IITM Project Associate II EE Recruitment 2026

IITM Project Associate II EE Recruitment 2026: Overview

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) is recruiting a Project Associate-II for a sponsored research assignment in the Department of Electrical Engineering. The work, coordinated by Prof. Deepa Venkitesh, sits at the intersection of embedded electronics and optical systems. This is a prototype-development role for someone who can move confidently from circuit design to bench testing and technology transfer.

The project team is developing optical and electronic prototypes such as optical power meters, electronic variable optical attenuators, polarization aligners and dither-free bias controllers. You will contribute across the product cycle: choosing components, reviewing schematics, bringing new boards up, debugging faults, calibrating systems and checking performance. Familiarity with PCB design environments and laboratory test instruments matters because the job is strongly hands-on rather than limited to simulation or documentation.

The role also connects hardware engineering with a wider research and development workflow. Your test results must be clear enough to guide design changes, and the finished prototype must be stable enough for transfer beyond the lab. Prior work in an R&D laboratory is especially relevant because the team expects practical judgement around board behaviour, signal tracing and validation under real test conditions.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Contract period: the appointment begins with a one-year term and may be extended later on the basis of performance.
• No regular claim: completion of the contract does not create a right to extension, regularisation or a permanent IIT Madras position.
• Shortlisting: the institute may restrict the candidate pool using qualifications, relevant experience and academic achievements above the minimum standard. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• Screening method: IIT Madras will decide the appropriate screening or testing method for the applicant pool; being called does not guarantee selection.
• Experience counting: only relevant work gained after the minimum qualifying degree is considered. The institute may relax requirements for an exceptionally strong applicant and may consider an experience relaxation for SC/ST candidates in the circumstances stated in the notice.
• Current IITM project staff: applicants already working on an IIT Madras project must apply through the proper channel and produce a No-Objection Certificate when called.
• Application finality: one registered email login can submit only one application for the advertisement, and the submitted form cannot be edited or reverted.
• Communication: keep your registered email active because IIT Madras sends recruitment communication by email. Canvassing leads to disqualification.
• Updates: any corrigendum or clarification will appear on the careers website, without a separate individual notice.

• Design embedded hardware for optical and electronic prototypes
• Create and review PCB schematics and board layouts
• Bring up new boards and debug hardware with JTAG and signal tracing
• Test prototypes with oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and logic analyzers
• Calibrate systems and validate functional and performance targets
• Manage prototype work from component selection through technology transfer