King's College London

About us

Recently re-founded, the Department of Engineering is rapidly expanding into a world-class research and teaching department. Research currently focuses on information processing systems, robotics, telecommunications, and biomedical engineering, but we are looking to establish new research themes.

About the role

You will contribute to the UKRI-supported Centre for Heterogeneous Integrated Micro Electronic and Semiconductor Systems (CHIMES²) programme. CHIMES² is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and monitored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The programme’s mission is to develop innovative methods for designing and integrating microchips manufactured using different semiconductor technologies. By enabling specialised chiplets to operate together seamlessly within a single system, CHIMES² seeks to establish secure, scalable, and energy-efficient platforms for future communication and computing, delivering enhanced performance, intelligence, and adaptability. These advancements will enable smaller, faster, and more resource-efficient systems that address the evolving demands of next-generation communication and computing applications.

Working with consortium partners, the postholder will also contribute to the design and development of advanced analog and mixed-signal circuits and systems, and investigate their integration with chiplets implemented in different semiconductor technologies to enable highly integrated, heterogeneous hardware platforms.

The role is based in the Department of Engineering at King’s and may involve occasional travel to CHIMES² partner institutions, project meetings and conferences. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK before commencing employment.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an a fixed term contract for 42 months from the start date.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the  Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the  Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria 

1.       PhD awarded (or near completion) in Electrical/Electronic or Computer Engineering.

2.       Strong background in Analog/Mixed Signal Integrated Circuit (IC) design.

3.       Very good skills in HDL (Verilog, VHDL) and scripting languages

4.       Knowledge of commercial EDA tools (such as Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics).

5.       Effective communication (oral and written) skills, ability to write research reports and papers in style accessible to academic audiences.

6.       Track record of high-quality research publications in peer-reviewed conferences and/or journals, particularly in leading venues such as IEEE ISSCC, VLSI Symposium, ESSCIRC, IEEE JSSC, and IEEE TCAS-I. 

7.       Ability to work independently and as part of a team on research programmes.

Desirable criteria

1.        Experience in the design and development of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits and systems, including areas such as PLLs and clock generation, data converters (e.g., ADCs), and other wireline and wireless applications.

2.       Previous experience in IC tape-out, silicon bring-up, and chip testing, including the measurement and characterisation of analog and mixed-signal circuits and systems.

3.       Experience with low-power and energy-efficient analog and mixed-signal IC design, with an understanding of system-level integration for next-generation wireline, wireless, and intelligent computing applications. 

Downloading a copy of our Job Description 

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6. 

Further Information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university. 

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant’s own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.