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.

Research Engineer for Mobile Manipulation

Job description
Ready to bridge the gap between cutting-edge theory and real-world application? Mobile manipulators are revolutionizing everything from complex warehouse logistics to hazardous site inspections. We are looking for a driven Research Engineer for a fast-paced, 5.5-month project to seamlessly integrate our state-of-the-art planning algorithms onto a brand-new prototype mobile manipulator.

In this hands-on, collaborative role, you won’t be starting from scratch. As a key integrator, your goal is to take advanced code developed by our research team and deploy it onto our physical prototype. You will spend your time in our state-of-the-art Mobile Robotics Lab—an advanced testing arena—where you will rapidly prototype, test, and ultimately deliver a fully functional, real-world demonstrator.

This is a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with other robotics researchers. You will be a core contributor in the following labs:

• The Autonomous Multi-Robots Lab, led by Prof. dr. J. Alonso-Mora
• The Reliable Robot Control Lab, led by dr. L. Ferranti

You will actively participate in R&D discussions, integrate deeply with our team members, and leave your mark on our next generation of autonomous systems. If you want to build something highly visible in a short amount of time, this is the project for you.

Job requirements
Who You Are You are an enthusiastic problem-solver who enjoys working at the intersection of software and hardware. You are eager to see complex algorithms step out of the simulation and run on physical machines. Whether you have industry experience or are a highly motivated recent graduate ready to make a tangible impact, you are excited to engage directly with real-world robotic systems and collaborate with a dedicated team.

What You Bring to the Team

• Educational Background: An MSc degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related field.
• The Tech Stack: Excellent programming skills in Python and/or C++, alongside experience with modern software development practices.
• Robotics Expertise: Proven, hands-on experience with robotics middleware (e.g., ROS/ROS2). Experience with real-world robot deployment or advanced simulation frameworks is also required.
• Cross-Domain Curiosity: A strong interest in tying together motion planning, control systems, and embedded hardware.
• Collaborative Mindset: Excellent communication skills and a readiness to brainstorm, troubleshoot, and build alongside our research teams.

Important Note on Eligibility: Due to knowledge security regulations associated with this specific project, EU citizenship is strictly required for this position.

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.

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.

Research Engineer for Mobile Manipulation

Job description
Ready to bridge the gap between cutting-edge theory and real-world application? Mobile manipulators are revolutionizing everything from complex warehouse logistics to hazardous site inspections. We are looking for a driven Research Engineer for a fast-paced, 5.5-month project to seamlessly integrate our state-of-the-art planning algorithms onto a brand-new prototype mobile manipulator.

In this hands-on, collaborative role, you won’t be starting from scratch. As a key integrator, your goal is to take advanced code developed by our research team and deploy it onto our physical prototype. You will spend your time in our state-of-the-art Mobile Robotics Lab—an advanced testing arena—where you will rapidly prototype, test, and ultimately deliver a fully functional, real-world demonstrator.

This is a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with other robotics researchers. You will be a core contributor in the following labs:

• The Autonomous Multi-Robots Lab, led by Prof. dr. J. Alonso-Mora
• The Reliable Robot Control Lab, led by dr. L. Ferranti

You will actively participate in R&D discussions, integrate deeply with our team members, and leave your mark on our next generation of autonomous systems. If you want to build something highly visible in a short amount of time, this is the project for you.

Job requirements
Who You Are You are an enthusiastic problem-solver who enjoys working at the intersection of software and hardware. You are eager to see complex algorithms step out of the simulation and run on physical machines. Whether you have industry experience or are a highly motivated recent graduate ready to make a tangible impact, you are excited to engage directly with real-world robotic systems and collaborate with a dedicated team.

What You Bring to the Team

• Educational Background: An MSc degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related field.
• The Tech Stack: Excellent programming skills in Python and/or C++, alongside experience with modern software development practices.
• Robotics Expertise: Proven, hands-on experience with robotics middleware (e.g., ROS/ROS2). Experience with real-world robot deployment or advanced simulation frameworks is also required.
• Cross-Domain Curiosity: A strong interest in tying together motion planning, control systems, and embedded hardware.
• Collaborative Mindset: Excellent communication skills and a readiness to brainstorm, troubleshoot, and build alongside our research teams.

Important Note on Eligibility: Due to knowledge security regulations associated with this specific project, EU citizenship is strictly required for this position.

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.

PhD Position Tropical Kernel-Based Offline Reinforcement Learning

Job description
Offline reinforcement learning (RL) seeks to derive effective sequential decision-making policies exclusively from pre-existing datasets, circumventing the need for potentially costly, risky, or time-consuming online environment interaction. This paradigm holds significant promise for leveraging large data repositories in domains such as healthcare, autonomous systems, and robotics. However, existing offline RL methods often rely on kernel or neural approximators whose inductive biases are poorly matched to Q-function geometry, resulting in slow convergence and sample inefficiency. This project proposes a novel approach to offline RL by utilizing tropical (i.e., max-plus) kernel-based function approximation for the Q-function. The core motivation stems from the inherent structural compatibility between the Bellman operator, central to dynamic programming and RL, and the operations of max-plus algebra. To overcome the potential representational limitations of purely max-plus-linear functions, we integrate kernel methods, which implicitly map data to high-dimensional feature spaces, allowing for richer, non-linear approximations.

In this project, you will establish the theoretical foundation and design scalable algorithms for tropical kernel-based offline RL. You will start with identifying MDP classes whose optimal Q-function lies in tropical function spaces and developing representer-type theorems for kernel-based approximation within these spaces. You will also address the computational challenges inherent in kernel methods in tropical function spaces (e.g., model-size explosion and quadratic constraint growth) by devising tropical analogues of scalable kernel approximation techniques and developing efficient optimization solvers for the resulting regression problems.

Teaching activities are part of your PhD trajectory and may include, for example: Supervising workgroups or lab sessions, assisting in courses, or mentoring BSc and MSc students. While teaching will not be your main responsibility, it offers valuable experience that supports your development and prepares you for future academic or professional roles. Teaching activities will not exceed 20% of your total appointment, averaged over the course of your PhD.

Job requirements
The position is well-suited for candidates who sit at the intersection of theoretical machine learning, reinforcement learning, and optimization. The candidates are expected to carry out theory-driven RL research using kernels, optimization, and tropical methods. Therefore, a solid mathematical background and, more importantly, the willingness to further develop it as the project requires is a must-have. This position is not suited for those with main interest is purely empirical deep RL benchmarking without the appetite for theoretical work. To be precise, here are the minimum requirements for this position:

• A relevant MSc degree in systems and control, computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Solid mathematical background, i.e., comfort with linear algebra, analysis, probability, optimization, and ideally some functional analysis or approximation theory.
• Experience with (convex) optimization and algorithm design.
• Experience with kernel methods is a plus but not required.
• Experience with tropical methods is not required, but an interest in this aspect is important.
• Excellent command of the English language and communication skills.

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.