PhD Researcher: Maritime Powertrain Torque Estimation

Aalto University; Espoo; Hybrid; EUR 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Aalto University Rotor Lab at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with Wärtsilä, seeks a Doctoral Researcher / Master’s Thesis Worker to develop torque estimation methods for maritime powertrains. The role combines convex optimization, physics-informed learning and embedded implementation.

The project focuses on encoder-based estimation, Kalman filtering, and integration with Simulink for SIL/MIL validation, with cross-site work at Aalto and Wärtsilä labs.

Qualifications

• Background in mechanical engineering, control engineering, applied mathematics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Knowledge of torsional vibration, rotordynamics, or powertrain/drivetrain dynamics.
• Experience with state estimation or optimization methods (e.g. Kalman filtering, convex optimization).
• Interest or experience in machine learning, particularly physics-informed or physics-constrained learning.
• Programming and modelling skills (Matlab/Simulink, Python, C or other embedded-systems languages).
• Interest in embedded systems and control engineering, and in working with industrial measurement data.

Responsibilities

• Defining the accuracy and operational requirements for the torque estimation algorithm.
• Building and verifying a torsional vibration model of the powertrain, based on data provided by Wärtsilä, with a final test environment in Simulink.
• Developing convex optimization-based and/or physics-informed deep learning approaches to torque estimation.
• Studying the torque estimation framework first with simulated measurements and scenarios, then verifying it against measurements from Wärtsilä’s physical powertrain.
• Testing and refining the torque estimation model for implementation in an embedded environment with limited computing capacity.

Skills

Engineering background

Torsional dynamics

State estimation

Physics-informed ML

Matlab/Simulink

Embedded systems interest

Education

Master’s or Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Matlab/Simulink

Python

C

Job description

Aalto University Rotor Lab at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with Wärtsilä, seeks a Doctoral Researcher / Master’s Thesis Worker to develop torque estimation methods for maritime powertrains. The role combines convex optimization, physics-informed learning and embedded implementation.

The project focuses on encoder-based estimation, Kalman filtering, and integration with Simulink for SIL/MIL validation, with cross-site work at Aalto and Wärtsilä labs.