Postdoc Composition of Multidisciplinary Simulation Workflows for Collaborative Engineering

How do you automatically translate questions from aviation system stakeholders into multidisciplinary computational workflows ready to execute in a collaborative computational environment?

Job description

This Postdoc position is part of the Dutch Aviation Systems Analysis Lab (DASAL project, a flagship collaboration between TU Delft and Royal NLR, funded through the Dutch national growth fund under the ‘Luchtvaart in Transitie’ programme.

DASAL serves as a living lab for developing integrated models and simulations to support innovation throughout the Dutch aviation sector and public policy. Within this unique ecosystem, you will join a diverse and interdisciplinary team of PhD candidates and postdocs from across the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, collaborating closely with experts at NLR and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to analyse the complex interactions between sustainability, economics, and societal impact in aviation.

We are looking for a Postdoc researcher, who will focus on the design, implementation and deployment of solutions to compose and operate multidisciplinary simulation workflows in a collaborative environment.

The following results are expected, which largely consist of the extension and exploitation of existing solutions from past collaborative projects such as AGILE, AGILE4.0 and DEFAINE:

• MBSE tool for stakeholder and system requirement managemen
• Software solutions (and UI) to compose repositories of plug and play design/analysis tools, with I/O data compliant to a shared data schema (e.g. CPACS).
• Software solutions for automation-assisted collaborative workflow formulation (extension of KADMOS open source system and its UI)
• Data structure (and UI solutions) for storage, exchange and interactive visualization of collaborative workflows formulations (based on CMDOWS XML data schema)
• Software solutions to enable automatic translation of workflows formulations into executable simulation workflows (e.g. based on commercial-of-the-shelf PIDO tools, such as Optimus or RCE)
• Deployment, testing and demonstration of all the above, in collaboration with other DASAL researchers

The Postdoc researcher will be based at the Flight Performance and Propulsion group of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, and strongly cooperate with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and PhD candidates from the same Faculty, and researchers from the Dutch Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), dedicated to the realization of the Dutch Aviation Systems Analysis Laboratory.

Requirements

The candidate has proven knowledge of MDAO (Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimization), experience in formulation and integration of multidisciplinary simulations workflows, excellent programming skills (Python), ability to work with XML data structures, and familiarity with MBSE principles and modelling languages.

The candidate is proactive and has problem solving attitude, is strong in communication and team work.

Background in Aerospace or Mechanical engineering and some knowledge of the Dutch language are pro’s     

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 

• Duration of contract is 2 years.
• A job of 36-40 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
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr.ir. Gianfranco La Rocca, via g.larocca@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 22 June 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter
• Optionally, upload the best 3 documents (or links to resources) that show your experience in the aforementioned topics and some reference letter.

You can address your application to Dr.ir. Gianfranco La Rocca.

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.