Staff AI Engineer – Modeling & Engineering Co-Pilot (f/m/d)

About us

We see the semiconductor industry as a realm of possibility. We see opportunity. We see the profound impact that our graphene solutions will have in transforming the industry. We invite you to join us in driving change with our fundamentally human-centered approach, uniting bright minds around a shared vision. The vision is: Prove to everybody that you can make a fundamental change. Prove with your knowledge and skills how things can be done differently. Together, we can change the paradigm of how the world connects

About our technology

The semiconductor industry’s growing demand for more powerful chips with higher bandwidth and lower power finds its solution in our technology. We connect chips to high-throughput, low-delay computing networks. The key lies in harnessing the physical properties of graphene to combine electronic computing with photonic communication, allowing countless chips to interact almost as if they were one. Our graphene photonic innovation increases computing power and efficiency to a new order of magnitude

In short, we connect chips to create powerful and energy-efficient networks, overcoming connectivity limitations in the semiconductor industry. We deliver the graphene solution

The Role

Black Semiconductor is looking for a highly skilled Staff AI Engineer – Modeling & Engineering Co-Pilot (f/m/d) to join our team in Aachen, Germany. In this role, you will define the technical approach and build the first working version of Black Semiconductor’s AI Engineering Co-Pilot for process/device engineering. You will help engineers make sense of complex datasets (tool traces, metrology, electro-optical curves, FA images, experimental logs, internal documentation) and translate them into evidence-grounded insights, predictive models, and next-experiment recommendations

Your work directly accelerates Design-Technology Co-Optimization and integrated graphene photonics (IGP™) PDK evolution by shortening the loop: device --> model --> simulation --> process improvement

Important distinction : Black Semiconductor is separately hiring data engineers in Fab Automation to own MES/EI/APC integration and scalable pipelines. This role is not ETL or "dashboard-first" . You own the modeling + reasoning layer and the user-interfacing co-pilot workflows built on top of trusted datasets

Your Responsibilities

• Define a pragmatic architecture (cloud-first with on-prem path) for data access, features/models, validation, and a conversational interface
• Build first prototypes on real IGP™ data: anomaly/drift detection, multivariate driver analysis, wafer/run clustering, "similar past excursion" retrieval
• Develop interpretable/physics-consistent models and surrogate "what-if" models to support early architectural choices and process trade-offs
• Create compact/behavioral models (electrical + electro-optical) that connect to simulation flows (including the Lumerical ecosystem)
• Deliver a retrieval-grounded co-pilot that cites evidence, proposes experiments with expected signatures, and captures outcomes into reusable "playbook cards"
• Define validation, uncertainty reporting, adoption metrics, and a 12–24-month roadmap (including follow-on roles like MLOps/modeling specialists)

Your Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience delivering ML/data science solutions with increasing technical ownership (architecting systems, leading complex projects)
• Strong software and scientific computing skills: Python, SQL; experience building robust pipelines and production-quality code
• Demonstrated experience working with complex experimental datasets (sensor/time-series data, multivariate measurements, curves/spectra, images/wafer maps) and extracting actionable insights
• Strong modeling fundamentals (statistics + ML) and experience taking models from prototype to usable tool
• Ability to work with domain experts, frame ambiguous problems, and communicate model behavior and limitations clearly

Nice-to-have

• Experience in semiconductors, photonics, RF, or related deep-tech R&D domains
• Compact modeling / parameter extraction / surrogate modeling / calibration pipelines
• Experience building LLM/RAG systems for technical domains (grounded Q&A, tool integration, structured knowledge capture)
• Familiarity with DTCO (Design-Technology Co-Optimization, PDK (Process Development Kit) evolution, and simulation workflows; experience integrating models into EDA/simulation environments (including photonic tools such as Lumerical)
• Experience with cloud-first deployment and designing an on-prem migration path

Our work culture

People Over Processes. At Black Semiconductor, flexibility is key—we ensure work adapts to life, not the other way around. We champion work-life harmony, where careers are meaningful and enriching. Our processes are human-centric, allowing you to focus on what matters

Let’s grow together. Your potential is our priority. We provide the autonomy to make a lasting impact and nurture your growth through a culture of continuous learning. We invest in your journey for professional and personal development

Your Health and Future Matter. Your well-being is paramount. We offer a comprehensive benefits package with outstanding insurance, pension and virtual stock options for your mental, physical, and financial health. Your peace of mind is our priority - in the present and future

We Live Openness. Collaboration and inclusivity are the cornerstones of our culture. We practice openness, fostering trust and respect. Individuality is our collective strength, fueling innovation and driving us forward

We connect chips – and people. We encourage qualified individuals from any background to apply. We foster an inclusive and supportive work environment that values collaboration, innovation, and growth. Join our team and be part of an organization dedicated to making a difference in the industry

Can you picture yourself in this Role and our Company? Let’s connect