Postdoc Positions in Autonomous Drone Flight in Confined Spaces for Wind Turbine Inspection

Syddansk Universitet (University of Southern Denmark - SDU); Odense; On-site; DKK 430,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for postdoc positions focused on autonomous flight in confined environments for multi-rotor drones. The two-year appointments will be conducted at the SDU UAS Center, in collaboration with Vestas, and are tied to wind-turbine inspection challenges.

Start date is flexible. Applicants should hold a PhD in engineering, robotics or computer science and have experience in navigation, perception, and real-time control for UAS.

Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, robotics, computer science or related field; required by start date.
• Experience with autonomous navigation, perception, or motion planning for robots/UAS.
• Prototyping of drones and payloads (mechanical/electronics integration).
• Software development in C, C++, Python; real-time/embedded systems.
• Publication record in international conferences/journals.
• Ability to work in collaboration with industry partners.

Responsibilities

• State estimation and localisation in GNSS-denied, confined environments (VIO, SLAM, sensor fusion).
• Real-time perception development.
• Motion planning and control for safe, agile flight near obstacles and structures.
• Prototyping drones and payloads (mechanical/electronics integration to flight-ready systems).
• Integration of autonomy with onboard inspection payloads and turbine data.
• Operation and flight testing of multi-rotor UAS, including turbine-site experiments.

Skills

C

C++

Python

Real-time systems

Embedded systems

Robotics

UAS operations

Education

PhD in engineering/robotics/computer science

Tools

ROS

VIO/SLAM

Sensor fusion

GNSS-denied navigation

Job description

The SDU UAS Center, part of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, invites applications for one or more postdoc positions on autonomous flight in confined and cluttered environments for multi-rotor drones. The positions are for a two-year employment with a flexible start date.

What We Offer

The successful candidates will become part of the SDU UAS Center, where we conduct cutting-edge research in civilian drone technologies and future drone applications in critical sectors, such as agriculture, inspection, energy, and healthcare. At the heart of our mission is the creation of groundbreaking drone solutions that address key societal challenges. We are committed to fostering a dynamic and inspiring work environment where creativity flourishes. We often collaborate closely with world-leading companies, some of which are part of the vibrant robotic startup community around Odense.

The positions are tied to the development of an Automated Service Inspection (ASI) system for wind turbines, carried out in close collaboration with Vestas. Wind energy is a cornerstone of the green transition, yet the industry depends heavily on manual inspections and a shrinking pool of service technicians. Autonomous drones that can fly safely inside and around turbine structures are a key enabler for scalable, data-driven maintenance, promising less downtime, improved safety, and higher energy production across a growing global fleet.

Work Area

The successful candidates will conduct research and development within autonomous flight in confined spaces, where safety and robustness under real-world conditions are paramount. Flying close to and inside turbine structures, such as the tower interior, raises fundamental research challenges: navigation without reliable GNSS, perception in geometrically complex environments, and safe motion planning within centimetres of critical infrastructure. Concretely, the work will include the following:

• State estimation and localisation in GNSS-denied, confined environments (visual-inertial odometry (VIO), simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM), sensor fusion).
• Real-time perception.
• Motion planning and control for safe, agile flight in close proximity to obstacles and infrastructure.
• Prototyping of drones and payloads tailored to confined-space inspection, from concept and mechanical/electronics integration to flight-ready platforms.
• Integration of autonomy with onboard inspection payloads (cameras, microphones) and existing turbine data.
• Operation and flight testing of multi-rotor UAS, including experiments at turbine sites.

During the appointment, the successful candidates will also have the opportunity to work on related autonomy challenges across the center’s project portfolio, where autonomous flight under demanding real-world conditions is a recurring theme.

The positions may involve co-supervising related student projects. The candidates will be part of the SDU UAS Center and are expected to participate in the center's project portfolio and outreach activities.

We Expect

We expect that you hold a PhD degree or expect to be awarded one before the start date, within engineering, robotics, computer science, or another related field. You do not need to cover every area below, but you should have experience with, and a genuine interest in, some of the following:

• Research and development within autonomous navigation, state estimation, or motion planning for robots or UAS.
• Research and development within UAS platforms, subsystems, and payloads.
• Prototyping of drones and payloads (mechanical design, electronics, systems integration).
• Perception and machine learning for robotics.
• Software design and development (C, C++, Python), including real-time and embedded systems.
• UAS operations (experiments, piloting).

We furthermore expect that you publish findings at recognised international conferences and in top-ranked, peer-reviewed journals.

For certain projects and tasks at the Drone Labs at HCA Airport, a security check by relevant authorities and a driving license are required.

For further information, please contact Prof. Anders Lyhne Christensen ([e-mail]) and Associate Prof. Robert Ladig ([e-mail]).

We look forward to receiving your application.

The application deadline

October 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST)

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an expert or assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.

Read about the Assessment and selection process.

Employment terms

Appointment as a postdoc is temporary for an initial 2-year period. Extension may be possible depending on available funding.

Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level at the time of employment. Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state including the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described therein.

Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements. As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process. SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary. Further information on salary and taxation.

Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes its staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, is subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.

Location

Odense M, Denmark

Apply Before

2026-10-01T21:59:00+00:00