PhD Position Robust Selection of Top-Level Requirements for Future Sustainable Aircraft

Challenge: Find the ideal top-level requirements of sustainable aircraft concepts.

Change: Develop methods to find robust top-level requirements.

Impact: Optimal introduction of sustainable aircraft.

Job description

The goals for future aviation are ambitious. On a global scale, air traffic is expected to continue growing in the foreseeable future. At the same time, reducing the climate impact of the aviation industry is an urgent challenge. To achieve this, aircraft concepts are being explored that utilize novel energy carriers such as batteries and hydrogen. These novel powertrains impact flight performance, aircraft capabilities, and overall airline operations. Despite these challenges, such technologies must find the correct market position in multi-fuel fleet operations, ideally from their first introduction.

As a PhD candidate at TU Delft, your key challenge will be to develop models and tools to determine the optimal aircraft top-level requirements that facilitate the integration and widespread adoption of sustainable technologies, considering their practical constraints and future potential.

In this research project, the following three aspects will be considered:

1. The research will leverage and extend existing open-source air traffic data as input for strategic fleet planning and top-level requirement selection.
2. Looking into the future of aviation involves many uncertainties. Therefore, we seek an approach that leads to robust solutions under different future scenarios.
3. Flight performance and operational constraints of hydrogen and (hybrid-)electric aircraft must be taken into account.

You will develop mathematical and computational models to project scenarios decades ahead and perform strategic airline planning. You will build upon existing research and collaborate closely with colleagues in our section who study the future operations of sustainable energies. Where needed, we will reach out to industry partners and other departments within the faculty to strengthen the research.

Alongside your research, you will contribute to writing scientific papers and attending international conferences. Additionally, you will supervise laboratory work and support master’s students during their graduation research under the Operations and Environment (O&E) Section.

Your team and career growth

You will join an interdisciplinary and internationally diverse group of around 60 dedicated assistant and associate professors, lecturers, project managers, PhD students, and postdocs. Our ambition is to develop models and tools that integrate our expertise to enable future adaptive, efficient, safe, and sustainable air transport operations. We foster an open, collaborative, and supportive working culture where knowledge is shared, people help each other, and we connect socially.

You will receive comprehensive training and career development support to help you evolve as a researcher. Additionally, this PhD will provide you with a strong foundation for career opportunities in academia, the aerospace industry, and policy-making sectors focused on sustainable aviation.

Requirements

You enjoy putting your analytical and computational skills to effective use, deriving insights for the next generation of sustainable aircraft. You value scientific work based on open data and work well both independently and within international, interdisciplinary teams. Additionally, you are enthusiastic about mentoring master’s students and contributing to educational activities, while further developing your own skills.

You also have:

• An MSc in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or another relevant field.
• Strong modelling and Python programming skills.
• Excellent spoken and written English skills, as you will work in an internationally diverse community, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and publish research articles. For more details, please check the Graduate School Admission Requirements.
• Ideally, your able to start in Q2 of 2025, or at the latest, at start of Q3 (July-August).

What we offer

• A dynamic and impactful research environment, with opportunities to contribute to shaping sustainable aviation.
• Access to top-tier research facilities and collaboration with leading experts in the field.
• Opportunities to engage with industry and policymakers, ensuring real-world applicability of your research.
• A structured training and career development program, preparing you for diverse career paths.

We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and expertise. If you are passionate about sustainable aviation and strategic modelling, we would love to hear from you!

TU Delft (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.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Pieter-Jan Proesmans, p.proesmans@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 14 March 2025 via the application button and upload your: 

• Motivation letter.
• Detailed CV.
• Copies of your BSc and MSc degrees and transcripts.
• Names and contact information of at least two relevant references. We will not contact references without your consent.

Due to the prompt start date, we will select candidates and invite them for interviews from October 21st onwards already.

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.