Digital Systems Researcher in Emerging Memory Technologies 

What you will do

In this position, you will join the imec PACTS department (Pathfinding Co-Optimization Technology and Systems), in the Technology-Application Co-Optimization for Systems (TACOS) team, from either imec headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, or in imec UK in Cambridge. You will contribute to accelerator architecture and memory sub-system pathfinding activities, with a focus on quantifying system-level implications of imec’s compute roadmap alongside advanced AI-centric memory and packaging technologies. These include advanced dense 3D memories (3DDRAM, IGZO-based DRAM, FerroCaps), novel AI memories for near/in-memory compute, as well as advanced wafer-level fan-out-enabled 2.5D and 3D packaging. 

Your role will centre on exploring uArchitectural integration and modelling of these technologies, bridging the gap between technology and system design. Your tasks include: 

1. Investigating system power, performance, and area (PPA) trade-offs of emerging AI memory technologies and accelerator architectures in realistic application contexts. 
2. Innovating on accelerator uArchitecture by integrating new AI memories, advanced 3D memories, and novel compute and packaging approaches. 
3. Advancing the system-level memory roadmap by benchmarking these technologies against existing references. 
4. Collaborating with cross-technology research programs on compute, thermal and power delivery  to translate technology input into system-level methodologies and flows. 

What we do for you

• A full-time position in imec’s headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, or satellite office in Cambridge, UK. 
• An exciting position in a rapidly growing, multi-disciplinary team with extremely wide areas of expertise. 
• The chance to interact closely with circuit designers, device experts, and computer architects. 
• High impact and visibility through potential publications and interactions with major foundry, fabless, EDA, and system partners in imec’s ecosystem.

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium or imec UK in Cambridge. 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 define 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 hold a PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science, with relevant industrial or academic experience in digital hardware design, system modeling, and/or uArchitecture research. 
• You are experienced in RTL design flows (Verilog/VHDL/SystemVerilog), logic synthesis, and have exposure to PnR flows (place & route, timing closure, power estimation). 
• You are skilled in modeling and simulation methodologies for exploring PPA at system/uArchitecture level (e.g., analytical modeling, cycle-accurate simulators, full system modelling, and/or custom simulation frameworks). 
• You are familiar with the challenges and opportunities of AI memories and understand their role in next-generation AI/ML accelerators. 
• You have worked in multi-disciplinary teams, ideally interacting with hardware designers, software engineers, and technology experts. 
• You have a critical mindset, are eager to explore new challenges and want to evolve together with changing R&D demands. 
• You are comfortable with automation, scripting, version control, and CI/CD flows to ensure reproducible and scalable research. 
• You are a constructive team player, eager to learn and use others’ expertise as much as you want others to use your own. 

For imec UK: this position is open only to candidates who already hold a valid UK residence permit or work authorization. We are currently not able to provide UK visa sponsorship. 

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.