Technical Operator

Join our team and help shape the future of high-speed optical technology.

At Lumiphase, we are looking for full-time hands-on Technical Operator(s) to support our day-to-day R&D operations, wafer- and chip-level testing activities and assembly of photonic chips. You will work in cross-functional teams with versatile and exciting responsibilities and in collaboration with other operators, engineers, and external partners.

This role is hands-on, flexible, and operations-focused, with a mix of testing, logistics, sample tracking, process flow, and general operational support. You will also have the opportunity to shape workflows, standards and any operational organization.

Tasks

Core responsibilities

• Document technical work, procedures, and process flows to support repeatable operations and knowledge transfer.
• Execute daily wafer and chip testing plans according to priorities and schedules.
• Support engineers with operating automated test equipment and basic hardware adjustments.
• Monitor tests, report results, and communicate issues promptly.
• Maintain accurate tracking and flow of wafers and samples.
• Manage wafer logistics, including shipping, tracking, receiving, and enable transfer of wafers between buildings or facilities.
• Coordinate with external suppliers and vendors (purchase and sales offices).
• Track sample inventory across process stages and maintain accurate records.
• Support packaging operations, including incoming and outgoing optical inspection of packaged devices.
• Collaborate closely with photonics engineers, operations staff, and external partners to ensure smooth execution of development and production activities.
• Follow cleanroom, safety, and handling protocols for wafers, devices, and optical components.

Additional operational responsibilities

• Support and execute backend tasks such as die sorting, die packaging, chip deliveries, and sample preparation.
• Support and execute material and metrology activities whenever needed.
• Support loading/unloading of samples for reliability tests.
• Assist in lab and operational upgrades, routine maintenance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Aspects of the Role

• Hands-on, flexible, and adaptable: you may rotate periodically between functions to gain broad operational experience.
• Willingness to work in shift operation, with a permanent future setup of two shifts covering 06:00–22:00.

Requirements

• Minimum 2-3 years hands-on experience in a technical environment, or equivalent technical education.
• Prior experience with semiconductors, photonics, cleanroom environments, or hardware is a strong plus.
• Comfortable working in a cleanroom environment, following safety rules and procedures.
• Comfortable operating technical equipment and adhering to standardized work instructions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel, for data entry, tracking, and reporting.
• Adaptable and flexible, comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities can shift and processes evolve.
• Strong communicator with good verbal and written English skills, who can work across engineering, operations, and external partners (German communication skills are a plus).
• Detail-oriented, organized, and reliable when managing physical assets and technical records.
• Able to balance hands-on lab/logistics work with structured documentation.
• Motivated to work in a high-tech environment and to continuously learn and improve operational skills.

Benefits

At Lumiphase, we offer a young, fast-growing, and dynamic working environment with broad options for personal development. We have world-class technical people who love to share their skills with new team members. People from all around the world have joined us, creating an open-minded and diverse team spirit. We are all dedicated to creating superior photonic products to solve hard problems in the field of communication as a big team effort.

We offer a variety of benefits to create a positive experience at work, and enable a healthy and enjoyable work-life balance.

• ZVV (Zürich region) annual transport pass and Halbtax
• 2 additional parental leave weeks,
• Flexible hours and hybrid work possibilities,
• On-site fitness room, canteen, and top quality espresso machine,
• Weekly Yoga classes,
• and a lot of fun team events!

We look forward to welcoming talented, new members to our team.

Our recruitment process consists of three stages:

1. A 30 min. phone interview to discuss your general career motivations, and present our company and this role.
2. A 1-1.5 hour phone interview with 1-2 members of the hiring team to deep dive into the core skills requirements.
3. An on-site visit to interview with and meet many members of the team that you would be working in. This often includes lunch and gives you a strong sense of the company culture and individuals.

Then, both parties take their decisions! We aim to complete all steps in one month, but also allow for modifications to ensure both sides have a full picture of the skills and culture match to take the decision in an informed way.

We built our company culture from day one, step by step, with the direct contribution of all our employees. Our culture finds its foundation in two core values:

• "Run, Don't Rush" emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steady, purposeful pace to achieve excellence without compromising quality.
• “It’s BTO: It's Better Together" highlights our commitment to teamwork and the belief that the only way to achieve our goals is by working in harmony and supporting each other.

At Lumiphase, we believe diversity strengthens our ability to achieve our mission. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, socio-economic background, or any other characteristic—feel valued, respected, and empowered.

Studies suggest that people from underrepresented groups, including women, often hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. If this role excites you but you’re not sure you check every box, we’d still love to hear from you. You might be just the person we’re looking for.

Data traffic is exploding! At Lumiphase, we are on a mission to create the fastest and most energy-efficient communication chip the world has ever seen – to enable global IT infrastructure to handle this massive increase in data.

Our technology is built on innovative materials with incredible optical properties. The chips we build enable faster networks that consume less energy and will allow everyone to be better connected in the future.

We are a young and dynamic deep-tech startup, based in Zurich, Switzerland. Lumiphase was founded in 2020, after nearly 10 years of research within IBM. We are building a passionate team full of complementary areas of expertise, all dedicated to make this new generation of communication chips a reality on the market. We are growing rapidly, and we provide an agile environment for working at the forefront of cutting-edge technology to build products that will have a strong impact on our society.

Check out our open positions, and apply!