Annealing and Diffusion Engineer

Background 

The semiconductor industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by the rapid increase in demand for high-performance computing, AI accelerators, and advanced mobile devices. This surge requires continuous scaling of technology nodes and the integration of new materials and architectures. As devices shrink and complexity grows, annealing and diffusion processes become critical for achieving precise dopant activation, controlling junction profiles, and ensuring reliable thin-film properties. These steps directly impact transistor performance, leakage control, and overall yield. Furthermore, advanced integration schemes such as 3D architectures and CFET demand tighter thermal budgets and innovative approaches to diffusion and activation.

What you will do

You will be a member of the Thin Films Advance Materials and Processes (TFAMP) group within the Materials, Interfaces, Deposition and Analysis (MIDA) department. You will be responsible for the research and understanding of overall annealing and diffusion processes.  As a member of the team, you will play a critical role in the development and integration of thin film deposition and thermal treatments for improved reliability, optimize dopant diffusion control for new device architectures and develop next-generation activation anneal strategies compatible with ultra-scaled nodes as well as supporting well-known methods of anneal for older technologies. You will help on implementing AI tools to facilitate process parameters vs device impact relationships. You will work in a dynamic multidisciplinary environment in close cooperation with other researchers, process experts, material and tool suppliers. As a specialist in the field, you will support in the definition of experiments for the different programs across imec and represent the MIDA department on future tool replacement negotiations. You will interact with our fab engineering counterpart for future improvement and understanding of the thermal processes and their impact in thin films and devices. By actively contributing to imec’s different program activities you will be part of the future semiconductor technology. 

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth. 

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits. 

Who you are

• You have a Ph.D. degree in Material Science, Chemistry, Physics, or related. 
• You have working experience in the semiconductor industry or in a larger research facility.   
• You have hands-on experience in operating batch-oven deposition and annealing tools and process understanding. 
• Strong understanding of semiconductor process technology, including annealing, diffusion, and implantation. 
• Knowledge of thin film characterization methods, especially to assess diffusion/implantation performance. 
• You are a real team player and can easily integrate in an international team of professionals. 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Knowledge of AI tool usage and implementation is a strong asset.  
• You like taking initiative, you are persuasive and assertive, while keeping a constructive attitude. 
• You have excellent English communication and reporting skills.  

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.