MediaTech Research Group Director

At i2CAT we are looking for a visionary leader to take the helm of our MediaTech Research Group. This isn't just a department head role; you will be the primary architect of i2CAT’s overarching strategy in Interactive and Immersive Media Technologies .

If you are passionate about next-generation media services and want to lead a team that turns "futuristic" into "functional," we want to talk to you.

As the Director of MediaTech, you will lead a powerhouse research area with a prestigious track record in EU-funded R&D projects (Horizon Europe) and high-impact industrial collaborations.

You won’t be working in a silo. Your mission is to drive transversal innovation , weaving immersive media into the fabric of our other cutting-edge research areas:

Next-Gen Networks: Integrating media into 5G/6G and Satellite Comms.

Intelligence & Security: Leveraging Distributed AI and Digital Resilience.

Society: Driving Techno-Social Research and Innovation.

As a pillar of our leadership team, you will be expected to:

Lead & Empower: Direct a talented team of 20+ researchers and engineers across two specialized lines:Media Processing and Media Networks, fostering their professional growth and career excellence.

Strategic Architecture: Define and regularly update the group’s R&D roadmap in collaboration with our Directors of R&D, Innovation, and Business Development.

Drive Excellence & Impact: Contribute to i2CAT’s mission of achieving scientific excellence while generating tangible economic and societal impact.

Funding & Growth: Secure the group's future by identifying and capturing public funding (Horizon Europe, SNS, EDF) and private industrial contracts.

Ecosystem Building: Act as the primary reference for Media Technologies at i2CAT. You will maintain high-level networks with industrial partners, policy associations, and scientific working groups to keep i2CAT at the cutting edge.

Asset Creation: Coordinate with the Directors of Technology and Innovation to transform research into intellectual property, licensing opportunities, or spin-off ventures.

Resource Management: Oversee strategic resource planning to ensure the successful delivery of diverse R&I projects.

Are you the one?

We are looking for a candidate with a deep technical background in interactive media, a strategic mindset, and the leadership charisma to inspire a high-performing team.

Why i2Cat?

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center promoting mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT, VR, and Immersive Technologies, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, AI, and Digital Social Innovation. We partner with companies, public administration, academia, and end-users to leverage this knowledge in order to meet real social and business challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

• Reduced working hours on Fridays and in July and August.
• Annual leave of 27 working days.
• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your operative system, Mac, Linux or Windows.
• You can develop your own and personal training program with our support.
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

Requirements

MUST HAVE:

• PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Science or a related discipline.
• Verifiable Post-PhD R&D experience of at least 3 years in the relevant field.
• Sound knowledge of Media Tech technologies, trends and challenges, with particular focus on Interactive Technologies, Immersive Technologies and Distributed Systems.
• Experience leading technical teams in the past. Leadership skills.
• Experience in attracting and running collaborative R&I projects in the European framework (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe), and national programs
• Verifiable Scientific Grant/proposal writing experience.
• Experience in project management in the field of advanced digital technologies.
• Verifiable successful collaboration with industry, including private funding attraction.
• Ability and experience to manage uncertainty.
• Proactive, constructive and collaborative attitude.
• Strategic vision, leadership capacity and results orientation.
• Analytical and resolving ability for decision-making.
• Excellent communication and organization skills.
• English conversational level (C1). Your language skills will be verified during the interview process.

NICE TO HAVE:

• Strong scientific/technical publication record.
• Be a recognized person in the research and innovation ecosystem of Media Technologies.
• Previous experience in positions of responsibility in large R&I collaborative projects, such as Project Coordinator or Technical Manager.
• Experience in leading/coordinating high-scale projects, managing large consortiums.
• Verifiable experience as subject-matter expert in the international industry.