Postdoc in Engineering Leadership in a Changing World - DTU Management

DTU - Technical University of Denmark; Kongens Lyngby; On-site; DKK 540,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

DTU Management invites applications for a postdoctoral position within Engineering Leadership Pathways. The successful candidate will explore how engineers leverage technical expertise to lead organizational change in technology‑intensive firms.

The project combines sociology of organizations, STS, and leadership studies, with opportunities to contribute teaching materials and case‑based learning for engineering students. A PhD is required.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., sociology of organizations, management, STS, strategy‑as‑practice).
• Strong track record in qualitative research, case studies, and scholarly writing.

Responsibilities

• Investigate how leadership is practiced in technology‑intensive firms.
• Examine how digital technologies and AI influence knowledge production and decision‑making.
• Contribute to development of teaching cases and educational materials.

Skills

Qualitative research methods

Interviews

Case study research

Academic writing

Sociology of organizations

Education

PhD or equivalent

Tools

NVivo

Job description

Job Description

At Department of Technology, Management, and Economics (DTU Management), you will help build the research foundation for a new strategic initiative entitled Engineering Leadership Pathways, an educational initiative aimed at strengthening engineers' capabilities to lead technological development and organizational change in an increasingly complex world.

Job Description

At Department of Technology, Management, and Economics (DTU Management), you will help build the research foundation for a new strategic initiative entitled Engineering Leadership Pathways, an educational initiative aimed at strengthening engineers' capabilities to lead technological development and organizational change in an increasingly complex world. Through a focus on technology-intensive organizations, you will be part of a team that generates new knowledge about how engineers use their technological expertise as leaders. Your insights will be put into practice within DTUs educational programmes, so if you are motivated by putting empirical study and theory into practice, this could be a position for you. You will be affiliated with Division of Business and Technology Studies at Department of Technology, Management and Economics and will work closely together with researchers at Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship.

Responsibilities And Qualifications

The overall aim of the project is to generate new knowledge about leadership in technology-intensive organizations. As organizations confront sustainability transitions, AI-mediated disruptions, geopolitical uncertainty, and increasingly fragile supply chains, technological expertise has become a critical resource for organizational leadership. Yet, we know little about how leaders draw on technical expertise when navigating uncertainty, shaping organizational direction, responding to emerging challenges, and creating conditions for innovation and long-term transformation. Through case studies of technology-intensive firms, the successful postdoc candidate will investigate how leadership is accomplished in practice and how technological expertise becomes (or fails to become) consequential in shaping organizational priorities, innovation trajectories, strategic direction, and responses to societal challenges. In particular, the postdoc will investigate how digital technologies and AI increasingly participate in the production, interpretation, and circulation of knowledge within organizations, and how this may influence leadership practices, organizational learning, and decision‑making processes. You are expected to contribute directly to the development of research‑based teaching cases, educational materials, and new learning formats for engineering students. You must be able to document qualifications in sociology of organizations and management, organization studies, sociology of expertise, science and technology studies (STS), strategy‑as‑practice, accounting, valuation studies, political economy, or related fields. You must also be able to document experience with qualitative research methods, case study research, interviews, fieldwork, and/or other practice‑based approaches to studying organizations. Furthermore, you should have qualifications related to leadership, strategy, innovation, organizational change, expertise, knowledge practices, or decision‑making in organizational settings. An internationally oriented research profile, documented through a PhD dissertation and/or research publications, is required. In addition, you should possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage productively with both academic and non‑academic stakeholders, as well as strong analytical and academic writing skills. Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document experience conducting research in technology‑intensive organizations, engineering contexts, or organizations undergoing technological transformation. Experience with research on how organizations navigate uncertainty, complexity, and societal challenges such as sustainability transitions, geopolitical change, technological disruption, or supply‑chain instability will also be considered an advantage. Likewise, experience studying executive work, leadership practices, innovation processes, valuation, accounting, expertise, or the role of technologies in organizational life is desirable. In addition, familiarity with business, leadership, or organizational case studies and the translation of research findings into teaching materials or other educational formats is an advantage. Familiarity with digital technologies and artificial intelligence in organizational contexts is also valued. Applicants should preferably have a record of research publications of a high international standard, commensurate with the length of their academic career, as well as proficiency in a Scandinavian language. As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures . The period of employment is 2 years. Starting date is 1 January 2027. You can read more about career paths at DTU here .

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Helene Friis Ratner, Department of Technology, Management and Economics: https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/persons/helene-friis-ratner/. You can read more about Department of Technology, Management and Economics at www.man.dtu.dk. If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark .

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open‑source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position. Department of Technology, Management and Economics conducts excellent research at the intersection of management, technology and economics. We develop solutions in close cooperation with companies and public authorities. Our research aims at strengthening welfare, productivity and sustainability. A key element is the role of technology and its interaction with industry and individuals. The department offers a wide range of courses and programs at bachelor, master, and PhD levels across DTU's study programs. The department has 250+ employees with around half of staff coming from abroad. DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829. DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.