Applicants should have a PhD (or equivalent professional qualifications and experience) in Physics, Engineering or a related discipline. Applications will also be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. Applicants should have excellent experimental and analytical skills preferably with experience in the design of fibre and/or solid-state lasers together with hands-on experience operating lasers in the multi-watt power regime. 

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Prof Andy Clarkson (Email: wac@orc.soton.ac.uk)

As a university we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and are proactive in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work. With a generous holiday allowance as well as additional university closure days we are committed to supporting our staff and students and open to a flexible working approach.

Please include a copy of your CV and a cover letter, detailing how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role, in your application.

Closing Date: 03 Jul 2026

Section: Education, Research & Enterprise

Salary: £38,784 to £44,746 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 29/02/2028

The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is a research-intensive school with a world-leading
reputation in photonics and optoelectronics. Founded in 1989, we are the largest academic photonics research centre in the UK and one of the world’s leading photonics centres. The impact of our research is evident in multiple sectors, including telecommunications, manufacturing and engineering. Our research is facilitated by our state-of-the-art Zepler Cleanrooms.

The role 

The Zepler Cleanrooms at the University of Southampton are divided into ten facilities to address different areas of technology supporting optical and electronics research and enterprise. This role will report into the Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) facility.  Key responsibilities include:

• Providing specialist advice to Research and Enterprise customers of Electron Beam Lithography tools
• Engaging with the vendors and other research institutes to develop and improve exposure techniques.
• Maintaining standard operating procedures for Electron Beam Lithography tools
• Ensuring laboratory health and safety measures are followed
• Training users in lithography techniques
• Delivering EBL services to customers

About you

You will have excellent technical and communication skills, and eager to rapidly grow your knowledge, cultivate high-impact and valuable skills on the forefront of advanced lithography technology. With the growth in these skills, you are expected to evolve into working independently on highly sophisticated Electron Beam Lithography tools. You will need to  demonstrate the ability to self-organize and schedule work to align with the larger goals for the facility. You are expected to work as part of a cohesive team and contribute to the acquisition and dissemination of high-quality research and enterprise activities. 

What we can offer you

As a University we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and are proactive in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work.

With a generous holiday allowance as well as additional university closure days we are committed to supporting our staff and students and open to a flexible working approach.

Closing Date: 16 Jun 2026

Section: Technical & Experimental

Salary: £36,636 to £44,746 Per annum
Full Time Permanent

CORNERSTONE provides a silicon photonics fabrication service to researchers and innovators from across the globe, focused around our unique cleanrooms capabilities in Southampton, UK (www.cornerstone.sotonfab.co.uk). We are seeking an experienced PDK Engineer with a technical background in graphene and/or silicon photonics for our role in the EU-funded project, PIXEurope.

You will be passionate about supporting cutting-edge research and development in a growing team of enthusiastic colleagues. You will be self-motivated, a skilled communicator, flexible, able to work both independently and as part of a large consortium, and to manage your time efficiently. You have good interpersonal skills, and the ability to manage relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including both UK and EU PIXEurope consortium partners.

You will be responsible for developing the Process Design Kit (PDK) and characterisation of the graphene on Silicon Photonics chips for the PIXEurope project. You will attend European project meetings and represent the project at relevant conferences and events. You will be part of a a PDK team to develop the CORNERSONE platform. You will work with the project partners and internal process fabrication team to develop the technology. You will ensure Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is embedded in all outreach, training, and marketing activities.

We have a culture centred on the team and are supportive of one another. You will be able to learn from some of the best researchers in the field and gain valuable, transferable skills in technical project management, as well as photonics device design and characterisation. You will have the opportunity to thrive in a university environment, supporting the development of future technologies. You will be encouraged to develop your career and play a fundamental role in the success of our cutting-edge technology, within a university culture focused on people, collegiality, quality, internationalisation, and sustainability. You will have the opportunity to discuss flexible and hybrid working patterns.

Experience in European (or equivalent complex large consortia) projects and photonics device design, mask layout and device characterisation is essential. A PhD in silicon photonics or graphene is desirable. A proven track-record in PDK design with demonstrated experience in establishing a technology service is desirable. 

This post is initially funded until 31^st May 2030. Depending on the success the role has, there is the possibility of a further extension.

For an informal discussion of the role, please contact Dr Emre Kaplan (a.e.kaplan@soton.ac.uk).

Closing Date: 15 Jun 2026

Section: Education, Research & Enterprise

Salary: £36,636 to £44,746 Per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 31/05/2030

The aim of the C-PIC team is to provide a Silicon Photonics fabrication service to researchers from across the globe, centred around unique cleanroom capabilities in Southampton, UK (www.cornerstone.sotonfab.co.uk). Our group has a culture centred around the team and is very supportive of one another and you will play a fundamental role in the success of the cutting-edge research that C-PIC supports.

We are seeking a Nanofabrication Technician who is passionate about supporting cutting-edge technology in a growing team of enthusiastic colleagues. You will be self-motivated, a strong communicator, a strong problem solver, flexible, able to work both individually and as part of a team, and able to manage time efficiently. You will have the opportunity to thrive in a university environment, working on  the fabrication/development of devices for cutting edge future technologies using our state-of-art cleanroom facilities. You will be able to develop your career within a university culture focused on people, collegiality, quality, internationalisation, and sustainability.

In the role of Nanofabrication Technician you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of a number of tools housed within the world-class cleanroom facility. These tools will be used to fabricate state-of-the-art Silicon Photonics devices for C-PIC users, as well as internal research and enterprise projects. You will be able to learn from some of the best researchers in the field and will gain valuable, transferable skills within the field of photonics device fabrication. You will be provided with full training in addition to the opportunity to attend seminars and workshops to deepen your knowledge. As a key member of the C-PIC delivery team, you will benefit from a financial training allowance to support your personal and professional development including in areas such as EDI, innovation, and digitisation.

Experience in a laboratory environment, with proven experience of successfully planning and progressing work activities is essential. A degree in a science related subject or equivalent industry experience is required. Basic knowledge in Silicon Photonics device fabrication is desirable.

For general enquiries please contact Ms Eleni Tsandiou (Eleni.Tsanidou@soton.ac.uk)

Closing Date: 15 Jun 2026

Section: Technical & Experimental

Salary: £36,636 to £44,746 Per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 31/12/2028

These two activities provide a stimulating challenge with variety and clear career development opportunities, as described below.

The successful candidate will help to develop a Canada-UK semiconductor network, which aims to empower early career researchers (ECRs) to lead the next wave of innovation in advanced materials, photonics and chip design.

The successful candidate will also coordinate the activities of a consortium developing optical chips for AI.

While these two activities are distinct, they share common attributes; the candidate will manage relationships with senior stakeholders, including industry, academia and policy makers in the UK and Canada. They will be comfortable working within a fast-paced environment, managing day-to-day operations, communications and marketing, while tracking actions to ensure deliverables are met. 

The candidate will arrange training events, workshops and seminars, tracking membership and coordinating activities with partner organisations. The candidate will be expected to clearly communicate technical content to stakeholders. They will work alongside CORNERSTONE’s Engagement Officer and Administrator to promote activities via our website and social media accounts. 

The candidate will ensure Equality, Diversity & Inclusion are embedded within these activities, working with CORNERSTONE’s EDI Delivery Manager. 

The candidate will have the opportunity to thrive in a university environment, supporting the development of future technologies. They will be able to develop a career within a university culture focused on people, collegiality, quality, internationalisation and sustainability. The working hours are flexible, with the option for hybrid working.

As the role involves handling information up to OFFICIAL SENSITIVE (see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security-classifications), the candidate will need to pass the necessary clearance checks.

For general enquiries please contact Prof Andy G Sellars (a.g.sellars@soton.ac.uk).

Closing Date: 01 Jun 2026

Section: Education, Research & Enterprise

Salary: £36,636 to £44,746 Per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 31/03/2029

We are seeking a Research Fellow with a strong background in photonic integrated circuit design, fabrication and characterisation to join the EPSRC-funded PURE collaboration between the University of Southampton and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Are you an integrated photonics engineer excited to contribute to breakthroughs in quantum optics, precision sensing, and next-generation photonic systems? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

We invite applications to join our welcoming and collaborative team of world-leading researchers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton. With over 350 staff and students, the ORC is an internationally recognised hub for cutting-edge research, delivering real-world impact across photonics, manufacturing, communication technologies, augmented reality, healthcare and quantum technology.

About the Role

As a valued member of our team, you will play a key role in the fabrication and characterisation of ultra-pure doped silica glass layers used to form the lowest-loss on-chip optical resonators ever demonstrated.

You will work on:

• Design of low-loss photonic integrated circuits (PICs), in particular, ring resonators.
• Cleanroom fabrication of these PICs from glass layers made in Southampton.
• PIC characterisation, i.e. loss, scattering and resonator finesse.
• Design experiments to determine optical loss mechanisms, i.e. hydroxyl, roughness, etc.
• Application of the PIC devices with our industrial and academic partners.

A core part of this role will involve close collaboration with our partners at Caltech and inter-institute visits to drive the project forward and translate our research into tangible innovations for the UK’s growing photonics sector, building upon our recent work published in Nature (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09889-w).

Your Responsibilities

As part of the role, you will be required to operate and maintain state-of-the-art fabrication and characterisation equipment, liaise with our project partners, develop innovative solutions, create new devices, publish results in leading journals, and investigate the potential to commercialise your outputs. Your attention to detail and commitment to excellence will help us create high-performance optical components that advance our research goals and commercial partnerships.

Who We’re Looking For

We seek a talented research fellow with skills and knowledge to complement our team. You should be comfortable working in a lab environment with cleanroom tools and optical characterisation equipment. Experience with ultra-low-loss resonators would be extremely useful for this role, but a deep hands-on understanding of integrated photonics fabrication and characterisation is more important. We are looking for someone who enjoys building things, measuring them properly, and figuring out why they behave as they do.

Applications are encouraged from those with a strong background in integrated photonics, complemented by experience in photonic fabrication. We are looking for a self-motivated researcher with good experimental skills who is willing to conduct research independently and collaboratively, and who values contributing to a supportive team environment. You will also help train and support researchers and PhD students in this role, so strong communication and mentoring skills will be a plus. A PhD or equivalent professional qualification is essential.

Due to the topic of the work, candidates must be exempt or eligible for an ATAS certificate; more details on ATAS can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme.

The appointment will last until the 31^st October 2028 and will start as soon as possible.

Informal enquiries: Prof James Gates, gates@southampton.ac.uk

Closing Date: 28 May 2026

Section: Education, Research & Enterprise

Salary: £36,636 to £44,746 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 31/10/2028