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.

What we expect from candidates:

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.

What will you enjoy with us?

• We practice a 4-1 hybrid model (4 days in our office, 1 day from home) to balance face-to-face collaboration with deep-focus remote work. Although, keep in mind that this is the model working for us now; it could change in the future. Don't take it as if it's granted forever.
• Enjoy core hours flexibility: as long as you’re online for our team syncs between 10:00 and 15:00, you can design the rest of your day to fit your rhythm. 
• Early-Finish Fridays: We believe in a long weekend. Every Friday throughout the year is an intensive 6.5-hour workday, so you can kick off your personal time by mid-afternoon.
• Intensive summer schedule: To help you enjoy the sun and balance family life during school holidays, we switch to a 7-hour workday from June 22nd to September 4th.
• You get 27 paid vacation days per year, well above the legal minimum, giving you over five full weeks to recharge whenever you need them. You are asked to enjoy at least 12 vacation days during summer.
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

And what about our recruitment process? Well, it has 3 phases:

• Phase 1: Interview with P&T department + our 2 hiring managers

• Phase 2: Technical assessment with P&T department + our 2 hiring managers

• Phase 3:  Executive interview with P&T department + our department manager

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 to meet real social and business challenges.

The highest 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.

Want to know more? Visit our webpage! www.i2cat.net