Expert - Materials and Interfaces

What you will do

New materials are essential to future semiconductor technologies, but introducing them into a semiconductor pilot line also brings new safety and interface-quality challenges. These range from outgassing deposited films and hazardous reactions during exposure to air or process chemicals, to trace contamination at device interfaces. Poor adhesion or delamination of deposited films can further lead to particle formation, device-performance loss and potential safety risks when hazardous materials become exposed. Imec is looking for a motivated materials expert to join the MIDA department to help understand, assess, and manage these risks. In this role, you will represent MIDA and UPM in technical decision-making forums and customer discussions related to critical materials. You will prepare and guide material introduction cases, perform technical risk assessments, and define mitigation actions together with stakeholders across BSV, FAB, and other relevant teams. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Represent MIDA and UPM in MIB discussions and support customer interactions on critical materials. Guide preparation of, and technically assess MIB cases, including risk analysis and mitigation planning with relevant stakeholders. 
• Drive continuous improvement of the material introduction workflow by documenting cases, identifying recurring challenges, and proposing more efficient ways of working. 
• Coordinate and contribute to surface contamination projects, including project planning, reporting, technical follow-up, and value assessment for future use. Define test plans, analyse results, and translate findings into actionable recommendations for stakeholders. 
• Expand the use of XRF for inline material and surface characterization of new materials. 
• Build longer-term expertise in delamination, adhesion, and reliability-related challenges by capturing learnings, guiding junior colleagues, and proposing improvements to test methods and workflows. 

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth. 

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits. 

Who you are

• You hold a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Nanotechnology or a related field. 
• 10+ years’ experience in semiconductor processing, surface science, thin-film deposition and analytical metrology is a must. 
• You have a strong interest in surface chemistry, adsorption and desorption phenomena, molecular contamination and interface quality. 
• You combine experimental rigor with analytical thinking and are motivated to translate complex physical and chemical mechanisms into practical recommendations for process control and safety. 
• You are a team player who can easily integrate into an international and multidisciplinary research environment. 
• You take initiative, work in a structured way and communicate your findings clearly to both technical experts and broader stakeholder groups. 
• You are comfortable taking ownership of cross-functional responsibilities such as the Material Introduction Board and can drive alignment across technical, safety and operational stakeholders. 

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.