R&D Expert Construction Automation & Building Envelopes

VITO; Winterslag; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Competitive salary

Training & development

Work-life balance

Research network

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

VITO is seeking a senior R&D Expert to steer the Construction Robotics and Innovative Building Envelopes (CRIB) roadmap and drive long-term innovation in industrialised construction. You will coordinate research, valorisation, and partnerships across academia, industry, and policy actors to translate ideas into impactful trajectories.

You will lead proposal development and guide teams towards competitive, funded projects while promoting collaboration with EnergyVille and external stakeholders in

Qualifications

• Excellent strategic thinking to connect research, innovation and valorisation.
• Ability to coordinate cross-disciplinary teams across partners and sectors.
• Experience with European/regional research funding and proposal development.

Responsibilities

• Steer the CRIB innovation roadmap and align with market opportunities.
• Coordinate interdisciplinary teams and manage complex stakeholder networks.
• Translate ambitious ideas into actionable research trajectories and projects.
• Lead proposal writing and manage a portfolio of regional, national and European funded initiatives.
• Foster collaborations with VITO, EnergyVille, industry, and public partners.

Skills

Strategic mindset

Stakeholder management

Research coordination

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Education

PhD or Master in civil engineering/building tech/robotics

Job description

As a leading European research centre, VITO brings together more than 1,300 employees to translate scientific insights into technological innovations, AI-driven solutions, and policy advice with real societal impact. Our mission is clear: to create a sustainable and promising future for our world. Join us in making this vision a reality!

The group for Construction Robotics and Innovative Building Envelopes (CRIB) at VITO is dedicated to advancing sustainable and industrialised construction. Our primary objective is to develop next-generation building envelope systems, supported by innovative design methodologies, robotics, and digital construction workflows.

We coordinate and contribute to high-impact Flemish and European R&I projects in industrial renovation and construction innovation, such as RENOMIZE, SOLMATE, oPEN Lab, and FRAIMwork.

Within these projects, we develop innovative prefabricated façade systems, automated construction processes, and robotics solutions for the built environment.

Our team is equipped with the THOREAQ lab infrastructure, which includes real-scale twin buildings for A-B testing of novel construction systems and components, a robotic workshop for system development and prototyping, and - to be complemented by fall 2026 – a fully instrumented outdoor construction lab for demonstration and implementation of robotic construction solutions.

Through our active involvement in applied R&I projects and strategic collaborations with industrial and academic partners, CRIB contributes to a more climate-resilient, affordable, and circular built environment.

To strengthen our research coordination and strategic innovation activities, we are looking for a R&D Expert Construction Automation & Building Envelopes to join our interdisciplinary team.

Are you a senior innovator with a strong strategic mindset, capable of connecting research, industrial innovation, valorisation potential, and market opportunities into a coherent long-term vision? Do you thrive in interdisciplinary and international environments, enjoy shaping innovation roadmaps and collaborative research initiatives, and want to help accelerate the transition towards scalable and impactful sustainable construction solutions?

Then join us at VITO and drive the future of industrialised and sustainable construction innovation.

Your role

As R&D Expert Construction Automation & Building Envelopes, you will play a central role in further developing and steering the innovation roadmap of the CRIB team. Working at the intersection of research, technology development, and valorisation, you will help steer the team’s future direction in domains such as industrialisation of building renovation workflows, advanced building envelopes, on-site construction robotics, and digital construction. You will work closely with researchers, business developers, industry partners, and external stakeholders to translate ambitious ideas into impactful innovation trajectories.

You will

• Coordinate and further strengthen the CRIB strategic innovation roadmap together with the team, informed by emerging technologies, industrial needs, and market opportunities
• Identify emerging technological opportunities and translate them into impactful research and innovation directions with long-term industrial relevance
• Connect exploratory research, applied innovation, and valorisation opportunities across the CRIB portfolio
• Remain actively involved in research and innovation projects as a senior researcher, innovation lead, or project coordinator
• Coordinate proposal-writing activities aligned with the strategic roadmap and long-term positioning of the team, aiming for a portfolio of regional, national and European funded projects
• Build and strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations across VITO, EnergyVille, research, industry, and public stakeholders
• Support the development and operation of strategic research infrastructure, physical test and validation environment (including the Thoreaq facilities), and digital innovation platforms
• Provide strategic guidance and expert support to the CRIB team members
• Contribute to the visibility and positioning of CRIB within Flemish and European innovation ecosystems
• Stimulate knowledge transfer, scientific dissemination, IP generation and valorisation, and cross-project collaboration within the research portfolio
• Contribute to the long-term growth and strategic positioning of the CRIB team

Job requirements

• A PhD or master’s degree in (civil) engineering, construction sciences, building technology, architectural engineering, product development, robotics or a related field
• At least 10 years of experience in applied research, innovation strategy, industrial R&D, or technology development within the built environment
• Strong experience with Flemish and/or European research funding programmes and collaborative proposal development
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate interdisciplinary teams and operate in complex stakeholder environments
• Strong expertise in sustainable construction technologies, building envelopes, robotics, industrialised construction, or related innovation domains
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to connect (academic) research and innovation with the construction sector, policy actors and society at large
• Strong analytical and organisational capabilities, with the ability to translate strategic vision into actionable roadmaps and innovation trajectories
• Understanding of the Flemish/Belgian construction sector and its regulatory and industrial context; familiarity with the broader European construction landscape is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required; Dutch is a plus

Bonus Skills

• Experience with prefabrication, digital fabrication, additive manufacturing, or construction robotics
• Experience in multi-objective façade design, integrating thermal, structural, life-cycle, and aesthetic requirements into coordinated design solutions
• Track record in grant applications, execution of innovation projects, communication and dissemination (towards scientific, industrial, and broader societal audiences) , and/or valorisation activities
• Experience in team leadership or supervising PhD trajectories is considered a strong asset

Offer

• Hybrid work flexibility - Your activities determine your workplace! You’ll primarily work from our EnergyVille Genk office, but remote work and other VITO locations (Antwerp or Leuven) are possible.
• Competitive salary package, including extra-legal benefits such as allowances, insurance, and modular holiday options.
• Innovation is at our core - We invest in training and development, ensuring our team remains at the forefront of the industry.
• We highly value a good work-life balance at VITO. This is achieved by adopting a flexible attitude depending on your specific needs.
• An established national and international network of research and industry partners enabling us to conduct applied research with real impact.
• At VITO, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or cultural identity.