PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Postdoctoral Researcher in TGV Metallization and Seed-Layer Processes

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 strengthen this initiative, ICFO is seeking a highly motivated Engineer/Scientist with strong expertise in thin-film deposition and metallization of high-aspect-ratio Through-Glass Vias (TGVs).

Position Overview:,

We offer a post-doctoral position to a scientist with hands-on experience in thin-film deposition, surface preparation, and metallization for semiconductor, MEMS, or advanced-packaging applications. The successful candidate will develop, optimize, and scale reliable adhesion, barrier, and conductive seed layers inside high-aspect-ratio glass vias, ensuring continuity and compatibility with subsequent copper plating and interconnection processes.

Key Responsibilities:,

The selected candidate will be expected to:

• Develop and optimize seed-layer deposition processes for high-aspect-ratio Through-Glass Vias
• Develop substrate cleaning, glass-surface activation, and adhesion-promotion processes
• Develop adhesion, barrier, and conductive seed stacks such as Ti/Cu, Cr/Cu, TiW/Cu, and related systems
• Optimize sputtering, evaporation, electroless, ALD or CVD-assisted, and hybrid deposition approaches
• Achieve continuous and conformal seed coverage along via entrances, sidewalls, and exits
• Characterize thickness, morphology, resistivity, adhesion, continuity, and wafer-level uniformity
• Identify and mitigate shadowing, seed discontinuity, oxidation, delamination, and cracking Coordinate with the laser and glass team to align via geometry and surface condition with seeding, plating, and interconnection requirements

This position will report to the Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, Director of the European Chips JU Pilot Line PIXEurope. 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 PhD in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, microelectronics, physics, microengineering, or related fields, or equivalent research experience.

Candidates should demonstrate expertise in the following areas (not all mandatory, but strongly preferred):

• Thin-film deposition by sputtering, evaporation, ALD, CVD, or electroless methods
• Metallization processes for semiconductor, MEMS, microfabrication, or advanced-packaging applications
• Surface preparation, activation, and surface chemistry of glass or dielectric materials
• Metal-to-dielectric adhesion and adhesion/barrier/seed-layer material systems
• Metallization or coating of high-aspect-ratio three-dimensional structures
• Redistribution layer patterning and fabrication
• Electrical and structural characterization of thin films and interconnects
• Cleanroom processes, safety procedures, and fabrication protocols Process optimization, reproducibility, failure analysis, and wafer-level uniformity

Desired (but not required):

• Direct experience with Through-Glass Via or Through-Silicon Via metallization
• Experience with FIB/SEM cross-sections, X-ray inspection, four-point-probe measurements, or via-resistance testing
• Experience with reliability testing, thermomechanical stress, process scale-up, or wafer-level packaging
• Experience with glass surface processing will be evaluated as a strong asset Experience with electroless deposition, ALD-assisted seeding, or electroplating

What We Offer

• Full time contract up to 3 years (ASE (Accés al Sistema Espanyol de Ciència i Innovació) contract pursuant to Spanish Law 14/2011)
• Access to state-of-the-art microfabrication and characterization facilities
• A dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment
• Opportunities to work on high-impact projects bridging fundamental research and real-world applications A family allowance may be granted to candidates with dependents, according to ICFO policies.

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.

To apply, please submit your:

• resume,
• a cover letter outlining your experience, contact information for 2 professional references.

Applications should be submitted via the ICFOjobs platform http://jobs.icfo.eu. The selection process is conducted in accordance with ICFO’s Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R) Policy, ensuring equal opportunities, transparency, and fair treatment for all applicants. Candidates are assessed exclusively on the basis of their qualifications, experience, skills, achievements, and potential in relation to the requirements of the position. Further information on the recruitment principles and procedures, conflict of interest and the appeals mechanism available to candidates, can be found in the OTM-R Policy.

The selection process will consist of:

1. Eligibility check of applications

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

3. Interview with shortlisted candidates

The Evaluation Committee will include at least three members and ensure gender balance and impartiality.

Each phase will be documented, and candidates will be notified of the outcome within 15 days of the interview.

For formal enquiries regarding the application process, please contact: jobs@icfo.eu

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

For more information about ICFO, 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: 1152

Application deadline: 29/10/2026

29th of October, 2026