Research Assistant in Arctic IoT and LoRa Mesh Protocol Design - DTU Electro

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet; Ørsted; On-site; DKK 500,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

DTU seeks a candidate with a strong academic background in synchronized LoRa mesh networking and a solid command of the STM32 embedded ecosystem. The project focuses on a time-coordinated, low-power data collection protocol for off-grid Arctic environments, with field deployments and large-scale simulations.

You will design, implement, and evaluate the protocol on STM32WL hardware, extend a C++ network simulator, and coordinate contributions across international partner institutions under the

Qualifications

• Academic background in synchronized LoRa mesh networking.
• Strong working knowledge of the STM32 embedded environment, ideally including the STM32WL series.
• Demonstrated ability to build network simulation tools in C++.
• The position requires a master’s degree in engineering or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and evaluate a synchronized LoRa mesh protocol for time-coordinated, low-power operation.
• Develop and test embedded firmware on STM32WL hardware, including its integrated sub-GHz radio.
• Extend and maintain a custom C++ network simulator to evaluate protocol behaviour and scalability.
• Plan and support field deployment of demonstrators in off-grid Arctic locations.
• Coordinate technical deliverables and reporting across partner universities and municipalities.
• Contribute to project documentation, technical guidelines, and deployment roadmaps.

Skills

LoRa mesh

STM32 Embedded

C++ simulation

STM32WL

Education

Master’s degree in engineering

Tools

STM32WL toolchain

Network simulator

Job description

You have an academic background in synchronized LoRa mesh networking and a strong command of the STM32 embedded environment, and you want to apply both to a system that has to work where conventional connectivity does not. In this position you will develop and validate a synchronized LoRa mesh protocol for autonomous data collection in off-grid Arctic locations, supporting environmental monitoring, search and rescue, and early-warning services. The work spans protocol design, embedded firmware on STM32WL hardware, and large-scale evaluation through network simulation, and it is carried out within an international Interreg NPA consortium led by DTU.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Your overall focus will be to design, implement, and evaluate a synchronized LoRa mesh protocol for resilient, low-power data collection in off-grid Arctic environments. You will work close to the hardware on the STM32WL platform, build and run simulations to assess the protocol at scale, and coordinate the technical contributions of the project's partner institutions. The position is part of the Northguard project under the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) programme, with DTU as lead partner.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Design and implement a synchronized LoRa mesh protocol for time-coordinated, low-power operation.
• Develop and test embedded firmware on STM32WL (STM32WL55JCXX) hardware, including its integrated sub-GHz radio.
• Extend and maintain a custom C++ network simulator to evaluate protocol behaviour and scalability.
• Plan and support the field deployment of demonstrators in off-grid Arctic locations.
• Coordinate technical deliverables and reporting across the project's partner universities and municipalities.
• Contribute to project documentation, technical guidelines, and deployment roadmaps.

We are looking for a candidate who has:

• An academic background in synchronized LoRa mesh networking.
• A strong working knowledge of the STM32 embedded environment, ideally including the STM32WL series.
• Demonstrated ability to build network simulation tools in C++.

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Familiarity with the Interreg NPA programme's co-financing and reporting requirements.
• Experience contributing to competitive research-funding proposals and coordinating international partners.

The position involves extended fieldwork, and you should be willing to relocate to Greenland for a period of 1–12 months during the project.

As a formal qualification, you must have a master’s degree in engineering 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: https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures

The period of employment is 1 year, 10 months and 15 days. The starting date is September 1st 2026. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Professor Lars Dittmann, Head of the Network Technologies and Service Platforms section, tel. [phone] or [e-mail].

The Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering (DTU Electro) conducts research and education across electrical engineering, photonics, and communication technologies. The position is based in the Network Technologies and Service Platforms section, which works on the design, optimisation, and experimental validation of communication networks and infrastructures.

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.

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.

Location

Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark