Researcher or Research Assistant in FPGA Design and Prototyping

XO-02 —Researcher or Research Assistant in FPGA Design and Prototyping for 6G Wireless Communication Systems

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

The Photonic Systems Group is part of the Photonics Research Centre at Tyndall National Institute, and is affiliated with the Department of Physics at University College Cork and also the Science Foundation Ireland IPIC Research Centre for Photonics. The group develops solutions for future advanced fiber-optic and wireless communications systems in collaboration with other national and international research groups and industry partners. The group typically comprises 20 members including Senior Researchers, Postdocs, PhD and Masters Students and Interns with backgrounds in electronic and electrical engineering and physics. Research disciplines include photonic and wireless system design, modelling, integration and demonstration; high speed digital signal processing and high-speed mixed signal (analog and digital) microelectronic circuit design and test. The group’s laboratory facilities are excellent, including the world-class high-speed communications test and measurement test facilities and advanced optical fibre and wireless testbeds.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Assistant to contribute the group’s research activities and lead specific research and development tasks in digital signal processing (DSP) and software defined radio or field programmable gate array (SDR/FPGA) design for next-generation high-speed wireless communications systems. A particular focus will be on the development of DSP functions, baseband signal processing, and prototyping for the coming 5G+/6G PHY subsystems. The successful applicant will have a strong background in signal processing, and high-speed wireless and/or optical communications. Specifically, candidates with experience in wireless physical layer subsystem development, SDR/FPGA design, verification, and prototyping are sought. The role will provide the opportunity to engage in technology research and development with a strong commercialisation focus.

The successful candidate will join the Photonics Systems Group as a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Assistant depending on educational background and experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide key technical contributions to a distinctive, internationally competitive research activity in high-speed digital signal (DSP) processing and wireless-optical communications systems for the 5G+/6G era.
• Work with the supervisor and other team members to deliver the outputs of the project, including the development of practical demonstrations and prototypes to demonstrate the potential of the technology to stakeholders, partners and potential end-users/customers. 
• Contribute to the development of ideas and Intellectual Property that could be used to support the creation of a spin-out company.
• Support the dissemination of research progress through publications in the top-tier journals and at leading conferences in the field. 
• Support and actively partner in the wider Photonic Systems Group research and training programmes including contributing to the mentorship of students focusing on high-speed DSP for optical and wireless systems. 
• Communicate the benefits of the research to wider society through active participation in several Education and Public Engagement activities per year.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the required Health and Safety standards.
• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• A PhD (or Master degree with equivalent industry experience) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering or a related subject (Computer Science, Telecommunication, Electrical/Electronics, etc.)
• A strong track record of high-quality research or development in these fields.
• Experience of communication system testbed design and setup, and simulation and modelling using, e.g., MATLAB/C/C++.
• Understanding of FPGA design flow and process.
• Knowledge of project management, version control systems, and technical documentation.
• Excellent organisation, communication and inter-personal skills. 

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of developing ASIC/FPGA/SDR with Verilog (or VHDL/SystemVerilog) know-how and RTL coding and modelling.
• Knowledge of FPGA design and verification tools (Vivado or Quartus).
• FPGA SoC microarchitecture, design, and IP or sub-system integration experience
• Familiarity with Perl, TCL, C and shell scripts is a plus.
• Experience of mentorship/co-supervision of PhD students or junior staff in an industry role.
• A track record of high-quality publications.
• An interest in commercialisation and spin-out company development.
• Highly self-motivated and able to demonstrate initiative.
• Strong project management skills and experience.

This is a fulltime Researcher/Research Engineer opportunity in University College Cork, initially for 18 months, with further extension to 36 months, subject to successful project progress.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr. Xing Ouyang at xing.ouyang@tyndall.ie

Appointment may be made on the IUA Scale for Research Assistant €27,380-€36,786 per annum or Post-Doctoral Researchers €39,522-€46,906 pa.  Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Application Instructions

Step 1 - Click here to download and complete the Application form and indicate the Job Reference at XO-02

Step 2 - Return the completed Application form, together with your CV and motivation letter to careers@tyndall.ie. Please ensure that your motivation letter, cv and application letter are submitted in pdf format.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the 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.