Postdoc Opportunity: Shape the Future of Robotic Tactile Intelligence!
Are you an expert in IC design and integrated sensors? Do you want to give robots a human-like sense of touch?
Job description
This project aims to develop a sensor + readout IC system for revolutionary flexible electronic skin (Smart Skin) for advanced robotics. Deploying "smart skin" across a robot's entire chassis creates severe engineering challenges. Scaling up to thousands of tactile sensors typically results in massive wiring overhead, high latency, and vulnerability to environmental electromagnetic interference (EMI) and power supply noise.
Your role will be to design integrated sensors and mixed-signal readout ICs that fundamentally address these issues. We aim to develop novel circuit architectures—such as localized digitization, event-driven/asynchronous readout, and high-voltage/high-noise-immune topologies—to deliver a robust, ultra-low-latency, and high-dynamic-range tactile processing system.
- IC Architecture & Design: Design, simulate, and lay out low-power mixed-signal ICs (including low-noise front-ends, high-resolution/energy-efficient ADCs, and localized data processing/multiplexing) tailored for matrix sensor arrays.
- Sensor Co-Integration: Collaborate with materials and sensor experts to integrate CMOS chips with flexible/stretchable tactile sensor arrays (capacitive, piezoelectric, or piezoresistive).
- Tape-out & Characterization: Manage chip tape-outs (e.g., TSMC, GlobalFoundries, or specialized high-voltage/BCD processes if applicable) and conduct rigorous benchtop electrical characterization and robotic system-level validation.
- Mentorship & Publication: Co-supervise PhD/Master students and publish high-impact papers in top-tier solid-state circuits and sensor journals/conferences (JSSC, ISSCC, TCAS, IEEE Sensors).
Why Join Us?
- Impact: Your work will directly influence the hardware architecture of future consumer electronics.
- Expertise: Work alongside a world-class team with extensive experience in mixed-signal IC design and audio systems.
- Facilities: Access to state-of-the-art cleanrooms, high-end measurement equipment (Audio Precision, high-speed oscilloscopes), and advanced CMOS process nodes.
Job requirements
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a "silicon-first" mindset. To be successful in this role, you must possess:
- Solid Foundation in Analog IC Design: Deep understanding of MOSFET physics, amplifiers, voltage references, and frequency compensation.
- Mixed-Signal Design Experience: Proven experience in designing blocks such as ADCs/DACs, comparators, or oscillators. Familiarity with the interaction between digital control logic and analog power stages.
- System Modeling Skills: Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink or Verilog-A for top-level architectural verification.
- Hands-on EDA Experience: Expert-level proficiency in Cadence Virtuoso (Spectre/APS), Mentor Graphics, or similar industry-standard toolsets.
- Academic Excellence: A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering or Microelectronics with a focus on Integrated Circuits.
- Preferred but not mandatory: Prior experience in ultrasounic sensors and readout ICs, capacitive/resistive sensor and readout ICs.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.
, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Conditions of employment
- Duration of contract is 18 months Temporary
- A job of 36-40 hours per week.
- Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
- An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
- The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
- Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
- Flexible working week.
- Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
- Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
- Partially paid parental leave
- Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .
Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Qinwen Fan, via [email protected].
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 5 July 2026 upload the following documents:
- CV
- Motivational letter
- Please highlight your IC design experience, including tape out if applicable
- Please highlight your publication list
- Please include a <5 slides PPT, showcasing one of your previous works
You can address your application to Qinwen Fan.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
