PhD Position in Quantum‑Enhanced Vibration-Based Damage Detection

Job Description

As a PhD candidate at TU Delft, you will investigate how advanced vibration measurements and interpretable AI models can improve the early detection of structural damage in composite materials. Your research will focus on combining high-precision Quantum Photonic Vibrometry with machine learning techniques capable of identifying subtle changes in structural behaviour.

You will design and conduct vibration experiments using QPV sensing systems and analyse complex measurement data to identify signatures of micro-scale damage. In parallel, you will develop advanced and interpretable AI models for damage detection and condition monitoring, with a strong focus on robustness, explainability, and practical applicability.

Part of the project involves deploying lightweight AI models on reservoir computing devices and edge AI hardware, enabling efficient and scalable real-time monitoring solutions. You will collaborate closely with academic researchers and industrial partners, contributing to both fundamental research and application-driven innovation.

You will become part of a supportive and international research team within TU Delft, with access to state-of-the-art sensing facilities, advanced computational resources, and collaborative industrial environments. The position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of quantum sensing, artificial intelligence, and structural integrity for aerospace and renewable energy applications.

Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree in engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Affinity with vibration measurement and analysis, AI or machine learning, and/or signal processing.
• Experience with programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• An analytical and creative mindset with an interest in developing innovative methods.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently within a research project.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Interest in working in a multidisciplinary and international research environment.
• Motivation to contribute to research with societal and industrial impact in aerospace and renewable energy.

TU Delft
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

PhD Position in Quantum‑Enhanced Vibration-Based Damage Detection

Job Description

As a PhD candidate at TU Delft, you will investigate how advanced vibration measurements and interpretable AI models can improve the early detection of structural damage in composite materials. Your research will focus on combining high-precision Quantum Photonic Vibrometry with machine learning techniques capable of identifying subtle changes in structural behaviour.

You will design and conduct vibration experiments using QPV sensing systems and analyse complex measurement data to identify signatures of micro-scale damage. In parallel, you will develop advanced and interpretable AI models for damage detection and condition monitoring, with a strong focus on robustness, explainability, and practical applicability.

Part of the project involves deploying lightweight AI models on reservoir computing devices and edge AI hardware, enabling efficient and scalable real-time monitoring solutions. You will collaborate closely with academic researchers and industrial partners, contributing to both fundamental research and application-driven innovation.

You will become part of a supportive and international research team within TU Delft, with access to state-of-the-art sensing facilities, advanced computational resources, and collaborative industrial environments. The position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of quantum sensing, artificial intelligence, and structural integrity for aerospace and renewable energy applications.

Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree in engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Affinity with vibration measurement and analysis, AI or machine learning, and/or signal processing.
• Experience with programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• An analytical and creative mindset with an interest in developing innovative methods.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently within a research project.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Interest in working in a multidisciplinary and international research environment.
• Motivation to contribute to research with societal and industrial impact in aerospace and renewable energy.

TU Delft
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Postdoc Optical Alignment Systems for Optical Ground Stations for Laser Satellite Communications

Job Description

Laser satellite communication is an emerging technology with strong potential for future high-capacity data transmission, particularly for intersatellite links. However, reliable optical communication between ground stations and satellites remains challenging due to the extremely narrow beam divergence of laser beams. This results in stringent requirements for alignment accuracy and for managing residual vibrations in optical communication terminals.

In this Postdoctoral project, you will investigate alignment systems for optical ground stations used in laser satellite communications. The main objective is to develop an alignment method between the receiving and transmitting channels that can mitigate the effects of vibrations, thermal fluctuations, and finite mechanical tolerances. Ultimately, you will contribute to the realization of a laboratory setup to demonstrate and validate the proposed method.

You will work within the Free Space Optical Communications group, part of the Space Instrumentation section in the Space Engineering Department of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft. In this environment, you will collaborate with researchers working on optical communication technologies and space instrumentation, contributing to ongoing research in this rapidly evolving field.

Job Requirements

• You hold a PhD degree, or have a scheduled doctoral defence, in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• You have demonstrated experience in experimental research.
• You have proven experience with the alignment of optical systems in a laboratory or research setting.
• You have experience in the field of optical communications.
• You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (minimum B2 level, preferably C1/C2).
• You are able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• A security screening may be part of the selection procedure due to knowledge protection regulations.

TU Delft
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Postdoc in Radar-Based Quantitative Precipitation Estimation within project EuRadCA

Job description

We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the EuRadCA project, a German-Dutch collaboration focused on advancing radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation across Europe. This new position offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of radar hydrometeorology, geospatial analysis, and machine learning, leveraging large-scale European radar datasets such as OPERA.

Key responsibilities

1. Radar data processing and QPE development

• Develop a reproducible and scalable radar processing pipeline for continental-scale radar-gauge datasets of heterogeneous quality, in close collaboration with researchers at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
• Implement automatic quality control (QC) on radar and gauge data (both from official networks and personal weather stations).
• Design novel radar-gauge merging and adjustment techniques that leverage multiple radar and gauge quality indicators.
• Contribute to the development of probabilistic QPE products and uncertainty quantification.

2. Evaluation of rainfall extremes

• Assess the performance of existing and new European radar products during extreme rain.

3. Collaboration and coordination

• Work closely with PhD researchers at partner institutions in Germany (KIT, University of Stuttgart) as well as the Dutch and German national weather agencies (KNMI, DWD).
• Attend team meetings and coordinate efforts to support the creation and dissemination of the final QPE products at European scale.
• Publish results in leading scientific journals and present at international conferences. 

Job requirements
We are looking for a candidate with:

• A PhD in hydrology, meteorology, environmental engineering, geosciences or a related field.
• Strong experience in weather radar, remote sensing of precipitation or spatial data analysis (e.g., geostatistics).
• Solid programming skills (e.g., Python, R or C).
• Working with large datasets.
• Familiarity with machine learning / deep learning is a plus.
• Experience in HPC is a plus.
• Experience in reproducible research practices and collaborative coding is a plus.
• Strong analytical thinking and ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written).

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions.
CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

Postdoc Optical Alignment Systems for Optical Ground Stations for Laser Satellite Communications

Job Description

Laser satellite communication is an emerging technology with strong potential for future high-capacity data transmission, particularly for intersatellite links. However, reliable optical communication between ground stations and satellites remains challenging due to the extremely narrow beam divergence of laser beams. This results in stringent requirements for alignment accuracy and for managing residual vibrations in optical communication terminals.

In this Postdoctoral project, you will investigate alignment systems for optical ground stations used in laser satellite communications. The main objective is to develop an alignment method between the receiving and transmitting channels that can mitigate the effects of vibrations, thermal fluctuations, and finite mechanical tolerances. Ultimately, you will contribute to the realization of a laboratory setup to demonstrate and validate the proposed method.

You will work within the Free Space Optical Communications group, part of the Space Instrumentation section in the Space Engineering Department of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft. In this environment, you will collaborate with researchers working on optical communication technologies and space instrumentation, contributing to ongoing research in this rapidly evolving field.

Job Requirements

• You hold a PhD degree, or have a scheduled doctoral defence, in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• You have demonstrated experience in experimental research.
• You have proven experience with the alignment of optical systems in a laboratory or research setting.
• You have experience in the field of optical communications.
• You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (minimum B2 level, preferably C1/C2).
• You are able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• A security screening may be part of the selection procedure due to knowledge protection regulations.

TU Delft
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.