PhD Student Lifetime Prediction Power Modules (f/m/d)

Volkswagen Group; Baunatal; On-site; EUR 34,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sorgfältige Einarbeitung und Doktorand

Kostenlose Seminare zu wissenschaftl.|

Doktoranden-Netzwerk innerhalb der VW-

Job summary

Die Volkswagen Group sucht für das Forschungs- und Entwicklungsumfeld in Deutschland eine Doktorandin/einen Doktoranden im Bereich der Mechanik und Thermomechanik. Sie arbeiten in einem interdisziplinären Team an der Modellierung von Materialverhalten, FEM-Simulationen und der Validierung virtueller Entwicklungsprozesse.

Sie planen und führen Materialtests durch, arbeiten an der Optimierung von Simulationsworkflows und nutzen Abaqus sowie Python für die Automatisierung.

Qualifications

• Guter bis sehr guter Hochschulabschluss, der für die Promotion geeignet ist (Maschinenbau, Bauingenieurwesen, Technomathematik oder vergleichbares Feld)
• Kenntnisse in Materialmodellierung, Materialprüfung, FEM und eine kommerzielle FE-Software (Abaqus wünschenswert)
• Gute bis sehr gute Programmierkenntnisse (Python wünschenswert)
• Kenntnisse und Interesse an virtueller Entwicklung und simulationsbasierter Prüfung
• Analytische, lösungsorientierte und strukturierte Arbeitsweise
• Deutsch- oder Englischkenntnisse auf C1-Niveau

Responsibilities

• Materialien und Fügetechnologien in Elektronik bezüglich Verhalten und Lebensdauer bei thermischen Zyklen modellieren
• Materialprüfungen planen, koordinieren und analysieren
• Thermomechanische FEM-Simulationen von Power-Modulen entlang der Fertigungsprozesskette und im Betrieb durchführen
• Validieren und Weiterentwickeln von Simulationsmodellen durch Modellaktualisierung
• Thermomechanische Simulationsworkflows automatisieren

Skills

Programmierkenntnisse Python

Materialmodellierung

Materialprüfverfahren

Finite-Elemente-Methode

Deutsch/Englisch C1

Education

Doktoranden-fähiger Abschluss in mechanischer/ civil technik oder vergleichbares

Tools

Abaqus

Job description

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Work environment

The component development team in Kassel develops electric drives, hybrid transmissions, transmission components, power electronics, and their subcomponents. The department for stress and lifetime simulation plays an important cross-functional role in increasingly shorter product development cycles for inverter platforms. As part of an interdisciplinary team comprising simulation, design, manufacturing process development, material analysis, and testing, you will help shape the next generation of power modules using innovative and efficient virtual methods and contribute to robust product designs.

Possible tasks within this role

• Modeling materials and joining technologies used in electronics with regard to material behavior and lifetime under thermal cycling conditions
• Planning, coordinating, and analyzing material tests for material and lifetime characterization
• Performing thermomechanical FEM simulations of power modules along the manufacturing process chain and during operation
• Validating and further developing simulation models through model updating
• Automating thermomechanical simulation workflows

The final doctoral topic is defined together with the professor. The prerequisite for the cooperation is the confirmation of supervision as well as a confirmed delimitation of topics by the professor of a university or research institution entitled to confer a doctorate.

Qualification requirements

• Good to very good university degree qualifying for doctoral studies in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, technomathematics, or comparable field of study
• Knowledge of material modelling, material testing methods, finite element method, and a commercial FE software (Abaqus is desirable)
• Good to very good programming skills (Python is desirable)
• Knowledge and interest in virtual development and simulation-based testing
• Analytical, solution-oriented, and structured approach to work
• German or English language level C1

The following documents must be submitted with your application

• Current transcript of records / master's certificate

Keywords

Power modules, simulation, thermomechanics, material modeling, lifetime, automatization

What we offer

• Attractive salary & 30 vacation days (+ 24.12. and 31.12. off)
• Special conditions for the purchase and leasing of vehicles
• Free seminars on scientific work and interdisciplinary qualifications
• Participation in the doctoral network for scientific exchange with science representatives and other doctoral candidates within the Volkswagen Group

The gross monthly salary for this position, based on a 35-hour workweek and scaled according to the respective year of employment, is €3,030 (1st year), €3,194 (2nd year), and €3,497 (3rd year). In addition, there is a monthly allowance of €167 as well as a 49% share of the variable bonus.

Contact person for this posting: Michele Knyhas

Job ID: 31008

Location: Baunatal, DE, 34225

Department: Research and Development

Working Model: Full-time

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Remote Working: By agreement

Posting Date: Oct 9, 2026

Volkswagen - that's why

We want to revolutionize and shape the mobility of tomorrow sustainably. For this purpose, we are looking for talents who are willing to break completely new ground with us and are not afraid to make mistakes. We are looking for personalities who want to achieve something extraordinary. And talents who believe in the innovative power of big ideas. Are you in?

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