PhD Researcher in Aviation Systems Analysis

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 PhD 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.

Requirements

You will focus on the challenges associated with the uncertainty under which future sustainable aircraft are designed. In fact, a central challenge in integrating multiple modeling components into a dgital thread is that the inherent complexity hides the aggregate effects and interactions of component-level parameters and modeling approximations, thereby obscuring the key drivers of compulative errors that jeopartize the compliance with constraints and requirements. You will work on the definition of methods for the stochastic modeling approach, implemented non-intrusively in the digital thread of the project DASAL, according to three main pillars:

• Uncertainty propagation: understanding modeling and design uncertainties at different component levels and how these propagate throughout the aggregate global system, leading to traceable confidence intervals on KPIs.
• Global sensitivity analysis: Identify components and interations between them that are responsible for the majority of the effects on the KPIs, allowing weak links in the system-model to be identified and mitigated.
• Inversion and robust design: given target confidence in KPIs, quantify the accuracy required in system sub-components and parameters needed to achieve that accuracy.
  
  

The stochastic MBSE/KBE framework created will be demonstrated on the use case of a next-generation medium-haul hydrogen aircraft.

You will be based at the Aerodynamics 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.

Job Requirements

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• Familiar with challenges and benefits of sustainable aviation at aircraft and system level.
• Strong expertise with programming in MATLAB or Python.
• Strong knoweledge and expertise in conceptual and preliminary design in aviation.
• Familiar with the different sources of uncertainty and their categorization.
• Familiar with the concepts of uncertainty quantification and propagation.
• Familiar with the methods of global sensitivy analysis.
• A team-oriented mindset, eager to collaborate with researchers and industry experts.
• Excellent spoken and written English communication skills.
• Knowledge of the Dutch language is considered an advantage.
  
  

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 a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

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 €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

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 dr. Richard Dwight, via r.p.dwight@tudelft.nl or .

Application procedure

Are You Interested In This Vacancy? Please Apply No Later Than 10 May 2026 Via The Application Button And Upload The Following Documents

• CV
• Motivational letter
  
  

You can address your application to dr. Richard Dwight.

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.
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