ICFO News

Cap de Labor Affairs

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 23:00:00 +0100

ICFO cerca un/a Cap de Labor Affairs per liderar i desenvolupar la funció de gestió laboral de la institució i esdevenir-ne el principal referent tècnic i funcional. Reportant directament a Gerència, el/la Cap de Labor Affairs tindrà la responsabilitat global d’assegurar que els processos laborals, la nòmina, les condicions de treball i els criteris de gestió de personal s’apliquin de manera rigorosa, coherent i traçable a tota la institució. És una oportunitat especialment rellevant per a un/a professional amb experiència que vulgui anar més enllà de la gestió de casos individuals i construir un sistema de gestió laboral des de la base. La persona seleccionada combinarà criteri tècnic i implicació directa en els assumptes de major complexitat amb el mandat de construir els processos, criteris, dades, eines i capacitats que ICFO necessita per a la seva següent etapa de desenvolupament. ICFO opera en un entorn singular, a la intersecció entre recerca d’excel·lència, legislació laboral, normativa de ciència, regulació del sector públic i una plantilla internacional amb una elevada diversitat contractual. La funció compta actualment amb un equip de professionals amb experiència i coneixement de la institució. El repte és evolucionar des d’un model en què una part important del coneixement i les responsabilitats es troben distribuïts individualment cap a una funció integrada, documentada, digital i basada en criteris institucionals comuns. La posició Un dels primers mandats serà analitzar el funcionament actual de Labor Affairs, els processos, les dades, els sistemes, els criteris aplicats i les principals dependències i, sobre aquesta diagnosi, definir i desplegar progressivament el nou model de funcionament de la funció. Les principals responsabilitats inclouran:

actuar com a principal referent funcional d’ICFO en matèria laboral, de Seguretat Social, administració de personal i condicions de treball, assegurant una aplicació rigorosa i consistent dels criteris i de les polítiques fixades per la Direcció;
assumir la responsabilitat global sobre els processos de Labor Affairs, incloent-hi contractació i cicle laboral, jornada i registre horari, vacances, permisos, absències i altres condicions de treball;
assegurar la qualitat i els controls del procés de nòmina i liderar el desenvolupament progressiu de la capacitat interna necessària per assumir-ne la preparació;
desplegar i garantir la correcta aplicació del marc institucional aprovat en matèria de classificació professional, valoració de llocs, promoció, estructura retributiva, complements i, quan correspongui, retribució variable;
proporcionar criteri especialitzat sobre normativa laboral, Llei de la ciència i marc de gestió de personal del sector públic, identificant els assumptes que requereixin intervenció de l’equip legal o decisió institucional;
dissenyar, documentar i millorar el model de funcionament de Labor Affairs, impulsant la implantació d’un nou sistema d’informació de persones, la gestió documental i la digitalització i automatització dels processos;
donar suport tècnic a Gerència en les relacions amb la representació legal de les persones treballadores i coordinar-se amb les altres funcions institucionals implicades;
liderar i desenvolupar l’equip de Labor Affairs, establint prioritats, criteris compartits i una adequada distribució del coneixement i les responsabilitats.

L’objectiu és construir una funció de Labor Affairs rigorosa, fiable, accessible i eficient, capaç de combinar compliment normatiu i criteri tècnic amb una gestió de persones àgil i adequada a les necessitats d’una institució científica internacional. El/la Cap de Labor Affairs tindrà la responsabilitat global sobre la funció, treballant en estreta coordinació amb les altres àrees que mantenen la responsabilitat sobre els seus respectius àmbits. Es tracta d’una posició de lideratge funcional amb una important dimensió pràctica: la persona seleccionada haurà de construir i desenvolupar la funció i, alhora, mantenir-se directament implicada en els assumptes laborals de major complexitat.

Coordinador/a de Gestió Econòmica i Financera

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 23:00:00 +0100

ICFO busca un/a Coordinador/a de Gestió Econòmica i Financera per reforçar la capacitat d’anàlisi, seguiment i coordinació de l’Àrea de Finances i contribuir a la consolidació dels seus processos de control i gestió. Reportant directament a la Cap de Finances, la persona seleccionada assumirà responsabilitat sobre determinats processos i àmbits de seguiment economicofinancer, aportant una visió transversal de la situació pressupostària, comptable i financera de la institució. La posició combina anàlisi economicofinancera, seguiment pressupostari i comptable, control intern, coordinació d’auditories i requeriments externs, i millora de processos. Busquem un/a professional amb criteri tècnic, capacitat analítica i autonomia, capaç de coordinar processos que impliquen diferents interlocutors, identificar riscos i desviacions i contribuir a disposar d’una informació economicofinancera fiable, coherent i útil per a la presa de decisions. La posició La persona seleccionada donarà suport directe a la Cap de Finances i assumirà la coordinació i seguiment de determinats processos economicofinancers de l’àrea. Un element central de la posició serà contribuir a disposar d’una visió global i anticipada de la situació economicofinancera de la institució, identificant tendències, desviacions, riscos i incidències i facilitant informació adequada per a la presa de decisions. Les principals responsabilitats inclouran: Anàlisi i seguiment economicofinancer Analitzar la situació i l’evolució economicofinancera, identificar tendències, desviacions i riscos, elaborar previsions i escenaris, i col·laborar en el seguiment d’indicadors i en la millora de la informació per facilitar la presa de decisions. Seguiment pressupostari Realitzar el seguiment de l’execució pressupostària, analitzar desviacions i riscos, i proposar mesures que permetin anticipar l’evolució pressupostària i facilitar la presa de decisions. Seguiment comptable i tancament Realitzar el seguiment global de la situació comptable de la institució, anticipar incidències que puguin afectar el tancament, col·laborar amb Comptabilitat en les qüestions rellevants, realitzar el seguiment del procés de tancament i donar suport a la preparació i revisió dels comptes anuals i de la documentació requerida per a les auditories. Control intern economicofinancer Donar suport a la Cap de Finances en el desenvolupament, seguiment i millora del sistema de control intern economicofinancer de la institució. En particular:

revisar els principals circuits i processos amb impacte econòmic o pressupostari;
identificar riscos, incidències, debilitats de control o necessitats de millora;
revisar l’existència i adequació de controls, validacions i segregació de funcions;
proposar mesures preventives o correctores;
fer seguiment de les mesures i plans d’acció acordats;
contribuir a assegurar la traçabilitat, consistència i qualitat de la informació economicofinancera;
contribuir a l’elaboració i actualització de procediments, criteris i instruccions internes;
informar la Cap de Finances de les incidències o riscos rellevants detectats;
participar, des de l’àmbit economicofinancer, en actuacions transversals de control intern de la institució i coordinar-se amb les altres unitats implicades.

Auditories i actuacions de control Coordinar, sota la supervisió de la Cap de Finances, la preparació de la informació i documentació requerida en processos d’auditoria, control financer, fiscalització o altres actuacions de revisió. Fer el seguiment de les observacions i recomanacions formulades i de les accions de millora associades, coordinant les diferents unitats implicades quan sigui necessari. Informació economicofinancera a organismes oficials Sota la supervisió de la Cap de Finances, coordinar la preparació i revisió de la informació economicofinancera requerida per la Intervenció General de la Generalitat de Catalunya i la resta d’organismes oficials competents, assegurant-ne la integritat, coherència, exactitud i lliurament dins dels terminis establerts. Fer el seguiment de les peticions d’informació i coordinar les diferents unitats implicades en la seva elaboració i validació. Coordinació i millora transversal de processos Aportar una visió transversal dels processos de Finances, identificar dependències, riscos, colls d’ampolla, duplicitats i ineficiències, i impulsar oportunitats de simplificació, optimització, automatització i digitalització dels processos economicofinancers. Promoure la millora contínua dels procediments, indicadors i sistemes d’informació, contribuint a millorar l’eficiència operativa i la qualitat, fiabilitat i oportunitat de la informació. Suport a la Cap de Finances i coordinació de processos de l’àrea Donar suport directe a la Cap de Finances en el seguiment ordinari de l’activitat de l’àrea, l’anàlisi de qüestions economicofinanceres, la preparació d’informació per a Direcció i òrgans de govern i la coordinació de temes transversals. Assumir la coordinació de determinades activitats, processos o projectes de l’àrea que li siguin assignats i actuar com a punt de referència intern en aquelles qüestions que li hagin estat delegades. Contribuir progressivament a reforçar la capacitat de coordinació, planificació i gestió global de l’àrea.

Head of Legal Affairs

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 23:00:00 +0100

ICFO is looking for a Head of Legal Affairs to build and lead its internal Legal function and become the institution’s senior legal reference. Reporting directly to the Executive Direction, the Head of Legal Affairs will have overall responsibility for ensuring that legal matters and legal risks across ICFO are appropriately identified, assessed and managed. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced lawyer who wants to go beyond managing individual legal matters and shape a legal capability from the ground up. The successful candidate will combine senior legal judgement and hands-on legal work with the opportunity to build the processes, tools, knowledge base and team required for ICFO’s next stage of development. ICFO operates at the intersection of cutting-edge research, public-sector regulation, intellectual property, technology transfer and international collaboration, creating a diverse and demanding legal environment. The internal Legal team will include a Legal Counsel and a Legal Operations Officer, complemented by specialized external legal support when required. The role A key initial mandate will be to assess ICFO’s current legal activity, risks and ways of working and, based on this diagnosis, design and progressively develop the Legal function. Main responsibilities will include:

acting as ICFO’s senior legal reference and advising the Executive Direction and other relevant institutional decision-makers on complex, sensitive and strategically relevant matters;
taking overall responsibility for the quality, consistency and appropriate management of legal matters across the institution;
mapping and prioritizing legal risks and defining the operating model, priorities and ways of working of the Legal function;
providing senior legal advice on the public-sector legal and regulatory framework applicable to ICFO, including governance, transparency, incompatibilities, conflicts of interest, public funding and the legal implications of economic-financial and regulatory requirements;
monitoring relevant regulatory developments and supporting their appropriate interpretation and implementation across the institution;
providing senior legal expertise on intellectual property, research agreements, technology transfer, licensing, spin-offs and national and international research collaborations;
supporting institutional governance, Board-related matters, internal regulations, policies, resolutions and other governance instruments;
ensuring appropriate legal coverage of cross-cutting areas such as data protection, integrity and anti-fraud, complex labor matters and emerging digital and AI-related legal issues;
contributing to the preparation and review of institutional policies, procedures, internal regulations and other normative instruments;
creating and maintaining a coherent body of legal criteria, precedents, templates and internal regulatory documentation;
designing, documenting, simplifying and improving Legal processes, including their digitalization and automation where appropriate;
participating in cross-functional working groups and strategic institutional projects;
determining when specialized external legal expertise is required and coordinating external counsel;
leading and developing the internal Legal team.

The objective is to build a Legal function that is rigorous, pragmatic, accessible and efficient, capable of anticipating and managing legal risk while enabling ICFO to pursue its scientific and institutional objectives. The Head of Legal Affairs will have overall accountability for Legal while working closely with the institutional functions that retain ownership of their respective activities. Public procurement and tender-management activities are not part of the Legal function. This is a player-coach role; the successful candidate will lead and develop the function while remaining directly involved in legal analysis, drafting, negotiation and problem-solving.

Internships for Undergraduate & Masters Students - Fall 2026

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:00:00 +0100

ICFO offers the opportunity to undertake a Final Degree Project / Masters Thesis or to participate in a Research Stay with one of our Research Groups. In this call we offer the following fellowships, which cover funding for up to 12-months.

Up to 6 x Student Research Fellowships
Up to 3 x SPIE@ICFO María Yzuel Fellowship Awards An activity of the SPIE@ICFO Chair for Diversity in Photonic Sciences to attract, retain and promote talented women*.

Candidates will be considered for all fellowships for which they are eligible. Projects may be undertaken with any Research Group. Research lines include, but are not limited to:

Atto-Science, Ultrafast Optics & Nonlinear Optics
Photovoltaics, Thermal Photonics & Solar Fuels
Optical Sensing & Optoelectronics
NanoPhotonics & NanoMechanics
Ultracold Quantum Gases
Quantum and Low-Dimensional Materials
Quantum Communications, Sensing & Simulation
Quantum Optics & Quantum Information
Nanophotonics, Condensed Matter Physics & Light-Matter Interactions
Medical Optics
Biophysics, Biophotonics & Super-Resolution Imaging

Interested students should browse the different research group profiles available on the ICFO website, https://www.icfo.eu/lang/research, to identify the groups that best match their interests. Selected students will participate in ICFO’s rich scientific life, benefit from the experience of ICFO researchers, cutting edge facilities, industrial projects, the institute’s stimulating and interdisciplinary environment, and as receive high-level training as well as extensive admin and tech support. They will collaborate with scientists on research assignments tailored from available projects at ICFO, and will also acquire skills for communicating their research results. In addition, internal Undergraduate and Master student opportunities might become available, for which we may retain candidates applying to this present call. *We welcome cis and trans women

PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Junior Process Engineer in PIC Packaging

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0100

As part of the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative, ICFO is currently coordinating the European Chips JU Pilot Line PIXEurope and the Catalan PhotonChip project, both major initiatives aimed at advancing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) in Europe. These projects strengthen ICFO’s strategic positioning across the entire PIC development pipeline — from design and fabrication to packaging, testing, and real-world applications. Position Overview We are seeking a Junior Process Engineer in PIC Packaging, to support the development of assembly and interconnect technologies for Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs). The selected candidate will play a key role in the experimental development of advanced PIC technologies within the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative. This is a highly hands-on position in an advanced R&D pilot-line environment, ideally suited for candidates who enjoy working with manufacturing equipment, developing processes, and solving practical engineering challenges. We welcome applications from motivated candidates eager to learn and grow in the field of photonics packaging. Key Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be actively involved in operating and programming assembly equipment, developing manufacturing processes, and troubleshooting technical challenges in an advanced R&D pilot-line environment. Specifically:

Develop and optimize die assembly and interconnection processes for electronic and photonic devices, including die attach, solder reflow, wire bonding, solder bumping and other related packaging processes.
Set up, program, and operate semi-automated equipment for process development and prototyping.
Support the selection and qualification of materials, components, and suppliers to ensure process compatibility and quality.
Optimize packaging processes through experimental evaluation, including thermo-mechanical integrity and reliability testing (e.g., die shear, wire pull, thermal cycling).
Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams including optical, mechanical, RF, and test engineers to implement scalable and manufacturable packaging solutions.

This position will report to the Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, Scientific Coordinator of the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative encompassing the European Chips JU Pilot Line PIXEurope and the Catalan PhotonChip project. Aquest contracte està finançat amb el Fons Europeu de Desenvolupament Regional (FEDER) de la Unió Europea, referència EC10-002141, en el marc del Programa del FEDER de Catalunya 2021‐ 2027.

PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Research Engineer in Materials Structuring and Characterization ...

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0100

Set-up, run and consolidate some nanofabrication techniques for PIC development within the PIXEurope Pilot Line.
Set-up, run and consolidate the characterization techniques for PIC development within the PIXEurope Pilot Line.
Contribute to characterization and application-oriented activities of PIXEurope Pilot Line and other projects related to PICs.
Interface with multidisciplinary teams and contribute to the establishment of high-quality characterization workflows.

This position is hosted by the Optoelectronics group, led by Prof Valerio Pruneri, and the Nanocharacterization lab, led by Dr. Johann Osmond. 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).

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

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0100

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).

PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Pilot Line Operation Officer

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0100

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 support the coordination and technical execution of this ambitious initiative, ICFO is seeking an Operation Officer with a strong background in PIC or related technologies and experience in R&D&E environments with industrial collaboration. Position Overview: The selected candidate will play a pivotal role in operation of PIXEurope Pilot Line, ensuring the project’s smooth execution and alignment with strategic and technological goals. This position is ideal for a scientist or engineer passionate about translating research into industrial innovation. The candidate will closely work with the Pilot Line Director. Key Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to:

Support the Pilot Line Director in the coordination of PIXEurope’s operations and open-access implementation.
Collaborate with other managers, such as the Pilot Line Open Access Manager, Pilot Line Exploitation and Innovation Manager and Pilot Line Finance and Procurement Manager to establish and strengthen the open access and innovation ecosystem for end-users and stakeholders.
Participate in the technical evaluation of end-user requests to access Pilot Line services, ensuring alignment with the Pilot Line’s capabilities and industrial relevance.
Manage and monitor the timing and progress of end-user services.
Contribute to project reporting and documentation for technical, scientific, and administrative activities, including deliverables to funding authorities.

This position will be dedicated full time to the European Chips JU Pilot Line project PIXEurope directed by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri. 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).

PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Junior Research Engineer position in PIC Design and Simulation

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0100

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 junior researcher or engineer with experience in the design and numerical simulation of integrated photonic devices and circuits. The candidate should have a solid background in photonics and electromagnetic theory and be motivated to develop practical PIC designs targeting fabrication and experimental validation. Position Overview: We are offering a Junior Research Engineer position in Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) design and simulation to a well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic young scientist or engineer who wishes to develop their career in integrated photonics in a friendly and stimulating research and technology environment. The successful candidate will join the Optoelectronics research group at ICFO, led by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, and will contribute to the development of advanced photonic integrated circuits within the group’s research and technology-development activities. The selected candidate will work closely with senior PIC designers, experimental researchers, fabrication partners, and other technical teams. The position is primarily design- and simulation-oriented, providing an opportunity to develop expertise across the complete PIC design workflow, from device modelling and optimization to circuit layout and preparation for fabrication. Key Responsibilities:

Design and simulate integrated photonic devices and circuits,
Perform electromagnetic and optical simulations using numerical methods such as FDTD, FEM, eigenmode expansion, and mode solving.
Optimize photonic-device performance considering insertion loss, coupling efficiency, bandwidth, modal properties, fabrication tolerances, and footprint.
Develop photonic circuits by combining individual building blocks and perform circuit-level simulations where required.
Prepare PIC layouts for fabrication, following design rules and available process-design-kit (PDK) specifications.
Collaborate with fabrication partners and internal teams during design reviews, tape-out preparation, and design-for-manufacturing activities.
Analyse experimental characterization results and compare them with simulations to support device debugging and iterative design improvement.
Develop scripts and simulation workflows for design automation, parameter optimization, and data analysis.
Document design methodologies, simulation results, and device performance in structured technical reports.

Catalonia Quantum Academy’s Project & Communication Manager

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0100

As part of Quàntica- Vall de la Ciència i Tecnologies Quàntiques, ICFO coordinates the Catalonia Quantum Academy (CQA) (https://cataloniaquantum.eu.), a program that leads quantum education across Catalonia, helping attract and train the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers. Through a wide-ranging set of initiatives, the CQA strengthens the local quantum ecosystem’s capacity to develop and deploy current and future quantum technologies. Position Overview ICFO is seeking a dynamic, highly motivated and experienced Project and Communication Manager to support the coordination and development of the Catalonia Quantum Academy (CQA) program. The successful candidate will contribute to strengthening the visibility, impact and growth of the CQA within the Catalan and international quantum ecosystem. Key Responsibilities:

Coordinate the planning and delivery of education and training actions, events and community initiatives within the CQA, including managing calls, application processes and participant communications.
Prepare reports and supporting documentation on CQA actions, including liaising with partners to gather relevant information, to ensure execution and reporting are achieved in a timely manner.
Manage the coordination with relevant ICFO stakeholders and CQA partners, serving as the operational point of contact for CQA activities.
Coordinate the preparation of CQA Board meetings, including agendas, minutes and supporting documentation and follow-up on agreed actinons
Develop, maintain and implement the CQA Communication Plan, including the CQA website, social networks and newsletter, in alignment with the CQA strategic priorities.
Coordinate the logistical and administrative aspects of CQA events and activities, working with relevant internal departments at ICFO, with partners, speakers, participants and other stakeholders.

This position will report to the CQA Chair.