About HetMEPS

This Japan-UK collaboration will establish a novel heterogeneous material integrated MEMS/NEMS-Photonics platform for highly secure ICT hardware, reducing energy consumption significantly.

The lead applicant Tokyo Tech team has strong expertise in Si photonics and material integration technology, while Southampton can provide the state-of-the-art MEMS, NEMS, and Metasurface technologies. Starting from the development of individual MEMS/NEMS-integrated photonics components, novel photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for secure communication will be demonstrated. The laboratory-level development will be combined with a large-scale wafer process with industrial-level uniformity and spatial resolution by using the pilot 300-mm semiconductor process line available in collaboration with AIST. Metasurface-empowered optical cryptography scheme with reconfigurable functionality will be demonstrated for the first time on a chip, taking semiconductor photonics technology to the next level. The project will also contribute to the new development of a tunable single photon source, leading to the improvement of quantum random number generators, which are a key module for quantum secure communication. The ambition of the project is to initiate a new research field of on-chip optical secure communication and consequently take semiconductor research to the next level, with translation to industry in Japan and the UK.

The role

Within HetMEPS, your specific task will be to develop a photonic circuit integrated nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) and optical NEMS devices for secure/quantum communications. You will work at the School of Electronics and Computer Science (School of Electronics and Computer Science | University of Southampton, top UK electronic and electrical engineering research) in a project team focused on delivering the next-generation photonic devices for secure/quantum communications. You will have access to our state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities (Zepler Cleanrooms | University of Southampton), and be led by a team of world-leading experts in nanomechanics and nanophotonics.

About you

You will have a PhD or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in an experimental discipline, ideally with experience in quantum photonic circuits, quantum correlation measurement, NEMS, optical NEMS, characterisation, and nanofabrication, along with their practical implementation.

To informally discuss the position, contact Dr Yoshishige Tsuchiya (yt2@ecs.soton.ac.uk) and Dr Bruce(Jun-Yu) Ou (bruce.ou@soton.ac.uk). Please quote the advert reference in all correspondence.

Application

Apply by uploading your CV and a cover letter detailing how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role.

Closing Date: 11 May 2026

Section: Education, Research & Enterprise

Salary: £38,784 to £48,822 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 31/03/2028

About RAi UK

RAi UK is a £31 million national programme creating a comprehensive ecosystem for responsible AI research and innovation across the United Kingdom. Funded by UKRI, the programme spans 28 universities, 150+ non-academic partner organisations, and an international network of collaborators across 45 countries.

The programme operates through five distinct funding streams — Keystone, Cornerstone, Satellite, Impact Accelerator and International Partnership projects — and is structured as a true multi-institutional consortium. RAi UK does not sit within a single institution; it convenes, coordinates and stewards a distributed national effort with a shared governance framework, shared outcomes and collective accountability to UKRI and to the public.

The Opportunity

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced operations leader to shape the infrastructure of a nationally significant research programme. As Head of Operations you will provide the organisational spine that holds a complex, multi-HEI consortium together — enabling world-class responsible AI research to happen at scale.

You will work directly with the CEO and the RAi UK Leadership Team to align operational capability with strategic ambition, and you will act as the principal operational authority for a programme that spans institutions, disciplines, sectors and geographic boundaries.

Critically, this role goes well beyond single-institution programme management. You will be responsible for designing and sustaining operational systems that work equitably and effectively across 20+ university partners, managing relationships with multiple institutional administrators and research offices simultaneously, and building the cross-institutional coordination capacity that a programme of this scale demands.

The post will:

• Act as RAi UK lead on operational matters providing expert yet pragmatic advice and guidance to senior management across RAi UK
• Provide core input to the development of RAi UK’s Strategic Plan and related guidance to enable RAi UK to respond to changes in the UK’s AI landscape
• Support RAi UK’s funding and participation in large complex, often innovative projects and partnerships, yet effectively manage the risks of doing so.
• Have responsibility for leading a team of highly skilled professionals, actively seeking to support career progression and attract new talent, to deliver RAi UK.

RAi UK is located within the School of Electronics and Computer Science, part of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, which is at the forefront of research across all its disciplines, has an active knowledge exchange and enterprise ecosystem and a mission to provide exceptional education that prepares the next generation of engineers and scientists to tackle global challenges through collaboration with industry and research institutions.

As a University we aim to create a sustainable and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates who are committed to supporting this objective. The University holds an Athena SWAN silver award. We are also committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible organisation. The University has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. 

The University offers a generous holiday allowance, additional University closure days, and excellent family leave provisions, also pension scheme membership, subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts. 

This role is offered on a fixed term basis until 31 March 2028 and is based at Highfield campus. For further information about the position, please email Jennie Calder-Smith (J.M.Calder-Smith@soton.ac.uk)

Closing Date: 11 May 2026

Section: Management, Specialist & Administrative

Salary: £59,966 to £74,851 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 31/03/2028