PostDoc Survivable DC Power Systems for Ships

How to guarantee the availability of power and energy on board of a ship with a DC electric power system?

Job description 

Energy transition, smart manning, and survivability are three of the main challenges of the Navy and the rest of the maritime sector. The NWO project "Survivable DC Power Systems for Ships" investigates DC system technology that makes it possible to continue operation after failures from wear, calamities such as fires and floods, or missile impact, by being fault tolerant. This project aims to answer the following research questions. First, how to design DC system architectures, components, and protection for vessels in such a way that survivability is maximized? Secondly, how can reliability of the DC system and its components be modelled in such a way that performance can be guaranteed? Thirdly, how to design and control fault tolerant decentralized DC energy systems, and how to integrate them into the ship design? Fourthly, is it viable to replace a part of the DC system conductors by superconductors; what are the benefits of these superconductors and in which parts of the power system should thy be applied? TUDelft, TUEindhoven and UTwente are collaborating in this project.

This vacancy focusses on the third research question: How to guarantee the availability of power and energy on board of a chip with a DC electric power system? How to design and control a fault tolerant energy system both in normal operation and in the case of extreme events? How can energy sources and loads be distributed over the vessel to ensure safety, reliability, availability, and efficiency? And what are the implications of this DC system architecture for the ship design? Extreme events include electromagnetic guns or laser weapons requiring extremely high power for a very short time and consequences of missile impacts, such of compartment flooding or fire.

The research is carried out in close cooperation with national academic and industrial partners working on the NWO-funded project Survivable DC Power Systems for Ships. The industrial partners are providing access to use cases and recorded data of state-of-the art ships. The zero-emission laboratory of MARIN can be used for validation of the control strategies with real components.

The candidate will be part of a team of PhD students working on different aspects of energy transition in the maritime sector, including combustion engines on e-fuels (hydrogen, methanol, ammonia), fuel cells, DC systems, and sizing and control of the power, proplusion and energy system.

The candidate will work at the Delft University of Technology, in the Department of Maritime & Transport Technology, in the Group on Sustainable Drive and Energy Systems under the supervision and guidance of experts in electrical and marine engineering, Dr. Henk Polinder and Dr. Andrea Coraddu. Keyword: shipdrivemenens.

Job requirements 

We are looking for an outstanding and enthusiastic PostDoc candidate who has expertise and/or interest in modelling and design of electric power and propulsion systems. You have obtained a PhD degree or expect to obtain a PhD very soon related to these areas: electrical power engineering, marine engineering, control engineering.

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 Mechanical 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 ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME 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 ME’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 Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 30 maanden.
• A job of 32-40 hours per week. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. 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

For more information about this vacancy, you can contact dr.ir. Henk Polinder, (h.polinder@tudelft.nl). 

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 1 July 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A cover letter stating your motivation

• Detailed curriculum vitae (including a list of publications)

• Names of up to three professional referees

You can address your application to Henk Polinder.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• 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.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.