International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory Careers

Application & Systems Integration Engineer – Advanced Electron Microscopy of Topological Materials

Job Reference: Ref.05.26.412

Employer: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL)

Location: Braga, Portugal

Group/Unit: P. Ferreira

Number of Vacancies: 1

Employment Type: Full time

Contract Duration: 42 months

Open Date for Applications: June 8th, 2026

Closing Date for Applications: June 29th, 2026, 23h00m (Lisbon Time)

Key words: #transmissionelectronmicroscopy #thin film materials #insitustem #insitutem #4dstem #electrondiffraction #topologicalmaterials

Overview

The P. Ferreira RG is looking for an Application & Systems Integration Engineer to join the team under the TICON open pathfinder EU project. The TICON project aims to harness the exceptional electronic properties of topological semimetals (TSMs) — including Weyl and Dirac systems — for next-generation, ultra-scalable, low-dissipation interconnects in silicon CMOS technology.

Job Duties

The job duties will be the following:

• Contribute to high-quality research within the TICON – EIC Open Pathfinder project, collaborating with consortium partners and internal teams to achieve project objectives.
• Prepare plan-view and cross-section samples of topological thin film materials and perform advanced characterisation using aberration-corrected TEM/STEM, including 4D STEM, Ptychography, in situ heating/biasing, EDS and EELS.
• Analyse and interpret structural, chemical, and electronic properties, compiling and disseminating results through reports, publications, and presentations at consortium meetings and international conferences.
• Support experimental activities by ensuring proper operation, integration, and optimisation of technical systems and microscopy platforms.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to define technical requirements, contribute to the development of experimental workflows, and support system-level improvements.
• Manage and maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring performance, calibration, reliability, and compliance with safety and institutional standards.
• Assist in the management and administration of the research group.
• Provide technical guidance and training to users, while documenting procedures, monitoring system performance, and contributing to continuous improvement of research infrastructure.

Mandatory Qualifications

Education

• PhD in Physics, Engineering Physics, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Experience and Technical Skills

• Expert operator in TEM and STEM imaging techniques (i.e., phase contrast TEM, diffraction contrast TEM, high angular annular dark field (HAADF) STEM and bright-field (BF) STEM, 4D STEM and Ptychography.
• First-hand experience with in-situ EM methods, using heating and electrical biasing holders.
• Experience with spectroscopy methods, namely Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS).
• Experience with image processing and standard software for electron microscopy.
• Experience with sample preparation of thin film materials such as metals and ceramics, both in planar and cross-sectional configurations.

Other Valued Skills

• Materials characterisation.
• Computer simulations.
• Working and/or academic experience in solid-state physics and nanoelectronics.
• Experience in topological materials.
• Scripting in Phyton.
• Knowledge of classical polishing approaches, such as ion milling.

Personal Skills

• “Hands-on” approach together with a high commitment in respecting working deadlines.
• Problem Solving ability.
• Customer orientation.
• Ability to work independently and as team player.
• Good communication skills.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Tax benefits and other Diplomatic privileges.
• Private health insurance.
• Family allowances (according to family situation).
• Free nursery service at INL premises (subject to availability).
• Support for education fees of dependent children.
• Relocation support.
• 30 working days of annual leave.

How to Apply

The application must be in English and include the following mandatory documents:

a)     Cover letter

b)     Curriculum Vitae

c)      Academic and/or Professional diplomas

d)     At least 1 reference letter

Online application instructions:

1. The application is made online by clicking the “Apply” button;
2. The candidate must complete all required sections of the online application form;
3. The candidate must submit the mandatory documents mentioned above in pdf format by including them in the “Additional files” section using the “Add portfolio” button.

Important note:

Incomplete applications including the failure to provide mandatory documents or providing inaccurate information will result in the application not being considered.

How the Selection Process works
 

A. Applications eligibility check

This stage will be carried out on the basis of the mandatory requirements, education, experience and technical skills defined for the job, as well as the validation of the mandatory documents. Only candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will move forward to the next stage.

B. CV Assessment

The Selection Committee will evaluate the eligible applications based on their CV and other submitted documents and the suitability for the position. The best ranked candidates will be shortlisted for the interview stage(s).

C. Interview(s)

The interview(s) may be done in different formats: video recording, online or onsite.

The question based interview will evaluate the match between the candidate’s profile and the requirements for the position, including the technical and personal skills. To better support this stage, the candidate may be requested to prepare a short presentation.

D. Nomination

The selected candidate will be nominated and formally offered the position, including the disclosure of the contractual conditions. 

Additional Information

Application feedback

We highly value your interest in becoming part of the INL experience and it is important for us to maintain good communications with all candidates. No matter the outcome of your application, we will always provide you with feedback.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Principle

INL follows a non-discrimination and equal access principle, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of and duties based on any possible discriminatory issues.

The advertisement deadline may be extended at any time without previous notice in order to improve the suitability and effectiveness of the recruitment process.

About INL

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory – INL (http://www.inl.int), is the first and only Intergovernmental Organisation in the world entirely focused on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

It was founded under an international legal framework to perform interdisciplinary research, deploy and communicate nanotechnology for the benefit of society. INL aims to be a recognised leading global nanotechnology innovation hub.