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Principal Scientist - Lead Photonics

  • On-site, Hybrid
    • Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
  • Technical Competence Centre TCC

We offer the resources of a global foundry with the agility of a scale-up, giving you the freedom to innovate and the platform to see your innovations impact real products.

Job description

At SMART Photonics, we are passionate about turning groundbreaking research into manufacturable, scalable solutions. As the world’s trusted foundry for Indium Phosphide (InP) photonics, we enable innovators to bring their designs to life and power the next generation of communication, sensing, and computing technologies.

We believe in collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and the drive to transform lab-scale breakthroughs into real products that shape the future.

 

The Role

We are looking for a Principal Scientist to lead the transition of advanced photonic device concepts into reliable, high-volume production. You will act as the technical and strategic bridge between research, engineering, and manufacturing, ensuring our foundry services remain best-in-class for global customers.

 

This is an opportunity to combine academic freedom and innovation with industrial impact.

 

Responsibilities

  • Lead the integration of photonic devices from our TCC (technology Competence Centre) into scalable process flows, from prototype to volume manufacturing.

  • Drive device modelling, simulation, and validation, ensuring robust design-to-production workflows.

  • Collaborate with customers and internal teams on IP generation (patents, standards, joint publications)

  • Guide cross-functional collaboration with design, test, and supply chain teams

  • Represent SMART Photonics at conferences and in industry consortia

  • Mentor and inspire a team of engineers and researchers, nurturing the next generation of photonics leaders

Job requirements

Requirements;

  • PhD or MSc in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Physics, or a related field

  • 10+ years of experience in photonic integration, semiconductor process engineering, or device modelling

  • Track record of publications and/or patents in photonics or semiconductor devices

  • Hands-on experience moving technologies from R&D to production

  • Strong leadership and communication skills; ability to collaborate across disciplines

  • Excited by the dual challenge of scientific excellence and industrial scalability

 

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary to be aligned on during the first recruitment call.

  • Opportunity for participation in a rapidly scaling deep-tech company.

  • Support for conference participation and publications.

  • A collaborative culture at the heart of Eindhoven’s photonics hub

  • Reporting directly to our CTO

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