Principal Researcher

Principal Scientist/Researcher in High-Frequency Power Electronics Circuits and Magnetic Components for Low Voltage, Integrated Power Management Systems

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

Tyndall National Institute is a research flagship of University College Cork and a leading European research centre in integrated ICT (Information and Communications Technology) encompassing materials, devices, circuits and systems. As Ireland’s largest Research and Technology Organisation (RTO),specialising in both electronics and photonics, Tyndall works with global industry and academia to transform research into products in its core market areas of electronics, communications, energy, health, agri-tech and the environment. With a network of over 200 industry partners and customers worldwide, Tyndall is focused on delivering human and economic impact from excellence in research. Tyndall is home to a research community of 600 people of over 50 nationalities.

The Integrated Magnetics Team at Tyndall, led by Professor Cian Ó Mathúna, is recognised by the global semiconductor community for its world-leading research and thought-leadership in articulating and driving a vision to deliver the “holy grail” for Integrated Power Management of electronic systems, “Power Supply-on-Chip” (PwrSoC).

Tyndall has focused its research on the dramatic miniaturisation of the “pain point” in dc-dc power conversion, the use of bulky, wire-wound inductors. By increasing the frequency of operation of dc-dc converters (from 5MHz to 50-100MHz), Tyndall has leveraged its silicon fabrication facilities to explore the miniaturisation (by a factor of 100 in volume) of power magnetics using integrated thin-film, magnetic-core, micro-inductors and micro-transformers. Referred to as “MagIC”  (making magnetics disappear onto silicon chips), the technology is one of the key innovations that is enabling the emergence of low voltage, integrated/vertical power delivery and integrated voltage regulation (IVR), in  high performance computer (HPC) systems for energy efficient applications in smart phones, laptops, AI-engines and data centres.

Prof. Ó Mathúna founded the International Workshop on Power Supply on Chip (PwrSoC) in 2008 pwrsocevents.com, and, since then, Tyndall has licensed its MagIC technology to global  electronics systems companies and semiconductor foundries and has been recognised with international awards from IEEE PELS Technical Achievement Award for Integration and Miniaturization of Switching Power Converters - IEEE Power Electronics Society (ieee-pels.org) and EARTO EARTO Innovation Awards 2021 Attributed to CEA and Tyndall National Institute | EARTO.

Tyndall is now planning to expand its power management research with the establishment of a €25 million, 5-year Strategic Research Programme for Low-Voltage Integrated Power Management Systems The Research Programme will encompass research into design, fabrication and test of very high frequency (in the range 30 to 100MHz) integrated power management circuits encompassing power electronics, PMICs, magnetics on silicon and/or glass, PCB-embedded magnetics, along with the packaging/heterogeneous integration of IVRs using 2.5D/3D packaging and micro-transfer printing of chiplet components. 

Tyndall  wishes to appoint a Principal Scientist/Researcher in High-Frequency Power Electronics Circuits and Magnetic Components to deliver innovations which will be central to the future evolution of Low Voltage Integrated Power Management Systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the definition, modelling, design, assembly and characterisation of micro-magnetics and associated power electronic circuits for PSiP and PwrSoC solutions for future high-performance Low Voltage Integrated Power Management Systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prototype, fabricate, test and integrate low voltage power converter solutions which involve chipscale power semiconductors, micro-magnetics (on-silicon/glass or substrate-embedded) and advanced PMICs or controller IC chiplets.
• Deliver research outputs that result in high impact-factor journal publications, advanced functional prototypes, validated simulation models, patents and technology licenses.
• Develop and manage a research team composed of researchers, engineers and graduate students.
• Work with Tyndall Research Office and Commercial Centre to source national and international research and industry funding.
• Operate under Tyndall’s Health and Safety and Quality Systems protocols.
• Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• Engineering degree in Electronics with Masters/PhD or equivalent industry research experience
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in the design, prototyping and test of state-of-the-art low voltage dc-dc converter circuits, including magnetics/capacitors, for integrated power management of high performance computing systems in one or more of the following applications: smart phones, portable/desk-top computing, AI engines, automotive, data centres.
• Proven technical know-how of power electronics encompassing specification/definition, design/modelling/simulation (at component and circuit level), prototyping (including PCB layout and circuit build) and test/characterization of state-of-the-art low voltage, dc-dc converter circuits, including magnetics/capacitors.
• Demonstrated successful delivery of interdisciplinary project collaborations with expert colleagues in one or more of the following disciplines: PMICs, power semiconductors, packaging/assembly, thermal management, thermomechanical reliability.  
• Track record of technical leadership of high performance, multi-disciplinary research teams.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing and delivering multi-year, R&D projects.
• Track record of publishing in tier-one journals/conferences and/or generation of successful patents.  
• Evidence of excellence in reasoning, organizational, communication, project management & time management skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Evidence of creative skills/creativity
• Supervision of Graduate students (Masters and PhD) and post-doctoral researchers
• Experience in sourcing project funding from Government, EU and/or industry
• Strong experience with magnetic component design and test including the design and modelling of magnetic devices using CAD software, such as Ansoft Maxwell or HFSS or Thermal CAD.
• Good understanding of PCB/substrate design and construction techniques.
• Experience in packaging and heterogeneous system integration for power electronics circuits

Tyndall National institute has a proactive entrepreneurial culture and we welcome applications from candidates who possess entrepreneurial and creative skills/experience, including the creation of technology start-ups.

This is a Principal Scientist/Researcher opportunity in University College Cork, with a view to extension based on future project funding wins.

Appointment may be made on the Grade 7 Admin I Scale (B) range € 81,136 - € 106,882
per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Cian O Mathuna.

Closing date of applications 7th October 2024.

Application Instructions

Please make sure to attach an up to date CV/Resume AND a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

A full candidate information pack is available to download by clicking here.

Please note that Garda (police) vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
At this time, Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer