Post-Doctoral Researcher in Photonics Packaging

Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).
Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.
The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

About the Team:
Advanced packaging is now the key technological driver for the next generation of semiconductor systems, fulfilling the massively increasing demands for high performance, power efficiency, small form factor and low-cost packages across multiple industry market sectors.
However, many technical challenges remain, from the fundamental scientific challenges of more advanced, reliable and sustainable packaging materials, cost-effective package designs and packaging process flows, to the engineering challenges of package design standardisation and process automation for high-throughput manufacturing.
Through the Photonics Packaging and Systems Integration research programme at Tyndall, we address these challenges, spanning fundamental research to pilot-scale manufacturing.

About the Role:
The Photonics Packaging Group at the Tyndall Institute is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to contribute to a range of EU and industry-led projects in advanced photonics packaging. Working closely with the team, the candidate will help develop new technologies, solve engineering challenges, and adapt packaging techniques for applications in communications, biomedical devices, quantum technologies, and other emerging fields. The role will involve design and process development using Tyndall’s state-of-the-art packaging facilities, as well as the preparation and presentation of technical reports for both academic and industry stakeholders.
The position offers the opportunity to work closely with academic and industry partners to develop packaging processes across a wide range of applications, including optical communications, medical devices, and sensing. Candidates with practical experience in photonic devices, optical components, automation, or related engineering fields are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Fiber and micro-optical packaging of photonic devices.
Assembly and testing of photonic devices to evaluate packaged device performance.
Development of packaging processes for a range of photonics applications, including automation of assembly and testing steps.
Design and modelling of photonic packages.
Contributing to delivery of academic and industry-funded projects.
Preparation and presentation of technical reports.
Contributing to project delivery within an ISO-controlled environment.
Participating in education and public engagement activities, as required.
Ensuring compliance with the Tyndall Quality Management System and Health and Safety standards.
Carrying out other duties within the scope and level of the post as required.

Essential Criteria:

PhD in physics, engineering, or a related discipline.
Experience in photonics or in a relevant engineering/applied physics area (for example, optics, electronics, mechatronics, materials, or mechanical systems).
Strong communication and technical report writing skills.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience working in a cleanroom environment.
Hands-on experience with free-space and/or optical fibre alignment processes and tools.
Exposure to automation tools or process automation in an R&D or production setting.
Experience in simulation and modelling software (e.g. 3D CAD, COMSOL, ZEMAX, Lumerical)

What We Offer:

Apart from offering a position in a very successful and positive research environment, with a collaborative ethos full of diverse competencies to boost your career, we offer the following:

Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and the society at large.
Continuous Learning: Strong support for formal training, further study and professional development.
Interdisciplinary Environment: Where academia, industry, and innovation intersect - supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and expert knowledge.
Blended Working: Flexibility to work remotely and on-site, where the role allows.
Comprehensive Benefits: Access to UCC pension, long-term illness benefit, life assurance, and more.
Generous Leave: Competitive annual leave entitlements.
Equity & Inclusion: Athena Swan Bronze award holder, with ongoing initiatives led by a dedicated People and Culture team to ensure equity for all.
Core Values: A culture grounded in Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence, and Integrity.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: A proactive, innovation-driven environment that welcomes entrepreneurial and creative thinkers, including those with start-up experience.
Supportive Onboarding: Structured induction and mentoring to help new hires integrate and thrive.
Vibrant Culture: A collaborative, people-first workplace with a strong sense of community.

Terms of Employment:

Contract Category: Full-Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Duration: 18 Months

Closing date for applications for this position is Wednesday April 15th 2026

Appointment may be made on the IUA Scale for Post-Doctoral Researchers €47,405- €53,391per annum.
Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Kamil Gradkowski

Application Instructions:

Please make sure to attach an up-to-date CV/Resume AND a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.
A full candidate information pack is available to view by right clicking here and opening in new window.
Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on university approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.
Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Post-Doctoral Researcher in Photonics Packaging

Benefits

Job Description