PDEng trainee - Quality & performance control for HVAC and Indoor climate

SBC PDEng program
The SBC PDEng program wants to contribute to the transition towards smart, intelligent and sustainable cities where quality of life is high. This transition requires new solutions which can only be created through multiscale and transdisciplinary (design) approaches. This requires technical designers who are able to work in a multidisciplinary environment and know how to communicate with different disciplines and stake holders. This PDEng program educates trainees to become those technical designers! Please note that this program is about technological design, i.e., the process of solving problems by means of a technological design, this in contrast to (PhD) research, which is the process of understanding problems. For more information on the SBC program please contact Dr. L.Hensen Centnerová, L.Hensen[at]tue.nl.

The trainee position to follow a two-year post-master technological designer program, which leads to the degree of 'Professional Doctorate in Engineering' (PDEng), is as follows: 

• Half of the program consists of post-master level education in the form of generic design projects and courses about design methods, entrepreneurship, professional skills and several technical courses about topics relevant to the design project.
• The other half of the program is dedicated to an individual design project in collaboration with a company. It is the main responsibility of the trainee to manage and execute the project. The trainee is supported by an advisor from the company and an advisor from the university.

The company assignment is a project aimed to develop and test a self-learning continuous monitoring (CM) & detection and diagnosis module as an add-on for GBS of offices, supplemented by the experienced comfort and indoor air quality of the users. The operation of the system and tool is tested in existing complex climate installations. Ultimately, this project will create a prototype of the tool and system for APK 2.0 that will allow energy data and indoor environmental monitoring data from a (renovated) office to be tested against a number of performance criteria and the diagnosis can be linked back to building owners and managers.

The PDEng trainee will be embedded in the Building Services group. For questions about the project contact Prof.ir. Wim Zeiler, w.zeiler[at]tue.nl.

We are looking for

• an excellent and highly motivated candidate with an MSc degree in Building Science, Mechanical or Environmental Engineering, or equivalent. Interest in thermal comfort and energy in the built environment and computational building performance simulation is essential.
• an interest in developing new control technologies and applications for the built environment.
• an academic attitude in order to develop new technologies and perform applied research with an integral view on what is needed for the future built environment.
• an excellent command of the English language, both in speaking and writing.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and international university with a close relationship to industry.

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with a close relationship to industry.
• A full-time employment for two years.
• To support you during your PDEng and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for PDEng trainees.
• A gross monthly salary and benefits in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.
• Assistance for finding accommodation is offered.