Scientific director Heterogeneous System and Edge AI design

Imec at Holst Centre has established a world-leading track record on the design of novel sensors for ultra-low power IoT devices, sensors for autonomous systems, and health applications. For instance, our teams lead innovations in wireless communication and sensing, electro-optical design, accurate localization and edge AI. Our headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, is world renowned for pioneering new process technologies in collaboration with industrial foundries and with the broader semiconductor ecosystem. In our Eindhoven offices, at the centre of a world-class high tech systems environment, we have the ambition to pioneer unique heterogeneous edge nodes where edge AI, neural nets and fusion methods are closely co-designed with the device innovations from adjacent technology programs. More than ever, innovation relies on multi-disciplinary design. Imec’s research tracks enable unique opportunities for end-to-end innovations.
While “System-on-Chip (SoC)” integration in standard CMOS has been a driver for the semiconductor industry for many decades, we are now entering an era where chiplet-based system design is needed in order to leverage the performance of specialty technologies like photonics, ultra-sonics, electro-chemical materials or even cells. Signal processing gets closely co-designed with the physics of the specialty device and moves from classic deterministic algorithms to neural nets, self-learning and edge AI methods.  
In this new role, you co-design new algorithms and neural nets with f.i. optical sensor chips or ultra-sound transducers for target applications like IoT, autonomous systems, co-botic perception systems, micro location and similar. You work with a team of signal processing experts and neuromorphic designers but also bridge to IC and photonics designers.

You will work from Holst Centre/imec the Netherlands in Eindhoven, yet in close collaboration with the research groups located in imec Belgium and the OnePlanet/imec research in Wageningen/Nijmegen.

What you will do

• You lead heterogeneous system research and signal processing like statistical methods, neural nets, learning and inference techniques, fusion and AI for ASIC implementation in extreme-edge nodes that are resource constrained and often battery powered.
• You have a strong understanding of the physics of the edge devices, as well as the underlying device technologies to closely co-design your algorithms and to deliver breakthrough system innovations.
• You work with top researchers in the teams, you inspire them towards personal excellence and creativity and you lead them to international excellence and recognition.
• You drive technical discussions with our industrial partners to further develop the research roadmaps, and in support of customer acquisition.
• You pursue novel applications of technologies to address challenging real-world problems and establish new areas of research.
• You radiate imec’s proficiency at conferences, seminars and other events, and participate in the adequate scientific eco-systems.
• You write and contribute to proposals, project status reports, technical white papers.
• You report to the general manager of Imec-NL Eindhoven and vice president R&D. 

What we do for you

We offer a challenging and international environment amongst top-notch researchers at the forefront of technology, in an international network of renowned industrial customers. This is your opportunity to bring new technologies to the market that will have an impact on tomorrow’s society.

Who you are

• Senior Principal Researcher, Fellow, or Professor.
• Strong entrepreneurial skills and ambitious.
• Deep knowledge on various physical sensor mechanisms i.e. electrical, optical, ultrasound, photo-acoustics, microfluidics.
• A top international scientific track record and international network in scientific communities.
• Proven track record in signal processing, both classic as well AI methods.
• You have experience in heterogeneous system design and have collaborated with expert teams on e.g. physical design, IC design, PIC design, sensor design. It is a bonus if you have done IC or sensor design yourself.
• Ability and ambition to define and steer a research challenge towards international recognition.
• Pro-active attitude in initiating significant collaborations across imec and externally.
• Experience with co-botics, perception systems, or bionics is a bonus.
• PhD degree in signal processing, Artificial Intelligence or adjacent domains.

Interested

Does this position sound like an interesting next step in your career at imec? Don’t hesitate to submit your application by clicking on ‘APPLY NOW’.
Should you have more questions about the job, you can contact Frank Wolfs, Talent Acquisition Lead, he will be happy to assist you.