Nanofabrication Laboratory Facility Manager

ICFO is offering a Staff Researcher position with managerial responsibilities for an experienced research engineer to oversee the overall operation of the Nanofabrication Laboratory (NFL) at ICFO. The successful candidate will be responsible for (i) developing and optimizing fabrication processes, (ii) guiding and advising users throughout their fabrication projects, and (iii) ensuring compliance with and implementation of laboratory safety policies.

Key responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be expected to undertake the following responsibilities:

Management of internal and external user access requests and training programs.

Administration of mailing lists, user databases, and chemical inventories.

Coordination of the periodic validation and calibration of equipment (e.g., the photolithography systems, atomic force microscope, profilometer, and thin-film deposition tools).

Preparation of monthly reports on environmental conditions and equipment status.

Technical guidance in fabrication process design, development, and optimization.

Implementation and enforcement of laboratory safety policies.

Procurement of equipment and tools for the NFL.

Evaluation of process feasibility for external users and start-ups in collaboration with the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Department.

Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams on device development, fabrication workflows, and process integration.

Presentation of the NFL to institutional delegations, scientific organizations, industrial partners, and student groups.

Candidates must hold, at the time of contract initiation, a PhD degree in Experimental Physics.

Applicants must demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

Maskless photolithography using direct-write and maskless lithography systems.

Soft lithography techniques based on patterned elastomeric stamps or molds.

Electron-beam lithography, including aligning and exposing multiple lithography layers.

Thin-film deposition technologies, including thermal evaporation, electron-gun evaporation, sputtering, atomic layer deposition, and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

Etching technologies, including dry etching (such as argon milling, reactive ion etching, and deep reactive ion etching such as Bosch etching) and wet etching (such as silicon etching in potassium hydroxide solutions, silicon oxide etching in hydrofluoric acid solutions, and metal etching using various chemical etchants). Demonstrated experience in two-dimensional (2-D) material etching and the fabrication of 2-D material-based devices will be considered an advantage.

Device characterization using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, mechanical and optical profilometry, and ellipsometry.

Cleanroom processes and protocols.

Demonstrated experience in training and mentoring users in nanofabrication techniques. Previous teaching experience in any field will be considered an advantage.

Previous experience in a similar position.

I addition, a proven track record of conducting scientific research is strongly preferred. Proficiency in Spanish, Catalan, and English is required.

What We Offer

This is a full-time position.

The contract offered will be a permanent contract for scientific and technical activities (ACT).

A salary according to ICFO’s approved salary scales will be offered, commensurate with the level of the position and the candidate’s experience.

Suitable candidates are requested to submit:

Presentation letter with a declaration of interest,

Curriculum Vitae, including contact details,

The contact e-mail of two potential referees.

The selection process will follow open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) principles. It will consist of:

1. Eligibility check of applications.

2. Assessment of merits (education, experience, and language).

3. Interview with shortlisted candidates.

Candidates may contact jobs@icfo.eu for formal enquiries regarding the application, as well as address scientific enquiries to joel.moser@icfo.es. For updated information about ICFO, please visit https://www.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: 1135

31st of August, 2026