Postdoc Digitale Autonomie

Functieomschrijving

Ben jij een gepromoveerd en wil je bijdragen aan het verhogen van onze digitale autonomie? Wil je in een team de abstracte wereld van de ‘technology stack’ vertalen naar concrete handelingsperspectieven voor de publieke sector? Dan zijn wij op zoek naar jou.

De uitdaging: van BigTech naar digitale autonomie

De publieke sector staat onder druk. Onze vitale diensten zijn in toenemende mate afhankelijk van een klein aantal BigTech partijen. Dit brengt risico’s met zich mee voor onze data-soevereiniteit, continuïteit en democratische waarden. Maar hoe doorbreken we dit? Als Postdoc werk je samen aan deze vraag met andere onderzoekers bij het nieuw opgerichte Digitale Autonomie Competentie Centrum (DACC). Je werkt in teamverband aan concrete handelingsperspectieven voor de transitie naar een autonome digitale techstack. Je kijkt niet alleen naar de techniek, maar juist naar de samenhang: de systemen, de business modellen en de governance die autonomie mogelijk maken.

Concreet ga je onderzoek uitvoeren naar wetenschappelijk onderbouwde handelingsopties voor meer digitale autonomie. Hierbij maak je gebruik van de expertise en het netwerk van de betrokken partners in het DACC, waaronder TU Delft, AMS institute, Digicampus, Vereniging Nederlandse Gemeenten, Gemeente Amsterdam en het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties.

Wij bieden:

• Een aanstelling voor 2 jaar bij een wereldwijd vooraanstaande universiteit (TU Delft).
• Toegang tot een uniek netwerk van publieke en private partners.
• De kans om een tastbare bijdrage te leveren aan de digitale autonomie van Nederland en Europa.

Functie-eisen

• Je hebt een PhD afgerond in een relevant vakgebied zoals (Technische) Bestuurskunde, Bedrijfskunde, Politicologie, Economie, Strategie, Organisatie-& Management, Informatiemanagement of een aanverwante discipline.
• Interesse in het snijvlak van digitalisering, innovatie en strategie.
• Uitstekende analytische vaardigheden en vermogen om complexe vraagstukken interdisciplinair te benaderen.
• Vermogen om zelfstandig te werken, maar ook effectief samen te werken in een multidisciplinair team.
• Goede spreek- en schrijfvaardigheid in zowel Nederlands als Engels.
• Proactieve en kritische houding, met een sterke intrinsieke motivatie om maatschappelijke impact te realiseren.

TU Delft
De Technische Universiteit Delft heeft een sterk fundament. Als bouwer van de wereldberoemde Nederlandse waterwerken en pionier in biotech is TU Delft een internationale topuniversiteit die wetenschap, engineering en design combineert. TU Delft staat voor onderwijs, onderzoek en innovatie van wereldklasse om uitdagingen op het gebied van energie, klimaat, mobiliteit, gezondheid en digitale maatschappij aan te gaan. Generaties Delftse ingenieurs hebben bewezen ondernemende probleemoplossers te zijn in bedrijfsleven en in sociale context.

Bij TU Delft omarmen we diversiteit als een van onze kernwaarden en zetten we ons actief in om een universiteit te zijn waar jij je thuis voelt en kunt floreren. We hechten veel waarde aan verschillende perspectieven en kwaliteiten, omdat wij geloven dat dit ons werk innovatiever, de TU Delft-gemeenschap levendiger en de wereld rechtvaardiger maakt. Samen bedenken en ontwikkelen we oplossingen die een positieve invloed hebben op wereldwijde schaal. Daarom nodigen we jou uit om te solliciteren. Je sollicitatie krijgt een eerlijke behandeling.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Postdoc Digitale Autonomie

Functieomschrijving

Ben jij een gepromoveerd en wil je bijdragen aan het verhogen van onze digitale autonomie? Wil je in een team de abstracte wereld van de ‘technology stack’ vertalen naar concrete handelingsperspectieven voor de publieke sector? Dan zijn wij op zoek naar jou.

De uitdaging: van BigTech naar digitale autonomie

De publieke sector staat onder druk. Onze vitale diensten zijn in toenemende mate afhankelijk van een klein aantal BigTech partijen. Dit brengt risico’s met zich mee voor onze data-soevereiniteit, continuïteit en democratische waarden. Maar hoe doorbreken we dit? Als Postdoc werk je samen aan deze vraag met andere onderzoekers bij het nieuw opgerichte Digitale Autonomie Competentie Centrum (DACC). Je werkt in teamverband aan concrete handelingsperspectieven voor de transitie naar een autonome digitale techstack. Je kijkt niet alleen naar de techniek, maar juist naar de samenhang: de systemen, de business modellen en de governance die autonomie mogelijk maken.

Concreet ga je onderzoek uitvoeren naar wetenschappelijk onderbouwde handelingsopties voor meer digitale autonomie. Hierbij maak je gebruik van de expertise en het netwerk van de betrokken partners in het DACC, waaronder TU Delft, AMS institute, Digicampus, Vereniging Nederlandse Gemeenten, Gemeente Amsterdam en het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties.

Wij bieden:

• Een aanstelling voor 2 jaar bij een wereldwijd vooraanstaande universiteit (TU Delft).
• Toegang tot een uniek netwerk van publieke en private partners.
• De kans om een tastbare bijdrage te leveren aan de digitale autonomie van Nederland en Europa.

Functie-eisen

• Je hebt een PhD afgerond in een relevant vakgebied zoals (Technische) Bestuurskunde, Bedrijfskunde, Politicologie, Economie, Strategie, Organisatie-& Management, Informatiemanagement of een aanverwante discipline.
• Interesse in het snijvlak van digitalisering, innovatie en strategie.
• Uitstekende analytische vaardigheden en vermogen om complexe vraagstukken interdisciplinair te benaderen.
• Vermogen om zelfstandig te werken, maar ook effectief samen te werken in een multidisciplinair team.
• Goede spreek- en schrijfvaardigheid in zowel Nederlands als Engels.
• Proactieve en kritische houding, met een sterke intrinsieke motivatie om maatschappelijke impact te realiseren.

TU Delft
De Technische Universiteit Delft heeft een sterk fundament. Als bouwer van de wereldberoemde Nederlandse waterwerken en pionier in biotech is TU Delft een internationale topuniversiteit die wetenschap, engineering en design combineert. TU Delft staat voor onderwijs, onderzoek en innovatie van wereldklasse om uitdagingen op het gebied van energie, klimaat, mobiliteit, gezondheid en digitale maatschappij aan te gaan. Generaties Delftse ingenieurs hebben bewezen ondernemende probleemoplossers te zijn in bedrijfsleven en in sociale context.

Bij TU Delft omarmen we diversiteit als een van onze kernwaarden en zetten we ons actief in om een universiteit te zijn waar jij je thuis voelt en kunt floreren. We hechten veel waarde aan verschillende perspectieven en kwaliteiten, omdat wij geloven dat dit ons werk innovatiever, de TU Delft-gemeenschap levendiger en de wereld rechtvaardiger maakt. Samen bedenken en ontwikkelen we oplossingen die een positieve invloed hebben op wereldwijde schaal. Daarom nodigen we jou uit om te solliciteren. Je sollicitatie krijgt een eerlijke behandeling.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Postdoc Digital Twin Validation for Space Mission Engineering

Job description

We are opening a 2 year Postdoctoral researcher position in collaboration with the Dutch high-tech industry to advance full lifecycle digital mission engineering and actively contribute to critical space missions and advance future space instrumentation.

The position will require you to closely work with Axient Systems B.V. and contribute to the validation of an innovative hybrid satellite digital twin, the Titan Forge, which includes hardware and software components emulating the behaviour of the complete mission. This can speed-up the development of new components for SmallSat missions, facilitate the integration of complex hardware and test the complete mission in all development phases.

You will have a key role in the validation and verification campaign for Titan Forge, a facility where satellite hardware components are mixed with emulated systems, radically changing the way space missions are tested. You will develop a methodology for validating hybrid digital twins where end-to-end simulations feed real hardware and allow to put future satellite operators to the test to ensure the mission is meeting all its targets. You will be involved in the final pre-launch validation phases of a key Dutch space mission but in the continuation of the project you will also be involved in the early integration phases for three new scientific instruments developed at TU Delft, which can detect life signs in outer space, enable autonomous navigation and space traffic management and monitor in real-time space weather. These instruments provide challenging requirements to platform integration, demonstrating Titan Forge is a paradigm-shift in mission development for both early and late development and validation phases.

You will work on premises, both at TU Delft and at Axient Systems, and will be deeply integrated in both teams with a first year predominantly spent at Axient Systems and the second period mostly at TU Delft premises, both located in Delft.     

Job requirements
We look forward to dynamic candidates that want to get their hands onto a real mission and bring a contribution to society. You also have:

• A PhD in engineering (computer science, aerospace engineering, electronics or related fields)
• You have an aerospace background, have already worked in the sector and familiar with space systems design and validation
• You have an affinity with hardware (for example instruments control)
• You have proven experience in Python development
• You have experience in software development and validation, especially complex simulation software
• Ideally, you have direct experience in space mission and are familiar with space standards (such as ECSS)      

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 Digital Twin Validation for Space Mission Engineering

Job description

We are opening a 2 year Postdoctoral researcher position in collaboration with the Dutch high-tech industry to advance full lifecycle digital mission engineering and actively contribute to critical space missions and advance future space instrumentation.

The position will require you to closely work with Axient Systems B.V. and contribute to the validation of an innovative hybrid satellite digital twin, the Titan Forge, which includes hardware and software components emulating the behaviour of the complete mission. This can speed-up the development of new components for SmallSat missions, facilitate the integration of complex hardware and test the complete mission in all development phases.

You will have a key role in the validation and verification campaign for Titan Forge, a facility where satellite hardware components are mixed with emulated systems, radically changing the way space missions are tested. You will develop a methodology for validating hybrid digital twins where end-to-end simulations feed real hardware and allow to put future satellite operators to the test to ensure the mission is meeting all its targets. You will be involved in the final pre-launch validation phases of a key Dutch space mission but in the continuation of the project you will also be involved in the early integration phases for three new scientific instruments developed at TU Delft, which can detect life signs in outer space, enable autonomous navigation and space traffic management and monitor in real-time space weather. These instruments provide challenging requirements to platform integration, demonstrating Titan Forge is a paradigm-shift in mission development for both early and late development and validation phases.

You will work on premises, both at TU Delft and at Axient Systems, and will be deeply integrated in both teams with a first year predominantly spent at Axient Systems and the second period mostly at TU Delft premises, both located in Delft.     

Job requirements
We look forward to dynamic candidates that want to get their hands onto a real mission and bring a contribution to society. You also have:

• A PhD in engineering (computer science, aerospace engineering, electronics or related fields)
• You have an aerospace background, have already worked in the sector and familiar with space systems design and validation
• You have an affinity with hardware (for example instruments control)
• You have proven experience in Python development
• You have experience in software development and validation, especially complex simulation software
• Ideally, you have direct experience in space mission and are familiar with space standards (such as ECSS)      

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 Durability of Chromate-Free Coatings for Military Aircraft Systems

Job description
Hexavalent chromium is still widely used in aircraft coating systems due to its unmatched ability to protect structural components against corrosion over long service lifetimes. However, its toxic and carcinogenic nature drives an urgent need for safer, chromate-free alternatives. Progress in this transition is currently limited by the lack of reliable and standardized test methods to assess the long-term performance of these alternatives.

In this PhD project at TU Delft, you will develop experimental methods to better understand and predict the durability of chromate-free coatings. Working closely with the Netherlands Defence Academy Air Support Command and the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), you will connect fundamental research to real-world aerospace applications within the defence sector.

A key challenge is that coating degradation in service is complex and not yet fully understood. You will investigate the underlying mechanisms and kinetics of degradation processes, such as corrosion initiation and propagation under coatings. By designing and performing advanced experiments, you will explore how environmental and material factors influence coating performance over time. In addition, you will work on translating these insights into accelerated testing methodologies. The goal is to establish a reliable correlation between laboratory-based tests and long-term behaviour in operational conditions. Your work will contribute to the development of (inter)national standards that support the qualification and implementation of chromate-free coating systems in aerospace and defence applications.

Your responsibilities
As a PhD researcher, you will:

1. Assess whether current insights and data adequately reflect real in-service conditions driving coating degradation and corrosion, and identify remaining knowledge gaps.
2. Translate key degradation drivers into accelerated testing conditions by defining relevant stressors, their combinations, and exposure sequences that preserve realistic mechanisms.
3. Develop and execute accelerated test protocols, including the design of representative specimens and exposure cycles.
4. Validate the predictive value of the protocols against in-service performance, assessing long-term reliability, compliance with acceptance criteria, and identifying any missing degradation factors.

Your work environment
You will join the Corrosion Technology and Electrochemistry (CTE) group within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The CTE group is a dynamic team of PhD candidates, postdocs and faculty members working on corrosion processes, electrochemical sensors and electrocatalysts. By combining advanced electrochemical methods, materials synthesis and surface analysis techniques, we develop fundamental knowledge and translate it into practical and sustainable solutions for energy and materials applications. In this project, you will work in close collaboration with the Netherlands Defence Academy, the Dutch Air Support Command and the Netherlands Aerospace Research Laboratory NLR, bridging academic research and real-world defence challenges.

You will have access to well-equipped laboratories with advanced facilities for high-resolution electrochemical analysis and surface characterisation, including scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), scanning Kelvin probe (SKP), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). At CTE, you’ll find an open and collaborative environment where interdisciplinary teamwork, curiosity, and scientific excellence are valued. We work closely across disciplines such as metallurgy, surface science and electrochemistry, sharing a drive to grow together and make meaningful impact through innovative research.

Job requirements
You are a curious and proactive researcher who enjoys combining experimental work with data-driven approaches. You like developing creative solutions to complex scientific problems and take initiative in exploring new ideas. You work well independently but also thrive in a collaborative environment. As a team player with strong interpersonal skills, you contribute positively to a diverse research group.

Furthermore, you meet the following requirements:

• You hold an MSc degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• You have experience with, or a strong affinity for, coating testing- and surface analytical techniques or methods.
• You demonstrate excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, combined with curiosity and diligence.
• You are comfortable collaborating with both scientific and industrial partners.
• You have strong communication skills and an excellent command of English.

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 Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.