Technologies for electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft are being developed rapidly. But it’s the infrastructure for fuelling, defuelling, charging and drivetrain maintenance that will in fact enable decarbonisation. Which is why, as Assistant or Associate Professor in Operations of Sustainable Energy Technologies in Aviation at TU Delft, you will truly make a difference. Your research will focus on the feasibility of new propulsion technologies in terms of airport infrastructure and scalability, maintenance and, of course, safety. Would you like to work closely with airlines, manufacturers, airports and colleagues in different faculties and help make sustainable aviation operations happen?

The operational challenges range from charging times keeping planes grounded, and the technical implications of new power sources for the production, storage and distribution infrastructure at airports to standards and certification. And what about modelling maintenance and degradation management of components, batteries and drivetrains or future energy demand? Your research may even be geared to the transformation of airport vehicles. What challenges would you like to resolve? Based on your vision, you will develop unique research lines, for which you will attract funding and build and supervise your team of PhD students to completion.

In addition, you will teach and supervise Master students. You will also build and expand your network, share knowledge and represent TU Delft in international bodies. The 25-strong and growing Air Transport & Operations team will be your home base. Your colleagues are driven academics, PhD students and postdocs. You will find an open-minded, friendly and collaborative community. And we will help you evolve and grow your academic career all the way to Full Professor. Contributing to major European projects, we share a drive to contribute to the operational feasibility of sustainable solutions in aviation. And we welcome your technological expertise and ideas to bring about decarbonisation of aviation!

You thrive on developing interdisciplinary research geared to tackling the technological challenges related to sustainable aviation operations. Harnessing your technical expertise and communication skills, you inspire and convince stakeholders of your research proposals. And you enjoy teamwork dedicated to achieving meaningful results. As you’ll be contributing to world-class education, you are committed to teaching and mentoring students, while growing your own competencies.

You also have:

• A PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering, Power Systems Engineering or another relevant subject.
• A keen interest in the other disciplines of your interdisciplinary research.
• Knowledge of, or a keen interest in the operations of aviation or other transport domains.
• Experience of developing mathematical models.
• An excellent command of spoken and written English, as you’ll be working in an internationally diverse community and with international partners. And as you’ll be working with Dutch-speaking partners too, you also speak Dutch, or are willing to learn the language.

This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. Depending on your knowledge and experience, the position for Associate Professor will already be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12 -18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation.

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 as part of the Academic Career Track Development 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 within three years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities for assistant professor a salary based on scale 11: € 3.974,00 - € 5.439,00 and for the associate professor a salary based on scale 13: € 5.506,00 - € 6.702,00. 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 and you can work partly from home.

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.