Backplane & Electrophoretic Display Research Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

E INK CORPORATION   

E Ink Corporation is the global leader in electronic paper technology, transforming the way people access information through innovative, low-power display solutions. Our technology is used worldwide in eReaders, electronic shelf labels, digital signage, transportation displays, wearable devices, and a growing range of Internet of Things applications. By combining cutting-edge innovation with a commitment to sustainability, E Ink enables products that consume minimal power while delivering an exceptional reading and viewing experience. 

At E Ink, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement are at the core of everything we do. We foster an inclusive and supportive work environment where diverse perspectives are valued, employees are empowered to grow, and teams work together to solve complex challenges. Whether you're advancing next-generation display technology, supporting our customers, or driving business operations, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on products used by millions of people around the world. If you're passionate about innovation and want to help shape the future of display technology, we'd love to hear from you. 

THE ROLE   

E Ink is seeking an experienced, deeply curious engineer or applied physicist to investigate how active-matrix backplane design, electrical behavior, and modes of operation interact with electrophoretic display materials and drive schemes. 

This position will join a multidisciplinary research team focused on advancing the fundamental understanding of electrophoretic display systems and translating that understanding into improved waveforms, display architectures, test methods, and product performance. The successful candidate will study the complete electrical and electro-optical system—from individual pixel circuits and backplane structures through panel-level addressing and optical response—to identify mechanisms that affect image quality, uniformity, power consumption, reliability, and lifetime. 

This is a hands-on research role combining electrical measurement, display characterization, physical modeling, experimental design, and close collaboration with waveform, materials, backplane, controller, and product-development teams. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES   

The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Initiate, lead, and execute fundamental research into interactions among active-matrix backplanes, electrophoretic materials, drive electronics, and waveform operation. 

• Investigate how pixel-circuit and backplane characteristics—including TFT behavior, storage capacitance, parasitic resistance and capacitance, leakage, charge injection, feedthrough, voltage retention, RC settling, device variation, hysteresis, and bias stress—affect display response. 

• Study the impact of backplane operating conditions and addressing modes, including gate and source timing, line and frame timing, common-electrode behavior, hold and floating states, partial updates, power transitions, and nonideal or interrupted update sequences. 

• Determine how electrical effects couple to particle motion, charge accumulation, electro-optical memory, residual voltage, optical state accuracy, ghosting, crosstalk, uniformity, color performance, and long-term display stability. 

• Design controlled experiments and specialized test structures that isolate backplane, drive-electronics, waveform, and material contributions to observed display behavior. 

• Develop electrical, circuit, statistical, or multiphysics models that connect measurable backplane behavior to electrophoretic and electro-optical response. 

• Translate research findings into improved drive schemes, backplane requirements, controller behavior, diagnostic methods, design rules, and mitigation strategies. 

• Develop or enhance instrumentation, automated test systems, and analysis software for synchronized electrical and electro-optical characterization. 

• Apply rigorous data analysis and uncertainty assessment to distinguish fundamental mechanisms from sample variation, measurement artifacts, and system-level interactions. 

• Lead root-cause investigations of complex display-performance and reliability issues that span multiple technical disciplines. 

• Collaborate with global waveform, materials, TFT/backplane, electrical engineering, modeling, reliability, manufacturing, and product-development teams. 

• Communicate results through technical reports, design reviews, presentations, and recommendations to technical and business leadership. 

• Create and document intellectual property, including invention disclosures, patents, technical methods, and proprietary display knowledge. 

QUALIFICATIONS   

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the position. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, education, experience, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. 

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related field. 

• Substantial experience with active-matrix displays, TFT backplanes, semiconductor devices, pixel circuits, mixed-signal electronics, display driving, or related physical systems. 

• Strong understanding of device and circuit behavior, including transient response, parasitic effects, leakage, capacitive coupling, switching behavior, noise, and electrical measurement. 

• Demonstrated ability to design experiments that isolate mechanisms in complex systems and to connect experimental observations with physical or electrical models. 

• Hands-on proficiency with laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, source-measure units, waveform generators, power supplies, data-acquisition systems, and high-impedance or low-current measurement techniques. 

• Proficiency with scientific programming and data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools. 

• Ability to work effectively across electrical engineering, physics, materials science, software, and product-development disciplines. 

• Strong technical writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. 

• Self-directed and comfortable defining a path forward when the underlying mechanism or solution is initially unclear. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Direct experience with amorphous-silicon, oxide/IGZO, LTPS, organic, or other TFT technologies. 

• Experience designing or characterizing active-matrix pixel circuits, display backplanes, source/gate driving systems, or display controller electronics. 

• Experience with circuit simulation, compact device models, SPICE, finite-element analysis, or other relevant modeling approaches. 

• Knowledge of electrophoretic displays, electro-optics, electrochemistry, dielectric materials, colloids, soft matter, or charge transport. 

• Experience correlating electrical measurements with optical or image-quality measurements. 

• Track record of technical leadership demonstrated through patents, publications, product innovations, internal technical standards, or successful cross-functional programs. 

COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE  

At E Ink, we believe in rewarding employees with competitive total compensation through a combination of base salary and performance-based bonuses, with a larger portion of total compensation delivered through our annual bonus program than is typical at many companies. To provide applicants with a more complete picture of our compensation philosophy, we are disclosing both the estimated annual total compensation and the annual base salary range for this position. For this position, the estimated annual total compensation range is $205,000 to $275,000, based on the Company's most recent annual bonus payout. The annual base salary range for this position is $140,000 to $170,000.  

The annual base salary range reflects the Company's good-faith estimate of the base salary it reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Actual starting base salary is determined based on job-related factors, including experience, skills, education, certifications, and other qualifications. Annual bonus payments are based on Company performance, are not guaranteed, and may be higher or lower than the estimate reflected above. 

BENEFITS  

In addition to a competitive base salary, E Ink offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; paid time off; and a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Additionally, the position is eligible for our bonus program.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS