Postdoc in CMOS Integrated Circuit Design for Electronic-Photonic Integration - DTU Electro

Are you an integrated circuit designer who wants to bring CMOS electronics and photonics together in a single chip assembly?

In the project EPIC (Electronic-Photonic Integration for Energy-Efficient Information Processors), funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, we are developing thin-film lithium niobate photonic circuits with custom electronic control chips flip-chip bonded onto them. As a postdoc in our team, you will design the electronics that drive, stabilize, and modulate our photonic devices.

Cavity-based electro-optic modulators in lithium niobate are compact and energy-efficient, but their resonances shift with temperature and fabrication variations. EPIC addresses this by building sensing and feedback control into the electronics, with the aim of stable, large-scale photonic circuits for energy-efficient information processing. Furthermore, the EPIC project includes a cavity-based electro-optic modulator driven by radiofrequency (RF) CMOS control signals. You will work with Professor Per Lynggaard’s IC design team and Associate Professor Mikkel Heuck’s photonics team at DTU Electro. The project combines custom chip design with flip-chip bonding at DTU Nanolab.

Responsibilities and qualifications

You will be responsible for the electronics side of EPIC, from circuit design through tapeout to testing, working closely with a PhD student on electronic-photonic co-design.

You will have the opportunity to

• Design analog and mixed-signal circuits for sensing, control, stabilization of photonic devices.
• Design RF driver circuits for electro-optic modulation at GHz rates.
• Take responsibility for circuit blocks from specification to verified layout.
• Co-design the electrical and optical interfaces of the bonded assembly for low capacitance and low crosstalk.
• Develop test boards and automated measurement setups to characterize the assembled devices.
• Mentor BSc, MSc, and PhD students.
• You work independently, take ownership of the progress and quality of your work, and enjoy collaborating across electronics and photonics.

Required qualifications

A strong background in analog and mixed-signal CMOS integrated circuit design.

Hands-on experience with the full IC design flow, including layout and silicon validation.

Desired qualifications

• Mixed-signal system design, such as analog and data converter applications.
• PCB design for high-speed and noise-sensitive circuits.
• Automated testing and characterization of integrated circuits.
• Knowledge of, or a strong interest in, integrated photonics.
• As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

Assessment

Assessment of the candidates will be carried out by Associate Professor Mikkel Heuck and Professor Per Lynggaard.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 2 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Mikkel Heuck ([email protected]) and Professor Per Lynggaard ([email protected]).

You can read more about our department at www.electro.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 19 November 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

Application (cover letter)

CV

Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)

List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Electro

DTU Electro employs more than 300 skilled researchers with competencies in electrical and photonics engineering. As a department, we strive towards creating sustainable energy and a greener internet, as well as strengthening cyber security and health technology. Working with industry and public organizations is one of our top priorities to find and implement new solutions to our society. We aim to offer education, research, and innovation of the highest standard, and our focus on application-oriented research enables us to work across many engineering disciplines and research areas, such as IT and the medical and health sciences.

We have a close collaboration with researchers from all over the world, just as we collaborate with industry and public authorities about the dissemination of solutions based on electrical and photonics engineering as their key enabling technologies.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829

DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society.

DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.