Semiconductor Jobs at Newly Funded UK Start-ups: Q3 2025 Investment Tracker

1. The UK’s Semiconductor Landscape: A Snapshot

Before diving into Q3 2025 developments, let’s look at the factors making the UK a semiconductor hot spot:

1. Academic Excellence

   • Institutions like the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the University of Manchester lead research in electronics, materials science, and quantum devices. Their spin-outs often drive breakthroughs in chip design and fabrication.

2. Diverse Applications

   • The UK’s industrial base needs semiconductors for automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, and medical technology. This ensures local demand for innovative chips.

3. Government Initiatives

   • Programmes like Innovate UK and the Catapult network offer support for R&D and scale-up. Recently, policy focus on semiconductor self-reliance and supply chain resilience has funnelled additional funding into domestic chip ventures.

4. Thriving Start-up Culture

   • London remains a magnet for venture capital, while other cities (Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh) host specialised semiconductor clusters—featuring chip design houses, foundries, and advanced research centres.

By the third quarter of 2025, a range of UK semiconductor start-ups secured fresh investments, creating a surge of job opportunities. Let’s see how these funding rounds benefit you, the job seeker.

2. Why Q3 2025’s Funding Matters for Semiconductor Jobs

Staying updated on funding news is crucial if you’re hunting for new semiconductor positions:

1. Immediate Hiring Needs

   • Post-funding, companies scale engineering, manufacturing, sales, and support teams to accelerate product development and market entry.

2. Competitive Compensation

   • Venture-backed start-ups usually offer appealing salaries, equity, and career growth—particularly in a niche, in-demand sector like semiconductors.

3. High-Impact Roles

   • Early-stage semiconductor companies often have small teams, giving engineers, designers, and product managers greater responsibility and influence on design decisions.

4. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

   • Semiconductors involve everything from materials science and electronics design to software, AI, and supply chain operations, providing rich learning opportunities.

5. Long-Term Upside

   • Should the start-up flourish—via acquisitions, IPOs, or major licensing deals—those who joined early typically reap both career advancement and financial rewards.

Now, let’s spotlight the Q3 2025 newly funded UK semiconductor start-ups, each with a different angle on chip innovation.

3. Q3 2025 Semiconductor Funding in the UK: Who’s Leading?

Even against shifting global market conditions, UK chip ventures remain strong, drawing capital for advanced materials, chip design, and hardware accelerators. Below, we profile five start-ups that locked in new funding and explore the roles they’re actively hiring for.

4. NanoSi Tech – Advanced Silicon Process & Packaging

• Funding Round: Series B

• Amount Raised: £12 million

• Headquarters: Cambridge

• Focus: Ultra-fine silicon lithography and advanced packaging

Company Snapshot

NanoSi Tech is a University of Cambridge spin-out specialising in sub-5nm lithography techniques and 3D chip packaging. By leveraging novel etching processes and proprietary materials, NanoSi aims to extend Moore’s Law beyond conventional limits—delivering smaller, faster, and more power-efficient chips for high-performance computing and AI. Having already partnered with several European foundries, the company’s next step is scaling production and refining yields.

Use of Funds

With £12 million in Series B:

1. R&D Expansion

   • Invest in sub-5nm pilot lines, perfect etch chemistries, and incorporate 3D stacking technology to reduce interconnect overheads.

2. Manufacturing Partnerships

   • Strengthen ties with foundries, integrate NanoSi processes into mainstream semiconductor flows.

3. Talent Acquisition

   • Bring on process engineers, yield specialists, and packaging experts to commercialise new lithography and packaging solutions.

Key Semiconductor Roles at NanoSi Tech

1. Process Engineer (Lithography)

   • Responsibilities: Optimise photolithography steps, refine etch recipes, troubleshoot wafer-level defects.

   • Skills Needed: Semiconductor fab experience, sub-10nm lithography, EDA software familiarity, strong chemistry/physics background.

2. Packaging & Integration Engineer

   • Responsibilities: Develop 3D stacking and TSV (through-silicon via) solutions, ensure thermal/mechanical integrity of stacked dies.

   • Skills Needed: Advanced packaging technologies, wire bonding or bumping experience, finite element analysis.

3. Yield Enhancement Specialist

   • Responsibilities: Monitor defect densities, analyse production data, propose process improvements to boost wafer yield.

   • Skills Needed: Statistical process control (SPC), data analytics (Python, JMP), root-cause analysis, close collaboration with fab teams.

4. R&D Project Manager

   • Responsibilities: Oversee cross-functional development milestones, coordinate pilot trials with foundries, manage IP and technical documentation.

   • Skills Needed: Semiconductor R&D cycle knowledge, project management methodologies, strong communication skills.

NanoSi Tech is ideal for engineers seeking to push silicon lithography boundaries and pioneer 3D chip packaging in a cutting-edge R&D environment.

5. GraphiChip – Graphene-Based Electronics

• Funding Round: Seed

• Amount Raised: £5 million

• Headquarters: Manchester

• Focus: Next-gen transistors using graphene and 2D materials

Company Snapshot

GraphiChip harnesses the remarkable electrical conductivity of graphene to produce ultra-thin transistors. The start-up’s technology promises faster switching speeds, reduced heat generation, and flexible form factors—relevant for wearables, IoT devices, and high-speed computing. With Manchester’s legacy in graphene research (from the original discovery of graphene at the University of Manchester), GraphiChip draws on deep local expertise in 2D materials.

Use of Funds

After a £5 million seed round, GraphiChip will:

1. Refine 2D Material Deposition

   • Streamline chemical vapour deposition (CVD) processes, reduce contamination, achieve uniform wafer-scale graphene layers.

2. Prototyping & Testing

   • Build transistor test chips, measure performance under different loads, gather data for potential licensees.

3. Recruit Multi-Disciplinary Team

   • Hire materials scientists, device physicists, and fabrication engineers to accelerate prototyping and build strategic partnerships.

Key Semiconductor Roles at GraphiChip

1. Device Physicist (2D Materials)

   • Responsibilities: Experiment with graphene doping, measure carrier mobility, collaborate on transistor architecture design.

   • Skills Needed: Solid-state physics, scanning electron microscopy, doping/encapsulation methods, knowledge of bandgap engineering.

2. Fabrication Engineer (Graphene)

   • Responsibilities: Manage CVD equipment, optimise process variables for uniform growth, handle wafer-level transfer techniques.

   • Skills Needed: Vacuum systems, thin-film deposition, lithography, contamination control protocols.

3. Test & Characterisation Specialist

   • Responsibilities: Perform electrical tests on graphene-based transistors, track reliability, interpret IV curves, highlight device limits.

   • Skills Needed: Semiconductor test equipment (probe stations, parametric analysers), data analytics, statistical modelling.

4. Applications Engineer (Wearables/IoT)

   • Responsibilities: Identify potential use cases for flexible graphene transistors, collaborate with device OEMs, demo prototypes.

   • Skills Needed: Knowledge of IoT hardware trends, flexible circuits, strong presentation and networking skills.

GraphiChip appeals to professionals excited by graphene electronics, bridging materials science breakthroughs with tangible chip designs.

6. QuantumSilicon – Silicon Quantum Dots for Qubits

• Funding Round: Series A

• Amount Raised: £9 million

• Headquarters: Oxford

• Focus: Quantum computing hardware in silicon-based quantum dots

Company Snapshot

QuantumSilicon focuses on quantum dot qubits fabricated in silicon, leveraging existing semiconductor processes for potential large-scale quantum chip production. By adapting standard CMOS manufacturing, the start-up aims for stable, coherent qubits with a path to mass production. This approach promises synergy with classical chip design, offering a more cost-effective route to quantum computing hardware than many exotic alternatives.

Use of Funds

With £9 million in Series A:

1. R&D Acceleration

   • Improve coherence times, refine single-electron control, integrate error-correction structures on chip.

2. Collaborations

   • Partner with leading chip foundries and HPC centres to validate quantum dot processors, test HPC-hybrid solutions.

3. Talent Expansion

   • Onboard quantum physicists, advanced CMOS designers, and cryo-engineering experts to move prototypes towards alpha production.

Key Semiconductor Roles at QuantumSilicon

1. Quantum Device Engineer (Silicon)

   • Responsibilities: Fabricate and characterise quantum dot arrays, manage single-electron gating, handle cryogenic measurements.

   • Skills Needed: CMOS design flows, e-beam lithography, RF electronics, quantum error correction basics.

2. Cryogenics Specialist

   • Responsibilities: Set up dilution refrigerators, ensure stable low-temperature environments for quantum dot chips, tackle thermal noise.

   • Skills Needed: Ultra-low temperature instrumentation, vacuum systems, electronics packaging for cryo conditions.

3. Silicon CAD Engineer

   • Responsibilities: Employ EDA tools to layout qubit arrays, verify design rules, simulate chip behaviour under quantum constraints.

   • Skills Needed: Layout design (Cadence/Mentor), process design kits (PDKs), advanced node experience (sub-10nm).

4. Quantum Software Integration Lead

   • Responsibilities: Oversee interfacing between quantum dot hardware and control software, manage compilers for quantum circuit execution.

   • Skills Needed: Python/C++, knowledge of quantum software frameworks (Qiskit, Cirq), HPC integration, device driver development.

QuantumSilicon beckons those merging quantum computing and classical semiconductor manufacturing to forge next-gen qubit devices.

7. GaNPower Innovations – Gallium Nitride Power Electronics

• Funding Round: Seed

• Amount Raised: £3 million

• Headquarters: Edinburgh

• Focus: High-efficiency GaN-based power devices

Company Snapshot

GaNPower Innovations designs gallium nitride (GaN) transistors, diodes, and modules for applications demanding high efficiency and power density—like electric vehicle charging, data centre power supplies, and renewable energy inverters. GaN devices operate at higher frequencies with lower losses than traditional silicon, helping cut energy usage and shrink device form factors. With robust support from local power electronics clusters, GaNPower aims to be a leading European supplier of GaN solutions.

Use of Funds

Securing £3 million in seed funding allows GaNPower to:

1. Develop Prototypes

   • Refine GaN transistor designs, packaging, and thermal management solutions to handle kilowatt-level power.

2. Establish Pilot Lines

   • Partner with local foundries for low-volume production, gather performance data from real-world tests.

3. Hire Power Electronics Experts

   • Add device engineers, reliability specialists, and field application engineers to scale client engagements.

Key Semiconductor Roles at GaNPower

1. Power Device Engineer (GaN)

   • Responsibilities: Optimise GaN transistor layouts, evaluate breakdown voltages, tackle wafer-level reliability.

   • Skills Needed: III-V materials knowledge, device modelling (TCAD), packaging constraints, lab testing (curve tracers, pulsed measurements).

2. Packaging & Thermal Engineer

   • Responsibilities: Design packages for high-current GaN devices, handle thermal simulations, ensure mechanical robustness.

   • Skills Needed: Heat transfer analysis, mechanical CAD (SolidWorks), knowledge of advanced packaging (SiP, multi-chip modules).

3. Applications Engineer (Power Electronics)

   • Responsibilities: Support customers integrating GaN solutions into EV chargers, data centre PSUs, or solar inverters, assist with design optimisations.

   • Skills Needed: Power topologies (buck, boost, full-bridge), circuit simulation (SPICE), EMI/EMC compliance, excellent communication.

4. Reliability & QA Manager

   • Responsibilities: Oversee device qualification tests (JEDEC standards), identify failure modes, track field returns.

   • Skills Needed: Reliability physics, reliability stress methods, good documentation and compliance with industry standards.

For engineers seeking to revolutionise power electronics with GaN technology, GaNPower Innovations offers a fast-track to advanced R&D and real-world impact.

8. Common Skills & Qualifications for Semiconductor Roles

From these examples, we see recurring demands in the semiconductor job market:

1. Technical Expertise

   • Electronic Engineering: from chip design (VLSI, FPGA, EDA tools) to packaging and testing.

   • Materials Science: crucial for next-gen transistors (graphene, GaN, quantum dots).

   • Process Engineering & Fab Knowledge: experience in lithography, etching, doping, wafer bonding, or assembly.

2. Software & Simulation

   • Familiarity with design automation tools (Cadence, Mentor Graphics), finite element analysis (ANSYS), or device simulation (TCAD, SPICE).

3. Lab & Characterisation Skills

   • Operating probe stations, scanning electron microscopes (SEM), X-ray diffraction, advanced test benches to measure performance and reliability.

4. Manufacturing & Quality

   • Understanding of supply chain, yield improvement, Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, ISO standards, or automotive-grade (AEC-Q100) reliability.

5. Regulatory & Compliance

   • Knowledge of environmental regulations (RoHS, REACH) or niche certifications if targeting medical or aerospace applications.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

   • Semiconductor R&D integrates design, process, packaging, and customer applications—strong teamwork and communication are vital.

7. Project Management & Commercial Acumen

   • Many roles require technical project planning, IP management, budgeting, and the ability to engage with clients or suppliers.

8. Continuous Learning & Adaptability

   • The semiconductor sector evolves rapidly, demanding professionals who can adopt new processes, materials, and design paradigms quickly.

9. Strategies for Landing a Role at a Newly Funded Semiconductor Start-up

Given the competitive nature of these roles:

1. Tailor Your CV & Cover Letter

   • Emphasise relevant chip design projects, wafer fab internships, or yield improvement successes. Quantify results where possible.

2. Showcase Research/Projects

   • If you’ve published papers on advanced lithography or open-sourced transistor design simulations, link to them. Show real-world or academic achievements.

3. Network in the Semicon Community

   • Attend semiconductor conferences (e.g., IEDM, Semicon Europa), local meetups, or university events. LinkedIn also hosts active groups in this sector.

4. Stay Current on Tools & Standards

   • Familiarise yourself with the latest EDA platforms, packaging trends (2.5D/3D), or novel materials. Mention these in interviews to show agility.

5. Prepare for Technical Assessments

   • Expect scenario-based questions (e.g., “How to reduce via resistance in advanced packaging?”) or coding tasks if the role involves automation scripts.

6. Highlight Teamwork

   • Many design or R&D tasks require cross-disciplinary collaboration. Share examples of working with diverse teams—fab operators, software developers, or test engineers.

10. The Q4 2025 Outlook for UK Semiconductors

If Q3 is any guide, the final quarter of 2025 is likely to bring further momentum:

• Automotive & EV

  • Demand for power semiconductors (SiC, GaN) will grow as EV penetration rises. Start-ups focusing on these technologies may attract new funding.

• AI-Specific Accelerators

  • Dedicated AI chips enabling edge compute or super-fast data centre inference could see more investment, bridging HPC and semicon design.

• Quantum & Neuromorphic Devices

  • Hybrid chip architectures inspired by quantum or neural processes may garner interest for specialised workloads like encryption or pattern recognition.

• Supply Chain Resilience

  • Governments might incentivise domestic chip foundries, spurring new start-ups in EDA, packaging, or related services.

• Green Manufacturing

  • Focus on sustainable processes (reduced water usage, recycling chemistries) and energy-saving device designs could see fresh round-ups.

Staying informed about these trends helps you anticipate future roles aligned with your ambitions.

11. Ready to Elevate Your Semiconductor Career? Register on SemiconductorJobs.co.uk

If these newly funded start-ups sound like your next move, connect with them and more industry players via SemiconductorJobs.co.uk. We focus exclusively on semiconductor roles—spanning design, manufacturing, packaging, applications, and management.

Why Register Your Profile?

1. Specialised Job Listings

   • Save time compared to generic job sites. Our platform curates positions dedicated to the semiconductor domain, from front-end design to back-end packaging.

2. Personalised Alerts

   • Set your preferences (location, salary range, job function) and receive instant notifications for new postings matching your exact criteria.

3. Visibility to Recruiters & Employers

   • Newly funded start-ups often search our database before publicly announcing roles, hoping to hire top talent quickly. Be visible to them.

4. Showcase Expertise

   • Upload your CV emphasising wafer fab experience, advanced node design, reliability engineering, or other specialised skills. Include references if permitted.

5. Community & Resources

   • Access career tips, read semiconductor-focused articles, and participate in forums discussing everything from lithography breakthroughs to supply chain logistics.

How to Get Started

1. Create Your Free Account

   • Go to SemiconductorJobs.co.uk and click Sign Up. Registration is quick and cost-free.

2. Complete Your Profile

   • Highlight relevant qualifications—whether it’s a degree in electronic engineering, a PhD in materials science, or hands-on fab experience.

3. Upload Your CV

   • Detail your achievements (e.g., “Reduced defect density by 20%,” “Developed 3D packaging for HPC chips”), quantify your impact, and demonstrate progression.

4. Set Job Alerts

   • Filter by job type (process engineering, chip design, test & verification), location (e.g., Cambridge, Manchester, remote), and desired pay scale.

5. Browse & Apply

   • Explore new positions, including those from Q3’s funded ventures such as NanoSi Tech and GraphiChip. Some roles allow one-click apply for convenience.

Final Thoughts

Q3 2025’s semiconductor funding announcements underscore the UK’s prominence in chip innovation—across lithography breakthroughs, graphene electronics, quantum dot qubits, and power semiconductors. This surge in capital not only advances research and manufacturing but also fuels job creation across diverse specialisms—from device physics and EDA software to packaging, reliability, and product management.

By registering on SemiconductorJobs.co.uk, you can position yourself to connect with these newly funded start-ups. Whether your passion lies in sub-5nm lithography, graphene transistors, or GaN power devices, there’s a burgeoning UK venture that needs your expertise. Embrace the momentum, refine your skills, and step into a future where your semiconductor contributions help shape electronics on a global scale.