(Senior) Vertical Integration Engineer

SMART Photonics; Eindhoven; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SMART Photonics seeks an experienced Vertical Integration Engineer to own PIC products and their manufacturing flow. You will monitor production, supervise batches, identify improvements, and drive yield and productivity enhancements.

You will lead root-cause investigations and coordinate solutions with process/device teams. You’ll work across a complex wafer-processing flow, translating technical concepts into actionable guidance and collaborating with multiple engineering groups.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Photonics, Physics or Electrical Engineering.
• 4+ years of semiconductor integration or processing experience.
• Strong data analysis and visualization skills (Python, Spotfire, Matlab).
• Experience with statistical software (JMP, Minitab) is a plus.
• Hands-on cleanroom experience, preferably with III-V materials.
• Basic understanding of etching, plasma etching, epitaxy and processing equipment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills including yield analysis.
• Experience with KLayout and communicating complex topics clearly.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, and ownership-minded to improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Own, monitor, and improve PIC manufacturing platforms end-to-end.
• Supervise production and experimental batches to drive yield and productivity.
• Troubleshoot complex production issues and lead root-cause investigations.
• Use data analysis, SPC, and DOE to identify trends and inform decisions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate technical topics clearly.
• Support end-of-line analysis by linking process performance to device results.
• Maintain and improve process control plans and manufacturing baselines.
• Proactively identify opportunities to make processes more stable and efficient.

Skills

Data analysis & visualization

Python

Matlab

Spotfire

JMP / Minitab

Cleanroom experience

III-V materials

Etching knowledge

DOE & SPC

KLayout

Education

MSc or PhD in Photonics

Physics / Electrical Eng.

Tools

KLayout

Statistical software

Epitaxy equipment

Job description

As we continue to expand our production capacity and strengthen our position as a leading integrated photonics foundry, we are looking for an experienced Vertical Integration Engineer to join our Vertical Integration Team.

In this role, you will be the owner of various PIC products and their manufacturing flow. You will monitor production, supervise batches, identify improvement opportunities, and drive yield and productivity improvements. When issues occur, you will take the lead in understanding the problem, finding the root cause, and coordinating the solution with the relevant teams.

You will work across a complex, interconnected wafer-processing flow and collaborate with Process Engineering, Device Engineering, and other teams. Clear communication is essential: you should be able to turn complicated technical concepts into simple, actionable explanations.

The integration team consists of a Team Manager, whom you will report to, 4 Vertical Integration Engineers, 4 Device Integration Engineers, and 1 Statistical Data Engineer.

Your responsibilities

• Own, monitor, and improve PIC manufacturing platforms with all its processes and production flows, end-to-end.

• Supervise production and experimental batches and use the results to drive yield, quality, and productivity improvements.

• Troubleshoot complex production issues, lead root-cause investigations, and drive solutions through implementation.

• Use data analysis, SPC, DOE, and other tools to identify trends and make data-driven decisions.

• Work closely with different teams and communicate complex technical topics clearly and effectively. Lead 8D and problem-solving teams.

• Support end-of-line analysis by connecting in-line process performance to final device results.

• Maintain and improve process control plans, monitoring strategies, and manufacturing baselines.

• Proactively identify opportunities to make processes more stable, robust, and efficient.

• MSc or PhD in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.

• At least 4+ years of semiconductor integration or processing experience.

• Strong knowledge of data analysis and visualization skills (Python, Spotfire, Matlab, or similar) is a must.

• Good experience with statistical software is a big plus (JMP, Minitab, or similar).

• Hands‑on cleanroom experience, preferably with III‑V materials.

• Familiarity with etching, plasma etching, epitaxy and semiconductor processing equipment; you don't need to be a specialist, but basic understanding is essential.

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, including yield analysis, SPC, DOE, and data analysis.

• Experience working with KLayout;

• Excellent attention to detail, communication skills, and the ability to explain complex concepts simply.

• Proactive and flexible, with a strong sense of ownership and a willingness to improve processes when things don't go as planned.

We offer:

• Competitive salary, to be aligned with Recruiter on the first interview.

• A challenging and impactful role within a fast-growing high‑tech environment.

• State‑of‑the‑art photonic technologies and advanced modelling tools.

• A highly passionate, international team of experts in photonics and semiconductor technology.

• Tailored learning and development opportunities: training, coaching, and on‑the‑job growth.