Postdoc In Optimization-Driven Verification and Validation of Precision Machines

Introduction
Are you eager to find out how high-precision machines can fail before they are ever built? Help us develop optimization-driven methods that automatically uncover the critical, “unknown-unsafe” scenarios in semiconductor and other high-tech equipment.

Job Description
High-precision machines, such as semiconductor equipment, metrology systems and advanced manufacturing tools, must deliver extreme accuracy and reliability under a wide range of operating conditions, disturbances and model uncertainties. Today, their verification and validation (V&V) relies largely on expert-defined test cases and conservative worst-case requirements. This raises cost and development time, still does not guarantee that rare but critical combinations of operating conditions, disturbances and parameters are found.

In this project, you will extend an optimization-driven V&V framework, originally developed and proven for automated driving, to precision machines. At its core is a multi-modal evolutionary search algorithm (FC-SCGA) that finds a compact, diverse set of critical scenarios instead of a single worst case. Your work will include:

• Translating V&V questions for precision machines into multi-modal optimization problems that account for operating conditions, disturbances, parametric uncertainty and interacting error sources.
• Developing dissimilarity measures and coverage metrics that show how diverse the found scenarios are and how much of the machine’s operating space they cover.
• Validating the methods along a tiered pipeline: software-in-the-loop on parametric digital twins and hardware-in-the-loop with fault injection.
• Working closely with industrial partners to turn real use cases into models and demonstrate impact.

You will be part of the Dynamics and Control group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and play a key role in building VISTA Lab (Verification, Inspection, Simulation & Testing Automation), a new initiative on V&V automation for complex engineered systems. You will also help supervise PhD and Master’s students and contribute to joint grant proposals with industry.

Your work matters beyond the lab: faster and more trustworthy qualification of high-tech equipment shortens development cycles, avoids costly over-design and strengthens the European semiconductor and high-tech industry.

Job Requirements

• Motivated researcher with a PhD in mechanical engineering, systems and control, mechatronics, applied mathematics, or a comparable domain.
• Solid background in the dynamics and control of mechatronic systems
• Experience with optimization methods, preferably evolutionary or multi-modal optimization, and with simulation-based testing.
• Good programming skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB/Simulink); experience with digital twins or hardware-in-the-loop setups is a plus.
• Enthusiasm for working with industrial partners and turning research into practical tools.
• Ability to conduct high quality academic research, reflected in demonstratable outputs.
• A team player who enjoys coaching PhD and Master's students and working in a dynamic, interdisciplinary team.
• A proven ability to manage complex projects to completion on schedule.

Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English, good communication and leadership skills.

Conditions of Employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.

In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 2 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10, ranging from € 4,422 (step 4) to € 5,760 gross base salary per month (full-time).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) and a compensation for moving expenses.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us
We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Mohsen Alirezaei, Associate Professor, m.alirezaei@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HR Services, hrservices.me@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• List of up to five self-selected ‘best publications’.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered and could be rejected.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Postdoc in Multi-user Multi-access Optical Satellite Communications: Theory and Architectures (MOSC)

Introduction
Are you passionate about the theory, architecture and system-level design of future optical communication networks? This postdoc position focuses on multi-user free-space optical (FSO) satellite communication: moving from today’s point-to-point laser links towards scalable point-to-multipoint systems that can serve many users from a single satellite. You analyze communication architectures and trade-offs needed to enable secure, robust and cost-efficient laser communication systems for future space applications. Over the past decades MIMO has played a pivotal role in RF communications and with this position we pave the way to MIMO for FSO applications.

Job Description
Critical communication links are increasingly vulnerable to interference and jamming. Free-space optical communication is a promising complementary technology to radio-frequency communication because narrow laser beams are difficult to intercept and disturb. However, current laser communication terminals typically support only one counter-terminal at a time, while future scenarios require a single satellite to serve tens of users or platforms simultaneously, at a fraction of the cost.

This postdoctoral position focuses on the physical-layer theory and architecture of multi-user MIMO free-space optical FSO communication systems. Starting from a generalized satellite-to-multiple-user use case, you will define system requirements, channel models and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the number of simultaneous users, data rate, coverage area, latency, availability, power efficiency and complexity.

You will investigate how optical power, bandwidth and spatial resources can be allocated across multiple users using time-, frequency-, space- and code-domain multiple access techniques, including TDMA, FDMA, SDMA and hybrid schemes. A central objective is to identify the fundamental communication- and information-theoretic trade-offs between user capacity, throughput, quality of service, coverage, security, hardware complexity and cost, and to determine the fundamental physical limits of multi-user FSO systems.

The research includes a state-of-the-art study of MIMO techniques for FSO communications, the translation of relevant concepts from RF massive MIMO to optical satellite links, and the development of analytical frameworks for comparing candidate architectures. The outcomes are expected to guide the design of scalable point-to-multipoint laser communication terminals capable of serving tens of simultaneous users.

You will work closely with a PhD candidate who focuses on simulation, coding, DSP algorithms and demonstrator implementation, while your work provides the theoretical foundations, performance analysis and architectural trade-offs that underpin these designs. It is foreseen that the postdoc may spend part of the time at TNO to contribute to a multi-user FSO lab and in-space multi-user demonstrator. Expected outputs include high-impact journal publications on FSO MIMO architectures, information-theoretic fundamental limits trade-offs and optimal multi-user communication architectures.

Throughout this postdoc, you will be embedded in the ICT Lab of the Signal Processing Systems group of the Department of Electrical Engineering at TU/e. Within the ICT Lab, you will work in a dynamic team of researchers under the leadership of Prof. Alex Alvarado. The lab studies information processing in a broad sense, including fundamental limits, coding, data processing techniques and architectures that approach these limits. Main areas of interest include free-space optical communications, fiber communications, source and channel coding, quantum computing, multi-user information theory, security and machine learning. We are proud that our fellow colleagues have won various prestigious grants and prices in the field of communication and information theory, including the Hamming Medal and the Shannon Award (https://www.itsoc.org/news/shannon-award-2026). You will also closely collaborate with an applied research team at TNO, where work is taking place towards in-orbit multi-user demonstration mission whereby practical results from the research can be directly applied. More information on TNO can be found here: (https://www.tno.nl/en/digital/space/satellite-communication/).

Job Requirements

• A PhD degree, or near completion of a PhD, in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Applied Physics, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• A strong research profile in one or more of the following areas: communication theory, information theory, free-space optical communication, optical wireless communication, MIMO systems, coding, signal processing, satellite communications or related fields.
• Ability to define system-level research questions, derive requirements and perform architectural trade-off analyses for complex communication systems.
• Experience with analytical modeling, simulation and/or performance evaluation of communication systems, for example using MATLAB, Python or similar tools.
• Experience with free-space optical satellite communications, laser communication terminals, optical beam steering, RF multi-user MIMO, or defence/space communication systems is advantageous.
• A proven ability to publish in high-quality scientific venues and to communicate research results clearly to academic and applied-research partners.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to an interdisciplinary team with academic, applied-research, defence and industrial stakeholders.
• Interest in co-supervising PhD and MSc students and contributing to proposal work and knowledge-transfer activities such as workshops, technical reports and project meetings.
• Fluent in spoken and written English at least at C1 level.

Conditions of Employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.

In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 2 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10, ranging from € 4,422 (step 4) to € 5,760 gross base salary per month (full-time).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) and a compensation for moving expenses.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us
We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please apply on the TU/e website.

In case of questions, contact the hiring managers Dr. Yunus Gultekin (Y.C.G.Gultekin@tue.nl), Dr. Wim Korevaar (c.w.korevaar@tue.nl) or Prof. Alex Alvarado (a.alvarado@tue.nl).

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• List of up to five self-selected ‘best publications’.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered and could be rejected.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Postdoc In Optimization-Driven Verification and Validation of Precision Machines

High-precision machines, such as semiconductor equipment, metrology systems and advanced manufacturing tools, must deliver extreme accuracy and reliability under a wide range of operating conditions, disturbances and model uncertainties. Today, their verification and validation (V&V) relies largely on expert-defined test cases and conservative worst-case requirements. This raises cost and development time, still does not guarantee that rare but critical combinations of operating conditions, disturbances and parameters are found.

In this project, you will extend an optimization-driven V&V framework, originally developed and proven for automated driving, to precision machines. At its core is a multi-modal evolutionary search algorithm (FC-SCGA) that finds a compact, diverse set of critical scenarios instead of a single worst case. Your work will include:

• Translating V&V questions for precision machines into multi-modal optimization problems that account for operating conditions, disturbances, parametric uncertainty and interacting error sources.
• Developing dissimilarity measures and coverage metrics that show how diverse the found scenarios are and how much of the machine’s operating space they cover.
• Validating the methods along a tiered pipeline: software-in-the-loop on parametric digital twins and hardware-in-the-loop with fault injection.
• Working closely with industrial partners to turn real use cases into models and demonstrate impact.

You will be part of the Dynamics and Control group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and play a key role in building VISTA Lab (Verification, Inspection, Simulation & Testing Automation), a new initiative on V&V automation for complex engineered systems. You will also help supervise PhD and Master’s students and contribute to joint grant proposals with industry.

Your work matters beyond the lab: faster and more trustworthy qualification of high-tech equipment shortens development cycles, avoids costly over-design and strengthens the European semiconductor and high-tech industry.

Postdoc in Multi-user Multi-access Optical Satellite Communications: Theory and Architectures (MOSC)

Critical communication links are increasingly vulnerable to interference and jamming. Free-space optical communication is a promising complementary technology to radio-frequency communication because narrow laser beams are difficult to intercept and disturb. However, current laser communication terminals typically support only one counter-terminal at a time, while future scenarios require a single satellite to serve tens of users or platforms simultaneously, at a fraction of the cost.

This postdoctoral position focuses on the physical-layer theory and architecture of multi-user MIMO free-space optical FSO communication systems. Starting from a generalized satellite-to-multiple-user use case, you will define system requirements, channel models and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the number of simultaneous users, data rate, coverage area, latency, availability, power efficiency and complexity.

You will investigate how optical power, bandwidth and spatial resources can be allocated across multiple users using time-, frequency-, space- and code-domain multiple access techniques, including TDMA, FDMA, SDMA and hybrid schemes. A central objective is to identify the fundamental communication- and information-theoretic trade-offs between user capacity, throughput, quality of service, coverage, security, hardware complexity and cost, and to determine the fundamental physical limits of multi-user FSO systems.

The research includes a state-of-the-art study of MIMO techniques for FSO communications, the translation of relevant concepts from RF massive MIMO to optical satellite links, and the development of analytical frameworks for comparing candidate architectures. The outcomes are expected to guide the design of scalable point-to-multipoint laser communication terminals capable of serving tens of simultaneous users.

You will work closely with a PhD candidate who focuses on simulation, coding, DSP algorithms and demonstrator implementation, while your work provides the theoretical foundations, performance analysis and architectural trade-offs that underpin these designs. It is foreseen that the postdoc may spend part of the time at TNO to contribute to a multi-user FSO lab and in-space multi-user demonstrator. Expected outputs include high-impact journal publications on FSO MIMO architectures, information-theoretic fundamental limits trade-offs and optimal multi-user communication architectures.

Throughout this postdoc, you will be embedded in the ICT Lab of the Signal Processing Systems group of the Department of Electrical Engineering at TU/e. Within the ICT Lab, you will work in a dynamic team of researchers under the leadership of Prof. Alex Alvarado. The lab studies information processing in a broad sense, including fundamental limits, coding, data processing techniques and architectures that approach these limits. Main areas of interest include free-space optical communications, fiber communications, source and channel coding, quantum computing, multi-user information theory, security and machine learning. We are proud that our fellow colleagues have won various prestigious grants and prices in the field of communication and information theory, including the Hamming Medal and the Shannon Award (https://www.itsoc.org/news/shannon-award-2026). You will also closely collaborate with an applied research team at TNO, where work is taking place towards in-orbit multi-user demonstration mission whereby practical results from the research can be directly applied. More information on TNO can be found here: (https://www.tno.nl/en/digital/space/satellite-communication/).

Data Domain Coordinator (DDC)

Introduction
The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) aims to become a data-driven university in which reliable data and insights support decision-making in education, research and operations. To achieve this ambition, strong data governance and high-quality data management are essential.

The Data Domain Coordinator of our IT department plays a key role in strengthening data governance. The DDC acts as the link between the central data governance teams and decentralized departments, ensuring that data policies, standards and practices are effectively implemented within the domain.

Job Description
As a Data Domain Coordinator of Library & Information Services (LIS) you make sure the TU/e is in control of her IT data. You do this by supporting the organization in improving the maturity of data governance, data quality and responsible data use. You work together with data owners, data domain coordinators of other departments, privacy, security, data management, archiving and the BI team to put policies into practice.

You act as the central point of coordination for data-related questions, initiatives and improvements within LIS. LIS supports all scientific and service departments in the areas of education, research, library & open science, corporate, data & insights, IT services and platforms. We focus on providing tailored, efficient support by actively engaging with departments to understand their specific needs.

You are part of the central Data Domain Coordination (DDC) team consisting of 7 DDC’s each supporting a dedicated service department.

Key responsibilities

Responsible Data Use

• Support the domain in complying with regulations such as GDPR.
• Coordinate activities related to data protection impact assessments (DPIA), processing registers and data agreements where relevant.
• Promote awareness of responsible data use, privacy and information security.

Data Governance

• Support the implementation of TU/e data governance policies and standards within the domain.
• Facilitate collaboration between data owners and central governance teams.
• Ensure that agreements around data ownership, definitions and usage are established and maintained.

Data Quality and Data Management

• Coordinate the definition and maintenance of key data definitions and metadata.
• Monitor data quality and support initiatives to improve data quality within LIS.
• Identify and help resolve structural data issues across systems and processes.

Collaboration and Data-driven Working

• Act as the liaison between the domain, central data governance teams and the BI organization.
• Support the development of reliable management information and reporting.
• Contribute to initiatives that strengthen data-driven decision-making within the university.

Job Requirements
Profile
You are a connector who enjoys working at the intersection of data, processes and people. You are able to translate governance principles into practical improvements within the organization.

You bring:

• A higher professional (HBO) or university degree in a relevant field such as privacy, information management, business administration or data management.
• Affinity with privacy, information security and responsible data use.
• Experience with data management, data governance or business intelligence in an educational institution.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• The ability to work across organizational boundaries and connect different disciplines.
• A proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
• Good command of English, orally and written. Dutch is a plus.
• The ability to work at least 3 days a week on our university campus.
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks (e.g. DAMA-DMBOK) is an advantage.

Conditions of Employment
An exciting position within an international yet personal university. You are right in the middle of the students, on a green campus within walking distance of the central station. Besides beautiful architecture, you will find varied workplaces and excellent sports facilities.

We also offer you:

• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10/11, ranging from €3.706,- to €6.682,- gross base salary per month (full-time), depending on your knowledge and experience.
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• A favorable arrangement for more holidays or a sabbatical.
• A selection model for additional fringe benefits.
• Working hours in consultation for an optimal work-life balance.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• Scope for your talent with advancement prospects and excellent development opportunities such as mentoring, workshops and coaching.
• Partially paid parental leave and reimbursement for commuting expenses, working from home and the internet.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us
We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

Information
Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact our Senior Recruiter Rob van der Linden via r.m.e.v.d.linden@tue.nl

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application
If you are interested, please use the ‘apply’ button to send us your CV and letter of application with your motivation and a description of your qualifications. Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

Screening of candidates begins as soon as applications are received and continues until the position is filled. Where applicable, internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates where they are equally suitable.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Important for non-EU applicants: Please be aware that for this position, specific residence permit requirements apply. If you are a non-EU national, you may not be eligible to legally work in this role under current Dutch immigration regulations. We strongly advise you to contact our Staff Immigration Team (staffimmigration@tue.nl) before applying to check your eligibility and to receive further guidance.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.