PhD in Photonic and Electronic Integration of Detectors for Wireless Optical Communication

Introduction
Are you excited to co-develop a next-generation optical wireless communication system, enhanced by advanced detectors?

Can you bridge the fields of electronic and photonic integration to make advanced light detectors to accelerate wireless communication?

As the demand for wireless communication surges, the transition from 5G to the next generation of technology is imperative. This new phase necessitates a tenfold increase in bit rates, enhanced user capacity, and significantly reduced power consumption. Given that 80% of data traffic is directed indoors, the current reliance on outdoor base stations is proving inadequate. To address this gap, robust indoor infrastructure is essential for seamless wireless access to end users.

With fiber access being pushed closer to the end devices (Fiber to the Room (FttR)), the need for high-speed connections has never been more critical. This opens the door to innovative wireless solutions, particularly at extremely high frequencies, where directional beams and line-of-sight propagation become vital. These advancements are especially pertinent in dense environments, such as airport halls, convention centers, and logistics centers, where autonomous vehicles operate. The complexity and size of indoor optical systems pose challenges in scalability, power consumption, and maintenance. While wireless networks present a viable solution for indoor environments by replacing optical cable connections, current RF wireless infrastructure struggles with spectrum congestion, high power demands, and limited bandwidth. Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) is emerging as a promising research area, offering a cost-effective way to enhance existing RF networks and provide ultra-high data-rate connectivity for the "last mile."

Join us in pioneering the future of indoor wireless communication, where optical wireless links may surpass traditional millimeter-wave radio communications, ensuring efficient and reliable connectivity. If you're passionate about transforming the landscape of wireless technology and excited to embark in the exciting new world of photonics, we invite you to apply for this PhD opportunity!

Job Description
This project aims to innovate detector design to overcome these limitations and improve performance in indoor optical wireless systems. The proposed project will focus on creating components, in particular integrated photonics-electronics components that can support optical wireless communication for mass-market client devices and pave the way for miniaturization and cost reduction. In the initial stage, the project will model the entire communication chain to understand and optimize the detector and its parameters. In this project, you will focus on developing a suitable solution for integrating photo detectors with the analog front-end. You will work on this solution, ensuring it is scalable, has a wide aperture (to maintain a good signal-to-noise ratio), a wide bandwidth, and avoids mechanically movable components. Nonetheless, it must be able to capture light signals from a range of directions, including distributed MIMO and angular diversity. In this work, you will examine several trade-offs involved in scaling detector arrays, including bandwidth limitations, interconnect considerations, and electronic design (buffers, TIA, etc.). Your work will focus on implementing TIA and buffer circuits in existing advanced semiconductor technologies, such as silicon or III-V. A key challenge in this activity will be to consider the heterogeneous integration (HI) methodology. The consideration of HI for the PD-TIA array system involves integrating a PD array, typically implemented in a III-V technology, such as InP, with a Buffer-TIA array implemented in a high-speed Silicon technology, such as SiGe BiCMOS. In the project, you will have the opportunity to design, fabricate, and measure electronic ICs in either silicon or III-V semiconductor technologies, which will form part of a demonstrator for a PD-Buffer-TIA configuration, thereby validating the requirements of a detector for optical wireless communication applications.

A closely related PhD position will be available soon, in the same project. It will focus more on monolithic integration. In your application, we invite you to elaborate on your experience, courses, or project work relevant to analog IC integration in CMOS/Bipolar technologies, design and modeling of photonic systems, the theory of communication systems, and the ability to use design tools to synthesize/simulate circuits and conduct experimental work. We do not expect you to already have experience in all these fields, but we would like to evaluate how you can develop in these multidisciplinary fields.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Electrical Engineering.
• Proven expertise or evidence of willingness to learn about electronic-photonic integration and the principles of communication systems.
• A research-oriented attitude and the willingness to work independently.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (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 four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,204 - max. € 4,051 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.
• 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 and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• 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.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) for international candidates.

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.

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.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact dr.ir. Piyush Kaul (p.kaul@tue.nl) or prof.dr.ir. Jean-Paul Linnartz (J.P.Linnartz@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HRServices.ee@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

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 by 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.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

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.

Education IT Consultant (1 FTE)

Introduction
Are you an IT enthusiast who wants to rise above yourself, in both your profession and as a person? At the TU/e, scientists and students continuously create the unthinkable. The strength of TU/e’s IT landscape is their key to success and, hence, so are you as being an essential contributor to that landscape. These creative minds expect you to offer them a solution for tomorrow that doesn’t exist today. Together we are building the high-performance backbone that this epicenter of science and technology demands. Are you driven by taking ownership and do you have an entrepreneurial mindset? We like to get in touch with you!

Job Description
As an education IT consultant, you work in collaboration with teaching and support staff to develop sustainable IT products, services and workflows. You have a leading implementation role in setting up what is needed to reach this goal. You are in the proximity of the department and its IT landscape, and you are part of a multidisciplinary team in which you share and learn from each other’s knowledge and expertise. You work for a department which fosters diverse education and innovation, requiring highly specialized technology. With your broad range of interests, expertise and ability to oversee the complex landscape of interests and challenges, you’re enabled to take the lead on what’s needed, so that the teachers can focus on their most innovative work. You will also have the opportunity to build up an extensive network and to specialize in relevant educational areas. In this role, you will contribute to the ambition of the Beethoven program to educate top talent and strengthen research across the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Functionally, you report to the IT business owner of M&CS.

How this looks like in practice? Read the following section for an impression:

A typical week of an Education IT consultant at M&CS
On Monday, you start the week together with your team of experts (“The Hub”), and review the current developments and your activities at M&CS. Together with the IT business owner, you align on priorities, discuss impediments and determine tactics for the best approach. In the afternoon, you visit a teacher who wants to provide their students sufficient compute resources and is looking for efficient allocation. You advise them on what resources could be suitable for this use case and optionally get them in contact with expert support on this topic. At the same time, you notice you receive this type of questions quite often, so you coordinate with the back-office to make sure we can support this type of requests in a sustainable way for the future.

On Tuesday, you work out a plan to facilitate in the IT requirements for an upcoming course, in alignment with the TU/e policies and frameworks. In particular, the exams need guidance and support in enabling a robust digital assessment process. In the afternoon, you investigate how students can easily access APIs for LLMs and what type of procedures ensures a responsible disclosure of them. As other scientific departments also might want to learn about this, you navigate through your network to offer your services proactively.

On Wednesday, you work at home and focus on developing and testing the various options for a configuration to enable student groups to operate a number of machines. You do this in collaboration with your expert colleague who knows all the relevant technical aspects. You maintain a close feedback loop with the teaching organization and make agreements on structural support of the prototype. In the afternoon, you receive a funding proposal for an innovative approach in education, and you advice in the feasibility of integration and the border conditions for implementation.

On Thursday, you meet the management during your regular check-in moment to report on the progress. Their ambition is to embed sustainable IT solutions in the department’s education, especially in the light of the growth of Beethoven. You have prepared your ideas in advance, based on input of your stakeholders (e.g., teaching staff of M&CS, the Educational Management Team, TU/e’s IT department LIS, TU/e’s education service department ESA), your current overview, user data and openings for improvements. Some actions are needed, for instance, some of the deployed products suffer from bus factor = 1, so it’s important that ICT strategy and implementation are aligned for any further measures. Fully equipped with support, you set out actions to lead the change.

On Friday, you work on an often mentioned frustration point of submitting grades in multiple systems and you analyze how to streamline this process better. Also you received a request to consult on a data management workflow how to handle digital exam data given the obligations within the accredited courses. You have a call with education advisors in the afternoon to work out the details and you contribute to the technical aspects of the workflow.

Responsibilities and core tasks

• Acquiring projects that contribute to supporting teaching staff of M&CS in their IT needs;
• Coordinating broader educational IT demand and (new) initiatives to sustainable solutions;
• Integrating (the functionalities of) existing educational tooling in courses and streamlining existing digital processes in collaboration with the relevant team(s);
• Hardening of the current education IT landscape (e.g., robust capacity, security and privacy aspects, product support);
• Helping teachers how to use IT in a responsible and effective way;
• M&CS-specific ambitions integration in the education IT landscape (e.g., explore ways of digitization of courses, how AI can reduce workload, developing BI insights, contribute to professionalizing in-house developed products)
• Perform stakeholder management while working with financial limitations and existing organizational frameworks;

Your impact extends beyond technology, it’s about empowering people and driving excellence.

Job Requirements

• You have a minimum education of a Master’s degree or PhD degree, preferably with a background in Computer Science, Data Science or any related field;
• Years of experience in higher education. You are able to effectively communicate with scientific staff. You empathize well with what moves the teaching staff and their primary processes;
• You are organizationally sensitive and service-oriented; you initiate and maintain relevant relationships with customers, (key) user groups, and suppliers;
• You have strong affinity, experience or expertise on what makes IT sustainable (e.g., secure, scalable fit-for-purpose);
• You are a pleasant collaboration partner and team player for both scientists and the IT back office, thereby mediating between organization and innovation;
• You initiate action to innovate existing products and services, based on the interest of the department you represent and you can operate independently within constraints of time and resources;
• You have experience with one or more of the following techniques: Remote computing (cloud and / or on premise), Research Data Management and processing, Software Engineering, Git and / or code repository management, Software Licensing, AI related topics, Internet of Things, Infrastructural Architecture;
• Experience with scripting and automating workflows, in particular in Linux OS, is a bonus;
• Strongly developed process- and project-oriented thinking;
• Excellent proficiency (speaking and writing) in English, and preferably Dutch.

If you are concerned that you don’t meet all the requirements sufficiently, but the job does excite you, then be sure to respond, we would love to look at your profile.

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 11, ranging from € 4,925 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.
• 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.

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.

As one of the largest and most dynamic academic communities in the Netherlands, the department Mathematics and Computer Science (M&CS) brings together more than 140 scientific staff, over 250 PhD and EngD candidates, and more than 3000 students. We collaborate closely with leading industrial partners in the Brainport Eindhoven region and with universities across the globe—creating a uniquely fertile environment for both fundamental breakthroughs and applied innovation.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to have more information about the position, please contact the hiring manager Kimberley Thissen, IT business owner, k.k.a.thissen@tue.nl of +31 40 247 5922.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HR Services, HRServices.MCS@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.

PhD in Photonic and Electronic Integration of Detectors for Wireless Optical Communication

This project aims to innovate detector design to overcome these limitations and improve performance in indoor optical wireless systems. The proposed project will focus on creating components, in particular integrated photonics-electronics components that can support optical wireless communication for mass-market client devices and pave the way for miniaturization and cost reduction. In the initial stage, the project will model the entire communication chain to understand and optimize the detector and its parameters. In this project, you will focus on developing a suitable solution for integrating photo detectors with the analog front-end. You will work on this solution, ensuring it is scalable, has a wide aperture (to maintain a good signal-to-noise ratio), a wide bandwidth, and avoids mechanically movable components. Nonetheless, it must be able to capture light signals from a range of directions, including distributed MIMO and angular diversity. In this work, you will examine several trade-offs involved in scaling detector arrays, including bandwidth limitations, interconnect considerations, and electronic design (buffers, TIA, etc.). Your work will focus on implementing TIA and buffer circuits in existing advanced semiconductor technologies, such as silicon or III-V. A key challenge in this activity will be to consider the heterogeneous integration (HI) methodology. The consideration of HI for the PD-TIA array system involves integrating a PD array, typically implemented in a III-V technology, such as InP, with a Buffer-TIA array implemented in a high-speed Silicon technology, such as SiGe BiCMOS. In the project, you will have the opportunity to design, fabricate, and measure electronic ICs in either silicon or III-V semiconductor technologies, which will form part of a demonstrator for a PD-Buffer-TIA configuration, thereby validating the requirements of a detector for optical wireless communication applications.

A closely related PhD position will be available soon, in the same project. It will focus more on monolithic integration. In your application, we invite you to elaborate on your experience, courses, or project work relevant to analog IC integration in CMOS/Bipolar technologies, design and modeling of photonic systems, the theory of communication systems, and the ability to use design tools to synthesize/simulate circuits and conduct experimental work. We do not expect you to already have experience in all these fields, but we would like to evaluate how you can develop in these multidisciplinary fields.

Education IT Consultant (1 FTE)

As an education IT consultant, you work in collaboration with teaching and support staff to develop sustainable IT products, services and workflows. You have a leading implementation role in setting up what is needed to reach this goal. You are in the proximity of the department and its IT landscape, and you are part of a multidisciplinary team in which you share and learn from each other’s knowledge and expertise. You work for a department which fosters diverse education and innovation, requiring highly specialized technology. With your broad range of interests, expertise and ability to oversee the complex landscape of interests and challenges, you’re enabled to take the lead on what’s needed, so that the teachers can focus on their most innovative work. You will also have the opportunity to build up an extensive network and to specialize in relevant educational areas. In this role, you will contribute to the ambition of the Beethoven program to educate top talent and strengthen research across the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Functionally, you report to the IT business owner of M&CS.

How this looks like in practice? Read the following section for an impression:

A typical week of an Education IT consultant at M&CS
On Monday, you start the week together with your team of experts (“The Hub”), and review the current developments and your activities at M&CS. Together with the IT business owner, you align on priorities, discuss impediments and determine tactics for the best approach. In the afternoon, you visit a teacher who wants to provide their students sufficient compute resources and is looking for efficient allocation. You advise them on what resources could be suitable for this use case and optionally get them in contact with expert support on this topic. At the same time, you notice you receive this type of questions quite often, so you coordinate with the back-office to make sure we can support this type of requests in a sustainable way for the future.

On Tuesday, you work out a plan to facilitate in the IT requirements for an upcoming course, in alignment with the TU/e policies and frameworks. In particular, the exams need guidance and support in enabling a robust digital assessment process. In the afternoon, you investigate how students can easily access APIs for LLMs and what type of procedures ensures a responsible disclosure of them. As other scientific departments also might want to learn about this, you navigate through your network to offer your services proactively.

On Wednesday, you work at home and focus on developing and testing the various options for a configuration to enable student groups to operate a number of machines. You do this in collaboration with your expert colleague who knows all the relevant technical aspects. You maintain a close feedback loop with the teaching organization and make agreements on structural support of the prototype. In the afternoon, you receive a funding proposal for an innovative approach in education, and you advice in the feasibility of integration and the border conditions for implementation.

On Thursday, you meet the management during your regular check-in moment to report on the progress. Their ambition is to embed sustainable IT solutions in the department’s education, especially in the light of the growth of Beethoven. You have prepared your ideas in advance, based on input of your stakeholders (e.g., teaching staff of M&CS, the Educational Management Team, TU/e’s IT department LIS, TU/e’s education service department ESA), your current overview, user data and openings for improvements. Some actions are needed, for instance, some of the deployed products suffer from bus factor = 1, so it’s important that ICT strategy and implementation are aligned for any further measures. Fully equipped with support, you set out actions to lead the change.

On Friday, you work on an often mentioned frustration point of submitting grades in multiple systems and you analyze how to streamline this process better. Also you received a request to consult on a data management workflow how to handle digital exam data given the obligations within the accredited courses. You have a call with education advisors in the afternoon to work out the details and you contribute to the technical aspects of the workflow.

Responsibilities and core tasks

• Acquiring projects that contribute to supporting teaching staff of M&CS in their IT needs;
• Coordinating broader educational IT demand and (new) initiatives to sustainable solutions;
• Integrating (the functionalities of) existing educational tooling in courses and streamlining existing digital processes in collaboration with the relevant team(s);
• Hardening of the current education IT landscape (e.g., robust capacity, security and privacy aspects, product support);
• Helping teachers how to use IT in a responsible and effective way;
• M&CS-specific ambitions integration in the education IT landscape (e.g., explore ways of digitization of courses, how AI can reduce workload, developing BI insights, contribute to professionalizing in-house developed products)
• Perform stakeholder management while working with financial limitations and existing organizational frameworks;

Your impact extends beyond technology, it’s about empowering people and driving excellence.

Assistant Professor In Control Systems Technology for Emerging Application Areas

Would you like to be part of a vibrant and collaborative academic community, contributing to real-world innovations? Join us in shaping the future of 'control systems technology' in the heart of the high-tech region of the Netherlands. The Control Systems Technology section of the Mechanical Engineering department at Eindhoven University of Technology is expanding its team with a passionate and talented Assistant Professor.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering
The department of Mechanical Engineering conducts world-class research that closely aligns with the technological needs of the high-tech industry in the Netherlands. We are deeply embedded in the Brainport Eindhoven ecosystem, enabling our researchers and students to contribute directly to the development of technological breakthroughs with direct real-world impact. With a strong track record of successful spin-offs and active participation in national and international research consortia we offer a dynamic environment where science and engineering strengthen each other. By offering a balanced education and research program that combines fundamental and application aspects, we aim to develop engineers who have a strong scientific foundation. Our graduates are optimally prepared to address future technological and societal challenges.

The Control Systems Technology Section
The Control Systems Technology (CST) section is among the largest and most impactful research centers in systems and control. The section envisions that a fruitful synergy between system and control, engineering design, optimization, and artificial intelligence will be a key enabler in addressing future societal and industrial challenges in the field of high-tech systems, energy, sustainability, mobility and health.

The section demonstrates that fundamental research and education go hand in hand with societal and industrial valorization. This is evidenced by innovative research projects conducted directly with our industrial partners, the creation of multiple spin-off companies, and the successes of our student teams. We have a broad funding base and a strong track record in both obtaining prestigious personal grants and attracting industrial funding and international collaborations.

Currently, our section consists of 15 full-time faculty members, and over 50 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. In addition, CST promotes research impact through the involvement of 18 part-time researchers of whom all have a primary affiliation in industry or research institutes. Our teaching activities are supported by two full-time teacher positions, and our labs are operated by full-time lab technicians.

Since 2025, we have opened our new lab in the new building Gemini-North, which is among the university’s largest facilities featuring state-of-the-art mechatronics, mobility, and robotics systems, supported and operated by our full-time lab technicians.

The Position

Research themes of the candidate
The candidate is expected to develop a research line that progresses the state of the art in a relevant emerging application area, such as (but not limited to):

• Dynamics, learning, monitoring, and/or control of future manufacturing processes, such as heterogeneous integration or additive manufacturing.
• Modeling and process control of nuclear fusion for future energy systems.
• Opto-mechanical and mechatronic system design and engineering of high-tech systems.
• Control systems technology for healthcare applications.
• Resilience, control, and decision-making for autonomous unmanned systems, space technology, and defence applications.
• Generative engineering of high-tech systems and manufacturing processes, including digital twins and lifecycle optimization.

At the same time, the candidate is expected to develop methodologies with broader relevance to the research area of Control Systems Technology, including engagement with the relevant IEEE and IFAC communities.

Responsibilities
As an Assistant Professor, you will gradually develop your activities across research, education, and academic leadership. The responsibilities below describe the scope of the role and the areas in which you are expected to grow, supported by mentoring and professional development opportunities at TU/e.

• You will conduct internationally leading research and contribute to academic output in leading journals and conferences.
• You will be responsible for setting up and driving your own independent research program by writing research proposals to acquire public and/or private funding. You will also contribute to initiating and coordinating multidisciplinary research projects by diverse (external) funding sources.
• You will contribute to or lead the development of the Mechanical Engineering Bachelor's and Master's teaching programs, and you will teach at both levels. TU/e supports its junior scientific staff in developing their teaching skills through a training program that leads to the University Teaching Qualification, an official certification from Dutch Universities. In addition, we are participating in the National Graduate School for Systems and Control DISC, in which you can participate if suitable and desired.
• You will supervise and mentor BSc, MSc, EngD and/or PhD students during their final projects and internships. Your mentorship will empower the next generation of engineers.
• You will contribute to the success of the research section, department, and associated institutes by initiating, participating or leading new internal and external collaborations.

In this role, you will contribute to the ambition of the Beethoven program to educate top talent and strengthen research across the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Job Requirements

• A university degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or Control Engineering.
• A PhD degree in a relevant engineering domain.
• You are expected to have expertise and strong interest in developing a leading profile in one of the application areas listed above. As part of your application, please indicate the application area that best aligns with your expertise, research profile, and future ambitions, and describe how your work and background connects to the broad research activities of the Control Systems Technology section and the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Ability to conduct high quality academic research, reflected in demonstratable outputs.
• Drive towards societal and industrial impact of your research.
• Motivated and/or ability to teach, contribute to teaching processes, and develop excellent teaching skills.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Effective communication and leadership skills, including the ability to coach and mentor students and staff, lead projects or chair groups.
• Excellent proficiency in English, both written and verbal.

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:

• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. For a starting/junior Assistant Professor, the gross base salary is in scale 11 and ranges from €4,925 to €6,682 per month (based on full-time employment). On top of this, you will receive an annual 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Participation in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependants and occupational disability.
• A start-up package is available to support hiring a PhD student to kickstart your research, covering the associated salary costs for four years.
• The possibility of an immediate tenured position for candidates who present a demonstrably qualified profile and possess at least two years of relevant experience following their PhD.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch (research) environment.
• A Development Track with the prospect of becoming an Associate Professor.
• High-quality training programs for academic leadership and teaching.
• An excellent technical infrastructure and on-campus children's daycare.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) and partner career support.
• The possibility for part-time employment starting at 0.8 fte (min. 32 hours a week).
• The start date of this position is flexible and in agreement with the candidate.

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

Information and application

About us
Our university
Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

Embedding of our Professors
The department of Mechanical Engineering is organized in eight large sections, each comprising approximately ten Assistant, Associate, or Full Professors. All are considered as Principal Investigator (PI) according to our ‘everybody Professor’ vision. Each PI has the academic freedom to define and develop their own research profile. At the same time, collaboration lies at the heart of our culture; PIs actively engage with one another both within and across the sections. Within each section PIs share responsibility for shaping and delivering part of the curriculum, as well as access to state-of-the-art lab facilities and dedicated technical support.

The PIs and support staff across the department meet regularly to exchange ideas and present latest developments in Education, Research and Innovation/Valorization. These events are highly valued by our scientific staff and contribute to the strong sense of community and team spirit that defines our department.

Our culture
We foster a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment where everyone feels valued and respected. We stimulate a team-oriented culture in which ideas are openly shared and interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged. Challenges are met with a proactive, can-do attitude, and we prioritize mutual support and personal growth. Our commitment to wellbeing is reflected in initiatives such as intervision groups, a Wellbeing Signal Group, professional leadership programs, and an active mentoring system.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Questions regarding the scientific content can be directed to:

• prof. Tom Oomen via t.a.e.oomen@tue.nl
• prof. Maurice Heemels via m.heemels@tue.nl
• prof. Theo Hofman via t.hofman@tue.nl

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Josje van Oudenaarden, Senior Recruiter, via j.e.v.oudenaarden@tue.nl or +31 643559575.

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

Curious to hear more about what it is like as a professor at TU/e? Please watch the video.

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application. 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, three key publications and their motivation, 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.
• Description of your scientific interests and plans (1-2 pages).
• Statement of your teaching goals and experience (1-2 pages).

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 at the latest October 6, 2026, at 23:59 CET.

The recruitment process will typically include the following sequential selection rounds:

• Online interviews with a selection committee in 2nd half of October 2026.
• A shortlist of candidates will be invited to visit our campus, including interviews and an introduction program to get to know the group, the department and our university. We expect this to take place in November/December 2026.
• A final formal interview on our campus with a Recruitment Advisory Committee, which will assess the candidate’s suitability. We expect this to take place in December 2026/January 2027.

We look forward to your application and potentially welcoming you to our university.

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.