The technology to support autonomous short-sea and inland vessel navigation has been actively developed and successfully demonstrated in several recent research projects. However, several technical challenges remain: 1) the lack of standardization that leads to adhoc, time-consuming, and costly vessel approval, 2) too strict requirements for system redundancy (e.g., multiple backup systems) to acquire type approval, which is a significant cost driver, 3) unclear liability assignment in case of an accident that may lead to increased insurance costs for all, 4) increased uncertainty with respect to how autonomous vessels will safely interact with conventional, crewed vessels, especially in high traffic situations25, exacerbated by thefact that COLREGs currently intended for human interpretation are too vague the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) schemes for autonomous vessels.

In the framework of the European Project SEAMLESS, you will contribute to the development of GNC schemes that ensure the safe operation of autonomous vessels under high, mixed traffic conditions, and faulty conditions (e.g. when system faults and falsified data affect the vessel operation).

You will work in the Department of Maritime and Transport Technology department (Section: Transport Engineering and Logistics) of Delft University of Technology investigating in the research theme “Safe Autonomous & Complex Ships”. You will join the SAFE-NET group (www.safe-net.team) and actively collaborate with the researchers of the ResearchLab Autonomous Shipping (RAS). Within the project SEAMLESS you will have the opportunity to collaborate with several academic institutions (e.g. NTUA, NTNU, DST), industrial companies (e.g. Kongsberg, Zulu Associates, AWAKE.AI), classification societies (e.g. BV), governmental authorities (e.g. Port of Antwerp, Port of Piraeus) to mention a few among 26 partners in Europe.

Need-to-haves:

• Academic background in Engineering (i.e. Automatic Control and/or Marine Engineering and/or Robotics).
• PhD in fault diagnosis, fault tolerant control, or guidance, navigation and control of autonomous vehicles.
• Excellent academic qualifications and strong analytical skills.
• Very good communication and writing skills in the English language.
• Hands-on experience in modeling, system analysis and simulation.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience with Artificial Intelligence tools.
• Experience in (European) Research and Development projects and in writing deliverables.
• Management skills and team work in interdisciplinary environment.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (salary between € 3.703,00 - € 4.670,00 gross per month, the position has a fixed-term contract of two years). 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. 

For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation. An International Children's Centre offers childcare and there is an international primary school.

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, Maritime and Materials 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 3mE faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

3mE 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 3mE’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, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.