Researcher Within Autonomous Surface Vehicles

About the Job

We have a vacancy for a full-time permanent position as researcher (forsker) at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics (ITK).

Engineering cybernetics is about automatic control and monitoring of technical systems such as ships, aircraft, cars, petroleum production platforms, wind turbines, underwater vehicles, robots, transport systems and industrial processes. This field is at the front of the technological development.

The primary workplace is at Gløshaugen campus in Trondheim.
Your immediate leader is Head of Department.

Duties of the position

• Participation in externally funded research projects on situational awareness and motion control for autonomous ships.
• Applied research on sensors, systems and software for autonomous ships.
• Planning and coordination of experiments and field work together with students, staff and external partners.
• Supervision of students (project and master).
• Management of software base and data from autonomy experiments.
• Project acquisition, management, planning, coordination, risk and quality management.

• Participate in administrative activities, such as hiring committees and educational and research boards, that are conducted at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics.

Some travelling must be expected in connection with field operations and testing.

The position may also contribute to other tasks related to the department’s ongoing research and education activities. The working area of the position can change in order to serve the department’s needs.

Required selection criteria

• Doctoral degree in a relevant area such as control engineering or cybernetics.
• Experience with autonomous vehicle research and development.
• Documented competence in several of the following areas: Digital twins, testing and verification, motion control, mission planning, situational awareness, navigation, sensors and sensor fusion.
• Valid road driver’s license in Norway equivalent to class B.
• Good written and oral language skills in both English and Norwegian. 

Preferred selection criteria

• Broad knowledge and interests in ship systems, unmanned vehicles and autonomous systems.
• Experience with the Robot Operating System (ROS).
• Experience with field trials of autonomous surface vehicles.
• Experience with modelling and control of marine vessels.
• Relevant competence in embedded and real-time systems, including programming in C or C++.

Personal characteristics

Personal skills will be given large weight. It is important that the person being hired is

• Systematic: Develops comprehensive and realistic plans with both short- and long-term time horizons
• Strategic: Can contribute to infrastructure management, leading people, administrative work, project acquisition and project management
• Team player: Has good collaboration skills
• Relationship builder: Will enjoy working with both employees and students
• Flexible: Learns from experiences and feedback from others
• Efficient: Can work efficiently in multiple projects at the same time
• Initiator: Shows willingness to take initiative and responsibility
• Creative: Contributes with creative solutions in exciting research projects.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

The gross salary for the position of researcher (code 1009) is normally remunerated at gross from NOK 560 000 – 760 000 before tax per year, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund,

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. 

The position is financed by external funds.

It is a prerequisite that you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily. 

About the application

The application and supporting documentation must be in English.

Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.  If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. 

The application must include: 

• CV, certificates and diplomas 
• A motivation letter (1-2 pages) explaining your motivation and how your background suits the position.
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 10 works)
• Name and address of three referees

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.  

In the assessment of the best qualified applicant, we will emphasize education, experience and personal suitability as well as your motivation for the position. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. This means that we pay special attention to the quality and professional breadth of these works. We also consider experience from research management and participation in research projects. We place great emphasis on your scientific work from the last five years.

General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.  

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Edmund F. Brekke, email Edmund.Brekke@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR, e-mail: rekrutteringsteam@ie.ntnu.no. 

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Engineering Cybernetics (ITK)

Engineering cybernetics is the study of automatic control and monitoring of dynamic systems. We develop the technologies of tomorrow through close cooperation with industry and academia, both in Norway and internationally. The Department contributes to the digitalization, automation and robotization of society. The Department of Engineering Cybernetics is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.

Deadline 27th March 2023
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Permanent
Place of service Gløshaugen campus