Photonic Systems Circuits & Sensors Group

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £32,348 to £51,805 Per annum
Full Time Fixed Term
Closing Date:  Friday 26 August 2022
Interview Date:   To be confirmed
Reference:  1921722PN

The CORNERSTONE team at the University of Southampton has a shared vision: to bring the future closer by turning research ideas into reality. We are seeking a Research Technician and a Technical Manager who are passionate about supporting cutting-edge research in a growing team.  You will join a group that has a culture centred around the team and is very supportive of one-another. You will be self-motivated, a strong communicator, a strong problem solver, flexible, able to work both individually and as part of a team, and able to manage time efficiently.

You will have the opportunity to thrive in a university environment, working at the cutting edge of future technologies. You will be able to develop your career within a culture focused on people, collegiality, quality, internationalisation and sustainability. Your working hours will be somewhat flexible, within the cleanroom opening hours of 8AM – 6PM.

The CORNERSTONE team provide a Silicon Photonics fabrication service to researchers from across the globe, centred around unique cleanroom capabilities in Southampton, UK (www.cornerstone.sotonfab.co.uk). You will play a fundamental role in the success of the cutting-edge research that CORNERSTONE supports.

In the role of Technical Manager you will oversee the fabrication of a number of CORNERSTONE’s Silicon Photonics platforms, with responsibilities including optimisation of the fabrication processes and delivery of wafer batches to CORNERSTONE users in an efficient manner, complicit with the requirements of our users. You will be responsible for managing a team of dedicated and passionate Research Technicians to achieve this mission. You will be able to learn from some of the best researchers in the field of Silicon Photonics and will gain valuable, transferable skills. You will be provided with full training in addition to the opportunity to attend seminars, conferences, and exhibitions to deepen your knowledge and to promote CORNERSTONE’s capabilities to prospective collaborators.

To be successful in this role you will have experience of managing a team along with substantial experience of Silicon Photonics device fabrication and generation of fabrication process flows. You will also need skill level equivalent to achievement of HND, Degree, NVQ4 or basic professional qualification in a science related subject or equivalent industry experience.

In the role of Research Technician you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of a number of tools housed within the world-class cleanroom facility. These tools will be used to fabricate state-of-the-art Silicon Photonics devices for CORNERSTONE users, as well as internal research and enterprise projects. You will be able to learn from some of the best researchers in the field and will gain valuable, transferable skills within the field of photonics device fabrication. You will be provided with full training in addition to the opportunity to attend seminars and conferences to deepen your knowledge.

To be successful you will have experience in a laboratory environment, with proven experience of successfully planning and progressing work activities is essential. You will demonstrate skill level equivalent to achievement of HND, Degree, NVQ4 or basic professional qualification in science or relevant discipline or equivalent industry. Basic knowledge in Silicon Photonics device fabrication is desirable.

We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse culture at the University and creating an environment where people can balance successful careers with their commitments and interests outside of work.  Our flexible working practices, including a hybrid working model, where employees can split their working time between the office and home, support our belief that this balance brings long-lasting benefits for our institution as well as our people.

We believe equality and diversity are fundamental to making the University of Southampton a vibrant, proud and successful organisation.  A diverse workforce, with people from different racial, educational and social backgrounds and a range of ages, opens up a wealth of possibilities for Southampton.  

For general enquiries please contact Dr Callum Littlejohns (c.littlejohns@soton.ac.uk).

This post is being offered on a full-time, fixed-term basis until 30^th September 2024.

Application Procedure:

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Jane Sturgeon (HR Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 4043 or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk  Please quote reference 1921722PN on all correspondence