The Department of Space Engineering (SpE) has a vacancy for a permanent staff member in planetary sciences and exploration, preferably at the associate professor level.

The proposed position is in the Section of Planetary Exploration (PE). The successful candidate will be involved in further development of SpE research on planetary sciences in connection to spaceborne instrumentation and interplanetary missions. Research within the PE Section is focused on the outer planets and their moons (JUICE, Europa-Clipper, new mission concepts), interiors and surfaces of natural satellites and small planetary bodies, rocky planets (especially Mars), planetary surface processes, planet formation and evolution, and exoplanetary systems. The PE Section has staff members who are specialized in the earth sciences, in astronomy and in the planetary sciences.

We are especially looking for candidates who have a strong research record in planetary sciences and exploration, have already shown the capacity to acquire substantial amounts of external funding, are inspiring teachers and team workers, and who can easily connect to and collaborate with the other three SpE sections on Space Systems Engineering, Spaceborne Instrumentation and Astrodynamics & Space Missions.

The SpE department has facilities for building space-based miniprobes and laboratories for instrument development (mainly optical) and planetary ices including a bio-lab (DPLabs), as well as computational facilities.

TU Delft is within close range of ESTEC Noordwijk, Airbus Leiden, Leiden Observatory, SRON and TNO Space. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (based on scale 13: € 5.506,00 - € 6.702,00). A permanent contract is being offered. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme.

TU Delft sets high standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you do not speak Dutch, we offer courses to learn the Dutch language.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service addresses the needs of new international employees and those of their partners and families. The Coming to Delft Service offers personalised assistance during the preparation of the relocation, finding housing and schools for children (if applicable). In addition, a Dual Career Programme for partners is offered. The Coming to Delft Service will do their best to help you settle in the Netherlands.

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 Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond. 

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