Hardware Technician - Immersive Systems

Offer Description

Champalimaud Foundation (Fundação D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud), a private, non-profit research institution in Lisbon, Portugal, is looking for a Hardware Technician - Immersive Systems to join the Neurotechnology Warehouse. The role will support multidisciplinary work on immersive AI systems for therapy, rehabilitation, research and human-machine interaction, with responsibility for the physical and technical infrastructure that enables these systems to operate reliably.

The selected candidate will:

• Set up, configure, maintain and troubleshoot immersive-room hardware;
• Integrate projectors, cameras, sensors, computers, audio, lighting, networking, VR equipment and control interfaces into reliable working systems;
• Build and maintain clean cabling, signal routing and power distribution, including labeling, storage and inventory;
• Prepare rooms and equipment for experiments, demonstrations, therapy sessions and technical tests, and provide troubleshooting during live use;
• Document setups, wiring, signal flow, equipment lists and operating procedures;
• Support prototyping and testing of new layouts, sensor placements, hardware configurations and interaction setups in collaboration with researchers, engineers, clinicians, artists and software developers.

Employer: Champalimaud Foundation
Department: Neurotechnology Warehouse
Website: champalimaud.org/centre-restorative-neurotechnology/neurotechnology-warehouse
Number and type of fellowships or contracts to be awarded: 1 (one) fellowship
Application start date: 31/08/2026
Application closing date: 25/09/2026 or until filled
Expected position starting date: 02/11/2026
Required Education Level: Candidates must hold either (i) a Master’s degree in engineering, audiovisual/media technology, computer science, natural sciences, or a closely related field; or (ii) at least three years of full-time-equivalent, directly relevant professional experience in the installation, integration, maintenance and troubleshooting of complex technical hardware systems. Relevant professional experience may have been gained in audiovisual or technical production, stage or event technology, laboratory or research infrastructure, engineering support, interactive installations, VR/XR systems, sensing or tracking systems, networked hardware, or comparable hands-on technical environments.

Where to apply

Website: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduUoROdJIf0Bp0hGgOz7UN1zTxgQ2TFJheTBDC28NcyKlPQw/viewform

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Candidates should bring strong practical ability in hardware setup, integration and troubleshooting, together with a high level of organization and a strong sense of ownership of technical infrastructure. Relevant experience may come from audiovisual, stage, laboratory, installation, technical production, engineering or similar environments. The role requires clear communication, careful documentation, the ability to learn unfamiliar systems, and confidence working both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research and clinical environment.

Minimum qualifications:

• Professional experience in the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, or integration of technical hardware systems in hands-on technical environments (e.g. audiovisual production, technical installations, laboratory infrastructure, stage or event technology, engineering support, or comparable settings).
• Experience working with multiple categories of technical hardware, such as audiovisual equipment, sensors, networking devices, computers, lighting systems, or control interfaces.

Specific Requirements

Essential skills:

• Practical implementation, integration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of complex hardware systems.
• Cabling, connectors, signal routing and safe power/equipment handling.
• Basic networking knowledge, including IP addressing, routers, switches and local networks.
• Organization of physical infrastructure, including cable management, labeling, storage, invetory, equipment tracking, and documentation of technical setups.
• Ability to create and maintain clear technical documentation, including simple diagrams, equipment lists and operating procedures.
• Ability to support live demonstrations, experiments, or therapy sessions and diagnose technical issues in a systematic and effective manner.
• Ability to rapidly learn new hardware systems and adapt to evolving technical requirements.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and remain calm while troubleshooting.
• Clear communication skills and ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical colleagues.

Desirable skills that will also be considered:

• Projection mapping, multi-projector or multi-screen setups.
• Motion capture, tracking systems, VR/mixed reality equipment, haptics or wearable sensors.
• Audio systems, spatial audio, microphones, speakers, amplifiers or mixers.
• Lighting systems, especially DMX.
• Networked audiovisual systems or real-time data streaming.
• Creative technology, interactive installations or media arts.
• Basic scripting/programming, particularly Python.
• Unity, TouchDesigner, Unreal Engine or similar real-time creative software.
• Experience in human-computer interaction, neuroscience, physiotherapy, psychotherapy or healthcare technology.

Languages: ENGLISH (Excellent), PORTUGUESE (Good)

Research Field: Engineering Technology

Additional Information

Benefits

Competitive remuneration package commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience. Full immersion into a research excellence ecosystem with highly motivated researchers, supported by state-of-the-art technology and continuous development opportunities. Minimum monthly salary of €2.000 (fellowship contract). Initial duration of 12 months, with potential for renewal for equal periods, subject to funding availability and applicable institutional rules.

Eligibility criteria

National, foreign or stateless candidates with relevant technical training and/or professional experience in engineering, audiovisual/media technology, technical production, electronics, computer systems, interactive installations or related areas, and a professional profile appropriate to the activities described in this call, are eligible to apply. Practical experience and demonstrated ownership of complex technical systems will be given substantial consideration.

Selection process

Candidates will be screened to determine eligibility based on minimum qualifications listed in call. Candidates meeting minimum requirements will be scored according to the required application materials:

• CV 40% weighting,
• Motivation Letter 20%,
• Interview 40%.

If provided, and if shortlisted, candidates’ referees may be contacted and may count towards evaluation.

Evaluation Committee members: Alexander Loktyushin (PhD), Niklas Fricke (PhD), John Krakauer (PhD)

Application materials: CV and letter of motivation, including the names and contact details of two professional references. (one single pdf document, max 4 pages).
Proof of qualifications (certificates) may be required at a later date for the formalization of the fellowship contract agreement. Degrees obtained abroad may need to be formally recognized in Portugal.

How to apply: Candidates must complete the standard application form and submit a single annexed PDF document containing the application materials stated in the call.
The call reference will be asked and not having may invalidate your submission. This call reference is: WH-HWTech
Applications are also accepted in paper, sent or handed to the Fellows Support Office at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.

Notification of results: All candidates will receive a receipt of acknowledgment within 7-10 business days. The highest scoring candidate will be notified by email or telephone. All other candidates will be notified solely by email of the final outcome of the recruitment process.

After being notified, candidates will have 10 working days to present a claim for redress by email (careers@research.fchampalimaud.org). If no claim is received by the Champalimaud Foundation, the Evaluation Committe’s decision will become definitive.

Additional comments

About Us
Research is at the heart of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, a modern research and clinical facility situated on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal. The goal of Champalimaud Research (CR) is to perform world-leading fundamental and translational research. Current research work is focused on the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer. Champalimaud Research comprises a team of over 400 scientists from around the world. English is the official language of the Centre. Lisbon’s sunny Atlantic Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and high quality of life make this a great place to live and work.

Relevant Institutional Information
In line with our community guidelines and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Gender Equality Plan, no candidate may be privileged, favored, prejudiced or deprived of any right or excluded from any duty on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, chronic illness, language, nationality, territory of origin, family status (marital, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents), socioeconomic situation, education, religion, political or ideological beliefs, trade union membership, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making.

Legal Notices
The present call has the sole purpose of filling the indicated research position. This call may be canceled at any time on or before the jury’s evaluation of all eligible candidates and the recruitment process shall be concluded on the day of the full execution of the contract between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Champalimaud Foundation

Country: Portugal

Contact

City: Lisboa

Website: https://fchampalimaud.org/champalimaud-research

Street: Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown

Postal Code: 1400-038