Nijmegen, The Netherlands (Hybrid)
Our client is a pre-seed deep-tech startup at the inflection point of computing history. We aren’t building another application layer; we are re-architecting the foundational infrastructure of AI-driven systems.
The physics is validated. The potential is real. Now, we need a technical architect to transition our fundamental research into a scalable, world-changing product.
The Mission
Current computing architectures are hitting a “memory wall.” Our client is breaking through it by developing photonic memory technologies that fundamentally improve speed, energy efficiency, and scalability. We are a small, elite team of physicists and material scientists focused on building hardware that lasts.
The Role: A True Co-Founder
This is not a late-stage CTO position. You will own the technical execution of the company. Working directly alongside our Technical CEO, you will shape the long-term technology roadmap, IP strategy, and product architecture.
Your technical decisions today will define the company for decades.
What You Will Do
- Architect & Design: Lead the design of photonic memory chips, translating complex physics into manufacturable hardware.
- Drive Fabrication: Own the prototyping lifecycle, utilizing Electron Beam Lithography (EBL), deposition, and rapid iteration cycles.
- System Integration: Solve the “real world” challenges of integrating photonics with electronics, packaging, and thermal management.
- Lead the Elite: Mentor a small, high-caliber technical team and manage relationships with external fabrication partners and research institutions.
- Strategic Trade-offs: Balance scientific elegance with engineering realism to achieve reproducible, scalable results.
What You Bring
- Deep Expertise: A PhD in Photonics, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or equivalent industrial R&D experience.
- Hands-on Grit: Proven experience in photonic device design, fabrication, and characterization.
- Founder Mindset: You are motivated by long-term impact and ownership. You prefer building from first principles over “optimizing” existing systems.
- Resilience: You thrive in pre-seed environments where information is incomplete and the stakes are high.
Requirements & Logistics
- Location: Based in the Netherlands and able to commute to Nijmegen (or willing to relocate).
- Work Authorization: You must already hold the legal right to work in the Netherlands/EU. Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
- Language: Fluency in English is required; Dutch is a strong plus.
Why Join?
- Meaningful Equity: Ownership aligned with long-term value creation.
- Defining Influence: Join before the architecture is fixed; your fingerprints will be on the core technology.
- High Trust, No Bureaucracy: We move fast, stay lean, and value scientific integrity over corporate optics.
- Global Impact: Build a disruptive technology that addresses the most pressing bottleneck in modern AI computing.
Are you ready to move beyond the lab and build the future of memory?
For more information, please contact Mr. Anton van Rossum, Recruitment Consultant,
M: +31 6 53 306 309, E-Mail: anton.van.rossum@ir-search.nl.