Research Assistant – Mixed signal IC and System Designer

Research Assistant – Mixed signal IC and System Designer  
 
About Tyndall
Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).

Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.

The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

About the Team
MCCI is Ireland’s national Microelectronics Circuits Research Centre. Hosted by Tyndall Research Institute (www.tyndall.ie), MCCI has a large team of researchers in silicon chip design, at various stages of their careers, from Masters researcher through to Principal Researcher and all are creating world leading, innovative and high impact technologies, which will shape our future lives. Specifically, MCCI’s mission is to carry out industry-driven, excellent research in areas such as Analog Precision Circuits, RF and High-Speed Transceivers, Cryogenic CMOS and Integrated Power Systems research. For more information, click here.

About the Role
Within the research area, RF and High-Speed Transceivers, applicant is sought for fully funded Research Assistant role developing the high-speed signal processing chains. This position is funded under the EU-EDF project - ePerfect which focuses on the development of advanced packaging, integration, and testing methodologies for high-frequency electronic systems. The research aims to enhance the performance and reliability of RF modules through innovation in design, 3D integration, interposer modelling, and heterogeneous assembly technologies. The successful candidate will also participate in testing fully integrated SoCs and system demonstrations, validating the performance of the developed SoCs. 

Key Responsibilities
As a Research Assistant – Mixed signal IC and System Designer, you will:

• Develop FPGA-based control and data acquisition systems for RF and packaging test setups.
• Design and verify RTL modules (VHDL/Verilog) for real-time measurement and interface control.
• Support hardware validation, including S-parameter, signal integrity, and time-domain measurements.
• Develop and execute test plans for functional verification, timing validation, and power analysis.
• Contribute to the design, evaluation and testing of advanced packaging solutions (e.g., interposers, 3D integration, high-frequency interconnects) for mixed-signal and RF IC systems.
• Automate test and data acquisition using Python/LabVIEW/MATLAB scripts.
• Document and present test results, contributing to project reports and publications.
• Collaborate with RF designers, packaging engineers, and FPGA developers within MCCI and e-Perfect partners.
• Ensure compliance with Tyndall’s Quality Management Systems, Health and Safety standards, and other regulations.
• To carry out any additional duties that may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post

Essential criteria

• A Bachelor(honours), Irish Masters or equivalent degree in Electrical / Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or in a related area, completed or close to completion.
• Strong background in digital IC design, including RTL design using VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog.
• Familiarity with FPGA development tools (Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus, or equivalent).
• Experience with RF measurements and test instrumentation (VNAs, spectrum analyzers).
• Familiarity with EDA tools (Cadence, Synopsys, Mentor Graphics) for digital design and verification.
• Good understanding of hardware bring-up and mixed-signal debugging.
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB, Python, or C/C++ for modeling and analysis.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary research environment with RF and mixed-signal teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in digital design flow, including synthesis, timing closure, and verification.
• Experience with PCB design tools such as Altium, KiCAD or similar.
• Experience with DSP algorithms for high-speed communication systems.
• Knowledge of 3D packaging, interposer technologies, or SiP assembly.
• Exposure to high-speed serial interfaces (e.g., SerDes, LVDS, DDR, PCIe).
• Familiarity with machine learning techniques for signal processing applications.
• Knowledge of THz communication and sensing systems.
• Prior experience with system-level simulations (MATLAB/Simulink, SystemC).
• Ability to contribute to publications and technical reports.

What We Offer
Apart from offering a position in a very successful and positive research environment, with a collaborative ethos full of diverse competencies to boost your career, we offer the following: 

• Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and the society at large. 

• Continuous Learning: Strong support for formal training, further study and professional development. 

• Interdisciplinary Environment: Where academia, industry, and innovation intersect - supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and expert knowledge. 

• Blended Working: Flexibility to work remotely and on-site, where the role allows. 

• Comprehensive Benefits: Access to UCC pension, long-term illness benefit, life assurance, and more. 

• Generous Leave: Competitive annual leave entitlements. 

• Equity & Inclusion: Athena Swan Bronze award holder, with ongoing initiatives led by a dedicated People and Culture team to ensure equity for all. 

• Core Values: A culture grounded in Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence, and Integrity. 

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A proactive, innovation-driven environment that welcomes entrepreneurial and creative thinkers, including those with start-up experience. 

• Supportive Onboarding: Structured induction and mentoring to help new hires integrate and thrive.  

• Vibrant Culture: A collaborative, people-first workplace with a strong sense of community. 

Terms of Employment
Contract Category: Full-Time 
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Duration : 1 year with possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding

Appointment may be made on Research Assistant salary scale € 33,791 - € 43,872 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

For more information and informal enquiries, please contact Vishal Jagtap.
Closing date of applications is 1pm, 13th April 2026

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.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on university approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.