PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Pilot Line Operation Officer at The Institute of Photonic Sciences

Apply for PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Pilot Line Operation Officer at The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in Castelldefels, CT, ES. This Full time on site position offers great opportunities for career growth.

As part of the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative, ICFO coordinates PIXEurope, a flagship Pilot Line funded under the European Chips JU program focused on Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) through which ICFO is advancing frontier technologies, including optical interposers for Co-packaged optics for next‐generation optoelectronic and photonic devices.

To support the coordination and technical execution of this ambitious initiative, ICFO is seeking an Operation Officer with a strong background in PIC or related technologies and experience in R&D&E environments with industrial collaboration.

Position Overview: The selected candidate will play a pivotal role in operation of PIXEurope Pilot Line, ensuring the project's smooth execution and alignment with strategic and technological goals. This position is ideal for a scientist or engineer passionate about translating research into industrial innovation. The candidate will closely work with the Pilot Line Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Pilot Line Director in the coordination of PIXEurope's operations and open‐access implementation.
• Collaborate with other managers, such as the Pilot Line Open Access Manager, Pilot Line Exploitation and Innovation Manager and Pilot Line Finance and Procurement Manager to establish and strengthen the open access and innovation ecosystem for end‐users and stakeholders.
• Participate in the technical evaluation of end‐user requests to access Pilot Line services, ensuring alignment with the Pilot Line's capabilities and industrial relevance.
• Manage and monitor the timing and progress of end‐user services.
• Contribute to project reporting and documentation for technical, scientific, and administrative activities, including deliverables to funding authorities.

This position will be dedicated full time to the European Chips JU Pilot Line project PIXEurope directed by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri.

PIXEurope is co‐funded by the Chips Joint Undertaking and national funding authorities of the Participating States, Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Austria, France, Italy, United Kingdom. In particular, it is co‐funded by Spain through the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service under reference CJU-010000-2025-0005, as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).

Applicants must hold a degree in Science or Engineering, with preference given to candidates with advanced degrees or equivalent professional experience.

Applicants must also demonstrate a strong background in the following:

• Proven experience in projects involving PIC or related technologies.
• Hands‐on experience in operation flows.
• Proven experience in research and development with industrial relevance.

What We Offer

• Indefinite contract for scientific and technical activities pursuant to Spanish Law 14/2011, linked to the duration or availability of funds within the PIXEurope Pilot Line.
• The opportunity to shape and influence the development of cutting‐edge photonic infrastructure with global impact.
• A collaborative and interdisciplinary environment at the interface of academia, industry, and innovation.
• A competitive salary according to ICFO's internal scales and a family allowance, if applicable, in line with institutional policy.

Equal Opportunity

ICFO is an equal opportunity employer.

We hire based solely on merit and potential, regardless of gender, nationality, or disability.

ICFO fully endorses the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, ensuring a transparent and supportive recruitment process.

For project and technology enquiries, please contact: valerio.pruneri@icfo.eu

Data Protection

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Organic Law 3/2018, ICFO informs applicants that their personal data will be processed exclusively for recruitment purposes.

Controller: Fundació ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona).

DPO: dpo@icfo.eu

Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.

Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.

Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT) https://apdcat.gencat.cat.

All recruitment files will be retained in accordance with the Catalan public‐sector archival retention schedule (DOGC 2117).

Reference: 1149

Application deadline: 20/10/2026 20th of October, 2026