PhD Position Vibration-Based Quality Monitoring for Metal 3D Printed Samples

Ready to shake things up in aerospace manufacturing? Join us in developing next-gen quality assurance methods for 3D-printed metal parts using vibrations, AI and physics-informed models, and help make additive manufacturing safer, smarter, and more reliable.

Job description
Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is redefining how we design and produce components – especially in high-tech sectors like aerospace, energy, and mobility. However, ensuring the mechanical reliability and structural integrity of printed metal parts remains a major obstacle for broader industrial adoption. Tiny internal defects, process variability, and complex geometries can make quality assurance slow, expensive, or even impossible with traditional inspection methods.

This PhD project, part of a Dutch Research Council (NWO) Open Technology programme,is a collaboration between TU Delft, the University of Groningen, and Queen Mary University of London. At TU Delft, you will lead the development of a vibrational Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) approach that leverage AI to assess metal parts after the printing process.

Your work will combine mechanics, data science, AI, and experimental testing. You’ll design and run experiments, write and train algorithms, and contribute to open-source tools that may one day become industry standards. This project offers the freedom to explore fundamental questions, while also building technologies that could transform quality assurance in aerospace-grade 3D printing.

You’ll be embedded in a supportive, interdisciplinary team with access to state-of-the-art lab facilities and collaborations across TU Delft faculties. You’ll also engage regularly with our project partners in Groningen and London, and with industrial stakeholders interested in deploying the methods you develop.

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Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree in engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Affinity with one or more of the following: vibration measurement and analysis, AI/machine learning, physics-informed modelling, or materials science.
• Programming experience (e.g. Python, MATLAB, or similar).
• A creative and analytical mindset with an eagerness to pioneer new methods.
• Excellent English communication skills (written and spoken).
• An interest in working in a multidisciplinary, international research environment.

TU Delft

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.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Vahid Yaghoubi, via v.yaghoubi@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 31 August 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV (up to two pages)
• Motivational letter (up to one page)
• BSc and MSc Transcripts
• Abstract of your Master thesis & scientific papers that you have written in English

You can address your application to Vahid Yaghoubi.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• Candidates will be evaluated on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• 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.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services