DTCO - STCO - Quantum researcher

What you will do

This exciting opportunity invites a principal-level technical leader to help shape imec’s quantum compute roadmap by driving Design and System Technology Co-Optimization, or DTCO/STCO, for semiconductor-based quantum systems.

As Principal DTCO/STCO Lead, you will drive cross-layer co-optimization across qubit devices, cryogenic CMOS control, interconnect, and system architecture. You will translate technology limits into system-level insights and help define scalable architectures for future quantum systems.

Your responsibilities include:

• Lead DTCO/STCO activities for semiconductor-based quantum systems, connecting qubit devices, cryogenic CMOS control, interconnect, and system architecture.

• Build and use cross-layer models that connect device performance, wiring density, thermal budgets, latency, signal integrity, and control constraints to gate fidelity and system scalability.

• Guide quantum architecture choices that support predictable scaling, including error detection, leakage mitigation, control partitioning, and system-level integration.

• Define scalable digital control architectures for cryogenic environments, including non-standard operating regimes such as mK and 4 K.

• Orchestrate interdisciplinary collaboration across quantum devices, cryo-electronics, digital and mixed-signal architecture, modeling, and system integration teams.

• Enable integrated demonstrators, publish high-impact research results, and translate technical outcomes into roadmap direction.

• Contribute to imec’s pre-competitive research ecosystem by aligning technical strategy with long-term industrial and academic collaboration opportunities.

What we do for you

At imec, you will be part of an international research environment where advanced semiconductor technology is used to address some of the world’s most complex technical challenges.

We offer you the opportunity to work at the intersection of quantum devices, cryogenic electronics, system architecture, and semiconductor scaling. You will help define how integrated quantum systems can move from promising concepts toward scalable, fault-tolerant architectures.

You will collaborate with world-class researchers, technical experts, and industrial partners in a pre-competitive setting, while contributing to imec’s broader quantum compute roadmap.

For this position, the expected salary range is $145,000 – $180,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, internal equity, and location.

Who you are

You are a principal-level DTCO/STCO leader with deep experience across quantum devices, cryo-electronics, digital and mixed-signal architecture, and system-level modeling.

You understand how device physics, interconnect limitations, thermal constraints, and control requirements propagate into firmware, architecture, error correction, and overall system performance.

You combine architectural thinking with hands-on technical rigor. You are fluent in system abstraction, modeling, validation, and trade-off analysis, especially in cryogenic, quantum, or otherwise unconventional operating environments.

You are comfortable leading multi-domain teams in a pre-competitive industrial research setting and translating complex research into clear roadmap impact.

You are motivated by the challenge of turning integrated technology concepts into scalable, fault-tolerant quantum systems through DTCO/STCO research.

You have:

• A PhD in applied physics, electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field.

• Active experience with silicon qubit technology.

• Strong expertise in cross-layer co-design for quantum, cryogenic, or advanced semiconductor systems.

• Experience with cryogenic electronics, digital and/or mixed-signal architecture, system modeling, or related fields.

• The ability to collaborate across disciplines and influence technical direction in a complex research environment.

• A self-motivated, innovative, results-driven, and team-oriented working style.

• An open mind, a multidisciplinary attitude, and an “always improving” mentality.