Job description
Are you passionate about shaping the future of AI infrastructure? Join us to develop innovative photonic technologies that enable ultra-fast, energy-efficient, and highly scalable optical interconnects for next-generation AI compute clusters.
Information
The smart optical networks lab (SONL) at the Electro-Optics Communication (ECO) group at Eindhoven University of Technology is recruiting for a PhD position to research novel fast controlled photonic integrated switches for low latency and highly scalable AI compute clusters.
The electro-optical communications (ECO) group in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at TU/e is a globally recognised, leading scientific and applied research group focused on exploiting light for communication and quantum systems. We apply our knowledge in collaboration with other scientists at TU/e and more recently within the newly formed Casimir Institute to develop the required solution for many of the relevant challenges in communication and sensing systems. The group expertise spans from the fundamentals and physics of photonics, optics, the design and fabrication of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) systems to exploiting optical linear/non-linear signal processing to unlock fiber capacity and relevant higher layer protocols required to operate modern optical communication networks. Based in the purposely built FLUX building at the TU/e Campus, the ECO group has access to 300m2 of labs for conducting experimental research and is supported by a state-of-the-art 800m2 cleanroom. With 11 tenured scientists and as many as 70 PhDs, postDocs and senior researchers, the ECO group is a vibrant and exciting research group perfectly suited for talented and ambitious scientists. The group is active in spin outs and starts-ups (e.g. Astrape Networks, Microalign, PhotonX Networks) and carries out bilateral industrial research with major stakeholders in the communications industry.
The PhD project targets the design, prototyping, and demonstration of novel photonic WDM switches and the fast control to enable novel low latency highly scalable and flat interconnect AI compute clusters. Machine learning clusters and artificial intelligence (AI) training have become increasingly popular in recent years. The recent introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT made large-scale models available to the public, which enables the integration of AI in everyday objects and tasks. As a result, the model scale is doubling yearly, causing a proportional increase in the overall model size. These developments require a highly efficient and scalable network to interconnect larger and larger amount of compute processors. Today’s AI compute processors have multi-Terabit/s interfaces to share intermediate data for distributed training and processing, generating large traffic flows. Low and deterministic latency will be required for specific application in data centre for AI training compute clusters. The interconnect network based on electrical packet switches will not be able to support these requirements due to power consumption of the electrical interconnects that will require complex and inefficient cooling solution, and the footprint of the electrical interconnections that will exceed the available space in packet switch chip assembly.
Transparent optical switches allow the network to be upgraded in terms of data rate, modulation format and wavelength grid without having to replace the network electronic switches. Furthermore, the lack of an O/E/O conversion reduces power consumption compared to the electronic counterparts and reduces the amount of costly optical transceivers. Moreover, photonic integration allows for many optical functions on a small footprint, combined with the potential of economic mass-manufacturing. Therefore, the implementation of fast and lossless photonic switches is crucial to enable the demonstration of optically switched network for AI training computing clusters with low power consumption and ultra-low and deterministic latency.
The focus of the PhD activity is on demonstrating disruptive new network architectures for AI compute clusters utilizing optical switching to increase efficiency and reduce latency and power consumption. Therefore, the PhD candidate will investigate and design novel fast controlled photonic integrated WDM switch architectures to implement and demonstrated a low latency optically switched networks for AI training compute clusters. The project is embedded in a national project with close collaboration with industry.
Responsibilities and tasks
The purpose of the project is the design and development of novel photonic WDM switches and the fast control to enable novel low latency highly scalable and flat interconnect AI compute clusters. To achieve these objectives, the project is organized into the following main activities:
- Investigate disruptive new network architectures for AI compute clusters utilising optical switching and numerically assess the performance via software simulation tools.
- Define the system specifications which will be then translated into requirements for the design and implementation of the photonic WDM switch architecture and fast control.
- Investigate the photonic technologies to fabricate the switches.
- Design, simulate, fabricate and test the photonic integrated switches.
- Packaging and assessing the photonic integrated switches in collaboration with the industrial partners.
- Develop the optoelectronic interfaces and controls to enable remote reconfiguration operation.
- Develop and evaluate fast and efficient scheduling algorithms for fast control and reconfiguration of the optical AI compute clusters.
- Realize a small-scale compute cluster lab testbed to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of the innovative low latency and high capacity optical switched AI computer network architecture empowered by the developed photonic integrated WDM switches and controls.
The PhD candidates will contribute to the TU/e efforts in establishing collaboration with the other researchers in the project and contribute to the related project reporting, scientific publication and dissemination activities.
Requirements
Candidates for this challenging projects must have:
- Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or in Applied Physics.
- Solid knowledge of optical fiber communications techniques and/or for photonic devices and circuits.
- Knowledge of photonic devices and circuits / integration technologies and software simulation tools.
- Knowledge of FPGA programming.
- He/she must be familiar with optical and electronic laboratory measurement equipment, optical fiber system and components, semiconductor devices, and electronic circuits.
- Proven team-working capabilities and communication skills
- English proficiency (both verbal and written)
- Willingness to start as soon as possible
Conditions of employment
Fixed-term contract: 4 years.
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.
In addition, we offer you:
- Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
- Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,204 - max. € 4,051 gross base salary per month (full-time)).
- In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
- Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
- As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
- High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
- An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day care.
- Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
- We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
- An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
- A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) for international candidates.
On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!
Employer
TU/e
We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.
Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.
Additional information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Prof. Nicola Calabretta, n.calabretta@tue.nl.
Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Kevin Caris. HR Advisor, k.t.caris@tue.nl.
Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.
Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.
Working at TU/e
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