Job Description

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

At the Department of Applied Physics, our pioneering research in physical sciences creates important industrial applications that hold great technological potential. Our research focuses on Materials physics, Quantum technology, Soft & living matter, and Advanced energy solutions. Topics extend from fundamental research to important applications. We educate future generations of research and development professionals, data specialists, technology experts, inventors, and scientists for industry and society.

The ATOMEL project, led by Dr. Ali Afzalifar at Aalto University, invites applications for two R&D engineer positions. The project is funded through a Business Finland commercialization project, and it is hosted within the Soft Matter and Wetting Group headed by Prof. Robin Ras.

ABOUT THE JOB

Are you a technical expert excited about new technology development and the creation of an international business from research? Would you like to play an active role in growing a deep tech startup?

ATOMEL is a Research-to-Business project, with the goal of converting an academic innovation in the field of SPM for thin-film characterization and metrology with the specific focus on the semiconductor industry into a new business. The initial funding is for 18 months and is meant to prepare for commercialization. If successful, the project can lead to the creation of a startup.

We are now inviting applications for two (2) R&D engineer positions.

Position 1: R&D Engineer – SPM Instrumentation & Control Systems

You will lead the hardware optimization and real-time control system development for the ATOMEL. This role focuses on implementing resonators, managing digital controllers, and integrating and optimizing custom force, I-V and C-V measurement channels to deliver fast, high-precision electrical and sub-nanometer resolution measurements.

Position 2: R&D Engineer – Semiconductor Device Physics & Thin-Film Metrology

You will lead the material characterization strategy and translate raw electrical data into actionable semiconductor insights. Focusing on advanced thin-film physics, nanoelectronics, and MOS structures, you will analyze high-precision I-V and C-V metrics to align our measurement capabilities with current industrial foundry trends and defect-tracking needs.

Our goal is to build a balanced, two-person team with complementary skill sets and working in tandem. As such, the final distribution of responsibilities (for example technical development focus, leadership duties, possible customer interactions) will be adjusted based on the specific wishes, experience levels and core strengths of the two hired candidates.

YOUR ROLE AND GOALS

The R2B team has 3 full-time members: the two (2) roles covered with this job offer and a Business Developer acting as commercial lead.

In practice, you will be part of the Soft Matter and Wetting group, and will receive guidance and support from Dr. Ali Afzalifar, as the person behind the innovation. After an initial onboarding phase, you are, however, expected to work with a high degree of autonomy.

Position 1: SPM Instrumentation & Control Systems Tasks:

• Resonator Integration & Optimization: Integrate force sensors into the measurement head for simultaneous force and current tracking.
• PLL Feedback Loop Management: Set up, program, and tune PLL controllers to manage the resonance frequency, amplitude, and phase shifts of the quartz resonator during sample contact.
• Dynamic Signal Chain Integration: Integrate and shield low-noise preamplifiers and phase-sensitive detection hardware to safely isolate sub-picoamp signals and manage parasitic capacitance during active voltage sweeps.
• Automated Motion Control: Develop and implement real-time, deterministic control loops to manage high-speed nano-positioning stages and optimize automated sample-approach routines via low-latency hardware-software integration.

Position 2: Semiconductor Device Physics & Thin-Film Metrology Tasks:

• Advanced Electrical Characterization: Execute and analyze high-resolution I-V and C-V scans on advanced thin films (such as high-k dielectrics, ferroelectrics, and ultra-thin passivating layers) to track sub-nanometer electrical leakage.
• MOS Physics Data Interpretation: Model and interpret dielectric breakdown, trapping kinetics, and interfacial defect densities from raw automated data sweeps.
• Industrial Sample Sourcing & Preparation: Acquire and prepare representative semiconductor test vehicles (such as patterned wafers and commercial device structures) to validate and benchmark our technology performance against modern foundry microelectronics form factors.
• Industrial Trend Alignment: Evaluate customer requirements from industrial foundries (e.g., tracking trends in 2D materials and gate-all-around structures) to direct the system's test parameters.
• Application Validation: Lead validation testing on commercial test wafers (like standard Silicon or patterned structures) to benchmark the results accuracy against existing laboratory standards.

As part of your work, you will have the chance to interact with other technical experts, both locally and internationally. You may be expected to travel to trade events and to potential future customer premises (e.g. to discuss applications, or to perform measurements).

YOUR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Position 1 Requirements (Instrumentation & Control):

• A Master's degree (MSc) in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanics or a highly related instrumentation field; PhD is an asset.
• Practical hands-on experience building, modifying or repairing SPM hardware, not merely operating commercial systems.
• Proven experience working with nano positioning, quartz crystal resonators, high-frequency lock-in amplifiers, and digital PLL systems.
• Experience developing software architecture for instrument automation and real-time data acquisition using C/C++ for low-level embedded hardware (e.g., microcontrollers, FPGAs, or real-time targets) alongside Python/MATLAB for high-level scripting, data processing, and user interfaces.

Position 2 Requirements (Semiconductor & Thin-Film Physics):

• A Master's degree (MSc) in the field of Materials Science, Solid-State Physics, Nanoelectronics, or Microelectronics Engineering; PhD is an asset.
• Deep understanding of thin-film characterization methods and solid-state device testing within high-precision lab or clean room settings.
• Expert knowledge of MOS device physics, thin-film dielectric breakdown mechanisms, interface traps, and traditional semiconductor parameter analyser operations (high-resolution I-V/C-V profiling).
• Familiarity with modern semiconductor manufacturing challenges, industry roadmaps, and the practical technical expectations of commercial chip manufacturers.

For both positions;

• Fluency in English is expected
• Finnish is a plus, but not required
• Candidates should have a strong entrepreneurial mindset and motivation to continue the project beyond the initial R2B phase, potentially as an early startup employee or co-founder.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer a meaningful job where you can develop innovative technologies in a stimulating environment with fantastic equipment and facilities. You’ll get the support of recognized researchers, mentors, Aalto Innovation Services, Aalto Startup Center and the active Aalto community.

The position will be based in Department of Applied Physics and You will be employed by Aalto University for the duration of the R2B project. After the project, there is a possibility that you could become part of the new deep-tech startup as a co-founder or employee. 

The position is full-time and initially funded for 18 months, with the possibility of extension. The salary depends on experience and the contract includes occupational healthcare.

We value a healthy work–life balance and actively support personal and professional development. You will have opportunities to collaborate with leading academic and industry partners and contribute to development of cutting-edge thin-film metrology instrumentation for the semiconductor industry.

JOIN US!

Please submit your application including the attachments mentioned below as one single PDF document in English through our online recruitment system by using the link on Aalto University’s web page (click the “Apply Now” button).

• A letter of motivation ( max. 1 page) describing your interests, why you think you are the right person for the role, and your earliest possible starting date
• Curriculum vitae (including contact details for at least two references and a list of publications, if available).
• PDF copy of your highest completed degree certificate (MSc, Dipl.-Ing., PhD, DSc, or equivalent), including transcripts of all university records (grades and courses) related to that degree, and their English translations (Finnish and Swedish certificates are also accepted). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application purposes.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). If you are a student or visitor at Aalto University, please apply with your personal email address (not aalto.fi) via Aalto University open positions

The deadline for applications is June 30th 2026, but candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. We will go through applications, and we may invite suitable candidates to interview already during the application period. The positions will be filled as soon as suitable candidates are identified.

The start of the employment is to be defined at a later stage but is tentatively scheduled for the 1st of September 2026

For further information, contact Dr. Ali Afzalifar, ali.afzalifar@aalto.fi, or via phone +358 (0)503515837 on 23rd June 2026 between 12:00-18:00

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

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