Job Description
Job Title: Research Engineer
Posting Start Date: 20/02/2026
Job Id: 2239
School/Department: Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Work Arrangement: Full Time (On site)
Contract Type: Fixed-term
Salary per annum (£): £32, £34,610.00
Closing Date: 09/03/2026
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.
Overview
We have an exciting opportunity in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering for someone with a passion for Engineering excellence, looking to use their skills and experience in Microelectronics to make a significant impact to the UK's ability to integrate a wide range of electronic circuits to produce complex system architectures.
The University of Sheffield is leading a key national "Innovation Knowledge Centre" that will develop Heterogeneous Integration techniques for complex system architectures using different types of microelectronic circuits such as Optoelectronics, Quantum, Radio devices, etc. whilst ensuring secure communication and secure systems architecture. Our Centre for Heterogeneous Integration of Microelectronic and Semiconductor Systems (CHIMES) is aligned with the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy alongside the UK National Semiconductor Strategy. Our mandate is to build a sustainable national capability in the Design of Heterogeneous Integrated Microelectronic and Semiconductor Systems.
You will join CHIMES as part of our large and diverse academic department. Your skills and experience will further strengthen our strong engineering and research profile. As an engineer you will work with, and alongside, research staff within the department, generating new and novel integration solutions. You will also work with other world-leading UK Universities (Sheffield, Southampton, Manchester, Kings College, Oxford, Cambridge, Queen's Belfast, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Strathclyde) and Commercial Collaborators to provide the best possible solutions for a wide range of Heterogeneous Integration needs.
As this role will require significant understanding of a wide range of system architectures, it provides an excellent opportunity to develop skills in different types of microelectronic circuits and integration techniques.
By applying to this role you are agreeing to collaborators from the University of Manchester accessing and reviewing your application data.
Main duties and responsibilities
* Conduct individual and collaborative engineering projects as part of the University of Sheffield CHIMES team.
* Update your knowledge and carry out research into Heterogeneous Integration technology, learn standard techniques, and to solve specific integration requirements and connectivity problems.
* Assist the engineering/research team to acquire and interpret engineering data/results and help the team draw conclusions on the outcomes where the methods and purposes are clear.
* Propose and implement improvements to current working methodologies.
* Carry out planning for short-term projects in your own area and/or contribute to planning for the wider team.
* With help and guidance, manage your own engineering and administrative activities, to meet demands and deadlines. This includes using engineering/research resources, laboratories and workshops as appropriate.
* Communicate effectively (orally, in writing and electronically) with Sheffield project, IKC partners and external stakeholders. This includes compiling and delivering technical engineering reports and presentations.
* Contribute to collaborative decision making with colleagues in areas of engineering and potential research.
* Understand and interpret the requirements of others.
* Attend regular meetings with Sheffield team (the Engineering Director and wider team), and CHIMES meetings, as well as conferences, trade shows and relevant events.
* Be aware of the risks in the work environment and their potential impact on their own work and that of others.
* Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential or desirable
Stage(s) assessed at
A first degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, related discipline or equivalent industrial experience. (or have equivalent relevant experience)
Essential
Application
Experience in Electronic Hardware Design and an understanding of Electronics Systems Integration.
Essential
Application and Interview
Ability to work within a project team.
Essential
Application and Interview
Ability to communicate, both written and verbally (e.g. report writing and presenting work).
Essential
Application and Interview
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a local engineering team and the wider Heterogeneous Integration IKC.
Essential
Application and Interview
Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, and work to strict deadlines.
Essential
Application and Interview
Good interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral), and a track record of making contributions to engineering development.
Essential
Application and Interview
Flexible approach to dealing with engineering problems as they arise.
Essential
Application and Interview
Willingness to learn and develop.
Essential
Application and Interview
Ability to identify solutions to engineering challenges through research, as directed by senior colleagues.
Essential
Application and Interview
An understanding of standard die packaging, Chiplet based designs, multi-chip modules (MCMs) and System in Package (SiP).
Desirable
Application and Interview
Some knowledge of different types of circuit interfaces and interconnects.
Desirable
Application and Interview
Further Information
Grade
6
Salary
£32,080 to £34,610
Work arrangement
Full-time
Duration
42 months
Line manager
Engineering Director
Direct reports
None
Our website
For informal enquiries about this job, contact Professor Chee Hing Tan, Professor of Opto-Electronic Sensors: on
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 20 March 2026. This will consist of an interview and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 9 March 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process, you can contact eee-
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: ().
What we offer
* A minimum of 38days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
* Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
* Generous pension scheme.
* A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
* A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
* Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
* A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways and Technical Career Routes.
* A range of generous family-friendly policies
* paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
* support for those going through the menopause
* paid time off and support for fertility treatment
* and more
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Baseline personnel security standard
This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.