Optoelectronics Group : Project Research Engineer position in quantum communication systems and[...]

ICFO - The Institute of Photonic Sciences

Organisation / Company ICFO - The Institute of Photonic Sciences Research Field Physics » Optics Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Research Support Positions Country Spain Application Deadline 20 Jun 2025 - 00 : 00 (Europe / Madrid) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 20 May 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? European Union / Next Generation EU Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

ICFO is offering a Project Engineer position to a well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic young scientist who wishes to enhance his / her scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment.

The successful candidate will be joining the Optoelectronics group led by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri .

The group has experience in the study and development of new advanced materials, devices and systems for information and communication technologies, in particular displays, image sensors and secure communications. The main drive of the group is to carry out applied research which bridges academia and industry, by developing fundamental ideas with great potential for revolutionizing future photonic products.

The candidate will be involved in the development and testing and qualification of setups to be used in space-based quantum communication applications. Communication protocols such as quantum key distribution (QKD) represent a promising solution for ensuring future communication security, and satellite-based approaches are currently the only option to avoid detrimental exponential loss scaling in fibre-based networks. The candidate will participate in the prototyping cycle of microsatellite payload sub-systems, to be applied in QKD use cases. These use cases will also be demonstrated over existing optical link test-bed infrstructure in the Barcelona metropolitan area.

Candidates must hold an internationally-recognized MSc.-equivalent degree (or evidence of its completion in the nearest future) preferably in Physics or Engineering, or be in the final stages of a Bachelor’s degree in one of these fields.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of quantum physics (at least at a basic level), while experience in experimental optics, optoelectronics, and telecommunications is highly desirable.

Experience in any of the following would also be beneficial :

• software-based laboratory device control
• computer-aided design (CAD) for mechanical components

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent Additional Information

Salary is offered according to the institutional salary scales.

The contract is offered for periods of 9 months.

Additionally, a family allowance is also available on request and after corresponding approval for people with family charges in the terms described in the corresponding policy.

Eligibility criteria

ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are selected exclusively on merit and potential on the basis of submitted application material. No restrictions related to disabilities, citizenship or gender apply to ICFO positions. ICFO abides by the principles of openness, efficiency, transparency, supportiveness, and international comparability as stated in the European Charter for Researchers and the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Selection process

Suitable candidates are requested to submit :

• Presentation letter with a declaration of interest,
• The contact e-mail of two potential referees.

Candidates will be assessed as they apply and the call will remain open until the suitable candidate is identified.

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