Research Engineer – Integrated Photonics Characterizations (all genders)

The Integrated Photonics Technologies team at Silicon Austria Labs in Villach is looking for a dedicated and motivated Research Engineer to support its photonics lab and contribute to a variety of exciting research projects and topics.

This opportunity is a temporary position with an expected duration of around 3 years. Continuation in a permanent role may be considered thereafter, subject to strong performance and and future funding opportunities.

Your Future Tasks Include

• Independently design and perform experiments for integrated photonics and RF photonics characterization, contributing to project objectives and results.
• Development and optimization of new optical test benches.
• Perform and take responsibility for routine characterization, including automated wafer-level and in-line integrated photonic measurements.
• Develop and implement new characterization setups, measurement methods, and test vehicles.
• Test, verify, troubleshoot, and maintain characterization equipment.
• Manage and contribute to laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance and continuous improvement of laboratory processes.
• Create, develop, and maintain technical documentation, measurement procedures for integrated photonics characterization.
• Support data acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation.
• Support new equipment invests
  
  

Your Profile

• Master’s degree (or Bachelor's degree +3 of years relevant work experience) in electrical engineering, photonics, physics, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in electronics, photonics, or optoelectronic characterization.
• Experience working in a research laboratory or R&D environment.
• Practical experience with optical and electrical measurement systems and test equipment.
• Programming skills for data acquisition, measurement automation, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Good understanding of integrated photonics, nanophotonics, and/or RF photonics.
• Strong motivation, initiative, and willingness to learn new technologies.
• Good communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
  
  

Important Facts About SAL

• Diverse research activities with many technical challenges.
• State-of-the-art laboratory facilities and equipment.
• Location in the heart of Europe in Austria – relocation support for non-European nationalities.
• Internal and external training opportunities for career development.
• Family & children friendly - actively shaping the compatibility of family and career.
• “Vital4SAL” to promote a healthy workplace (e.g. SAL coaching pool, trainings on mental health, physical activities, healthy snacks, 24/7 accident insurance)
• € 4 per day meal allowance in restaurants or € 2 per working day in supermarkets.
• Public transport initiative (subsidy for the “Klimaticket”)
• Our values: Open door policy, flexibility in working hours, casual dress code, diverse teams, working with people of different nationalities, informal communication, lifelong learning, compatibility of family and career, sustainability, personal growth, and collective advancement.
  
  

This position is subject to the Collective Agreement for employees in non-university research (Research CA) starting in occupational group E (E1 salary = EUR 4.056, paid 14 times a year) based on 38,5 hours per week.

About Us

Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) is a top research center for Electronics and Software Based Systems (ESBS). At three locations (Graz, Villach, Linz), SAL is conducting research along the entire ESBS value chain in the areas of sensor systems, power electronics, intelligent wireless systems, microsystems and embedded systems to develop future-oriented solutions for industrial production, health, energy, mobility, safety and more. SAL brings together key players from industry, science and research and thus valuable expertise and know-how and conducts cooperative, application-oriented research along the value chain. Cooperative projects are co-financed by SAL and enable a fast and unbureaucratic project start. SAL is thus shaping the high-tech location Austria and Europe and developing the future.

Innovation is our top priority and so are our employees. We are a family-friendly company and support the compatibility of work and family as much as possible. That is why we have been awarded the Work and Family Certificate until 2026. But we are constantly working on new measures to offer our employees an environment where they feel good, healthy and motivated.