise the value of sharing knowledge and working together to find the best technical solutions.
• You’ll recognise yourself in our values: Be a Tech Innovator, Work as One Team, Be Proactive,andMake It Work.
  
• You’re based in the Netherlands and able to work from our office and laboratories in Alkmaar.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Research with a tangible impact. Your work contributes directly to the development of advanced sensing technology for real customer challenges, including applications where reliability and performance are critical.
• A hands-on role beyond the lab. Combine modelling and experimentation with collaboration across engineering, product development, suppliers, and customers. See how your research performs outside the lab and what it makes possible in practice.
• A steep technical learning curve. Expand your expertise in integrated photonics, optical fiber sensing, PIC architectures, simulation, testing, and packaging - supported by colleagues with complementary technical knowledge.
• An entrepreneurial environment. We’re a growing, fast-moving technology company where initiative matters, ideas can move quickly, and you have the opportunity to make a visible contribution.
• A team driven by innovation. Join people who are passionate about technology, work together across disciplines, take initiative, and focus on making things work.