IIT Madras Chief Operating Officer Recruitment 2026

IIT Madras is hiring 1 Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Silicon Photonics Centre of Excellence (CPPICS) under its Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research. If you have an advanced degree (PhD preferred, Master's minimum) in Engineering, Business Administration or Project Management with a Bachelor's in ECE/EE/Applied Physics/Computer Science, plus 5+ years of industry experience, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 3 June 2026. The monthly salary is Rs. 1,80,000 to Rs. 2,20,000 with a 5% annual increment.

IIT Madras Chief Operating Officer Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has released notification ICSR/PR/Advt.85/2026 dated 14 May 2026 for the post of Chief Operating Officer at the Silicon Photonics CoE-CPPICS. The role is initially for one year, extendable up to five years based on performance. This is a high-value leadership role for experienced professionals with deep technical understanding of semiconductor or photonics manufacturing and strong project operational management skills.

Who Can Apply?

Qualification

• Advanced degree: PhD preferred, Master's minimum, in Engineering, Business Administration or Project Management.
• Bachelor's degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics or Computer Science.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of industry experience in a related discipline.
• Deep technical understanding of semiconductor or photonics manufacturing.
• Proven track record in high-level project operational management.
• You must be a citizen of India. Migrants from Pakistan settling in India and subjects of Nepal are also eligible with a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

Salary

• Monthly pay: Rs. 1,80,000 to Rs. 2,20,000 per month (commensurate with qualifications and experience).
• 5% annual increment on the monthly pay.
• Posting location: Chennai (IIT Madras campus, 600 036).

Application Fee

• No application fee is mentioned in the notification.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

Selection is based on:

1. Shortlisting from online applications based on qualifications, level and relevance of experience higher than the minimum prescribed, and academic achievements.
2. Test / Skill Test / Interview as decided by the Institute. The Institute reserves the right to decide the mode of screening.
3. Document Verification at the time of test or interview. You must bring a printout of your submitted application form.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No correspondence about non-shortlisting will be entertained.

How to Apply

1. Go to the IIT Madras ICSR careers portal at icsrstaff.iitm.ac.in/careers/current_openings.php.
2. Find the listing for Advt.85/2026 - Chief Operating Officer and click Apply Now.
3. Register with a valid email ID (single login per advertisement).
4. Fill in the online application form completely.
5. Upload the required documents.
6. Submit the application before 3 June 2026. Once submitted, the application cannot be edited.
7. Take a printout — you will need it at the time of test/interview/document verification. Do NOT post the hard copy to the Institute.
8. If you already work on any project at IIT Madras, apply through proper channel or carry a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to the interview.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 14 May 2026
• Application Start Date: 13 May 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 3 June 2026
• Test / Interview Date: To be announced

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Silicon Photonics Centre to ensure smooth and efficient functioning.
• Manage project finances including budgeting, expenditure tracking and financial reporting.
• Coordinate manpower planning, recruitment, onboarding and performance evaluation of project staff.
• Ensure laboratory readiness, infrastructure availability and efficient utilisation of resources across PIC design, fabrication and testing.
• Support technology translation, productisation efforts and industry collaborations.
• Act as a liaison with industry partners, foundries and external stakeholders to ensure timely project delivery.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, regulatory requirements and best practices in laboratory operations.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks and implement corrective actions to meet milestones — every decision requires prior approval from the Chief Investigator.